There is a good balance between items that reflect the theme strongly and those with a vintage feel.
I'd like to delve into this season's items at BEAMS, but this season's theme is "Y2K," isn't it?
Yoshikawa:That's right. Without changing our axis of "American casual", the theme of this season's production is based on what was seen in the early 2000's. At that time, the 20th century was changing into the 21st century, and there was a kind of end-of-the-century thinking. At that time, there was a turning point from the 20th century to the 21st century, and there was a kind of fin-de-siècle philosophy. In terms of movies, "The Matrix" was released at that time, iMacs were invented, and a futuristic worldview influenced fashion as well. For example, metallic coloring, the use of technical materials, and details strongly reflect this influence. I feel that this kind of design is fresh again today.
In the women's fashion scene, the keyword "Y2K" has been around for several years, hasn't it?
Yoshikawa:That's right. I had been glancing at this trend from the side, but I thought it was too early to do it for men's wear. So I kept it in mind for several years.
You were born in 1994. Do you feel that the "Y2K" culture is new to you?
Continent:That's right. I was still small at the time, and being from Nara, I was not that well informed about the latest information. But I guess it was a time when games were becoming more high-tech. For example, Game Boy came out with a skeleton model and color LCDs, and I think I was more aware of the mood of the times in those areas than in fashion. I guess I was moving back and forth between high-tech and analog.
Yoshikawa:Nowadays, it is commonplace to have a computer in the home, but back then it was unthinkable to have a computer in the house. But with the advent of the iMac, people started buying computers as interior decorations, and it was like having one made you popular (laughs).
What kind of products do you have in your lineup?
Yoshikawa:An obvious example is this nylon jacket. The design source for this jacket is the U.S. Air Force Gore-Tex parka, but the coloring is reminiscent of space suits. The silhouette has been tweaked to look more modern by widening the body and armholes.
In the 2000s, trail running vests also became an iconic item. In the 2000s, trail running vests became an iconic item. But we rearranged them to be much larger and used more modern fabrics to make them more fashionable today.
Yoshikawa:These pants also reflect this season's theme, sampling items from technical outdoor brands, and incorporating such techie details in the three-dimensional pattern and pocket work. The material is polyester, but the look and texture has a wool-like feel, and we have incorporated techniques here that were not available at the time.
Also, we have jackets with cut-off hems and cuffs, vintage-like processed sweatshirts, denim pants, and other items that express straight American casual style.
Yoshikawa:I think we are the only select store that produces original items with such an old-fashioned taste. For example, our design team is good at creating the faded look of the sweatshirt and the graphic fonts. Some people may think that they can just look for vintage clothing, but vintage clothing is inevitably one-of-a-kind, so we make it easy for customers to buy our items because they are available in a variety of sizes and it makes sense.
Continent:I also like secondhand clothes and often go to look at them, but it is difficult to find ones in my own size. There are many well-designed vintage clothes, but when it comes to actually wearing them, it is difficult. This is the first time I have had a chance to take a good look at the original items at BEAMS, and I think it is great that there is a good balance of tech-inspired items that strongly reflect the season's theme, mixed with items that have a vintage feel.
I asked Mr. Tairiku to style the items for this show.
Yoshikawa:I picked up items that seemed to fit him somehow and asked him to style them around them. His very natural way of dressing was exactly what I had expected.
ITEM 1
Boxy 1B Jacket BEIGE ¥23,100
First of all, the jacket. What did you have in mind when you styled it?
Continent:I usually don't get a chance to wear jackets, so I was worried about how to style it, but when I looked closely, I saw that the hem and cuffs were cut off to reveal the lining, so I decided to go for a more casual look with sweatpants. I don't wear this kind of jacket, so it was a new experience for me. But the cut-off design made it easy for me to wear. It was also lightweight and comfortable to wear.
ITEM2
Shoe Cut Denim BLUE USED ¥14,850
How about denim?
Continent:I usually wear only my own brand of denim, so it has been a while since I have worn an item that is not my own brand, and I felt fresh. When I tried them on, they were totally different, and I made a new discovery. *In the movie "Hunter," Steve McQueen wears denim with an MA-1, and this styling was inspired by that. I happened to have a pair of sneakers in a similar color, so I matched them with the raw-colored shoes. The design is contemporary, so the styling is a mix of eras.
Yoshikawa:So that was also an inspiration from the movie. That's great. The shoes also have a futuristic feel to them, somewhat reminiscent of "Y2K".
Continent:I always liked this kind of sneakers. That's why I always wear them without any sense of discomfort. In fact, I find it more difficult to match sneakers with thin soles. I feel more comfortable wearing sneakers with a little volume.
*Movie "The Hunter" = 1980 film by Buzz Kulik. This action film is based on the true story of Ralph Thorson, a real-life bounty hunter who sent 10,000 criminals to prison over the past 30 years. Steve McQueen starred in the film, which regrettably became his last film.
Were there any clothes you were interested in other than the items used in the styling?
Continent:I really like this military jacket. I like mountain coats, which I also design for "DAIRIKU," and this jacket has a similar atmosphere. The cord detail on the zipper softens the overall impression or makes it more fashionable. Without it, the image would be too rigid. The color scheme is also very nice. It's based on military items, but at first glance it looks very outdoorsy.
Yoshikawa:The material is also made of a very light material.
DAIRIKU doesn't have such a strong technical image, so it is somewhat surprising that you chose this item.
Continent:I often use nylon. I also make high-tech clothes like this, but they may not stand out so much. I think they have more of an impression of vintage clothing. However, depending on the theme, I sometimes design clothes inspired by the 90s and 2000s.
