. react to values that are outside of their own image.
. - There are only a few brands that specialize in pants, but it is quite rare to collaborate with an overseas factory and continue to produce special custom-made items, isn't it? I've been trying to think of reasons why this is possible, and I've come to the conclusion that "NEAT" has an iconic style axis, but on the other hand, it does not exhibit a designer's view of the world. . There is a product-like universality to it. . That is why I thought that new value could be created through collaboration, and that it could be connected to the styles and roots of each country. I thought it was also significant that the base of the collection is trad.
Kaneko:That is exactly what "NEET" is all about.
Westfield:Although I have a background in traditional clothing, which I developed at Brooks Brothers, I have not studied design, and I am not a designer. So, while there is an axis, the range of my work may be large. I have a sense of jumping from one place to another, whereas other brands would have a boundary between here and there.
NEAT" is also the axis of my own clothing, and I had the intention of making such pants from the beginning. That is also where the name "neat" comes from.
Kaneko:If you are a designer, you can't just leave it to Xanth to make it for you, can you?
I have my own theory of "what a buyer is" and "what a designer is." I believe that people who have a clear vision of their own are better suited to be designers than buyers.
Can you tell us more about it?
Kaneko:Rather than having a clear image and going out to buy what fits that image, I look at and touch a lot of what is there, discover something new in it, and always bring something back. That is what buying is to me. . it's a process of reacting to the value that is outside of my own image. . So, I think that people who have a clear vision are better suited to be designers. When you think about it, Da-chan is a designer, but also has a buyer's side, and on top of that, he has a managerial sense of balance, and he has full potential. And importantly, there is also a margin left there. That's why we can do things the way we did this time.
Westfield:For my part, I didn't think that far ahead and just said, "Isn't it great that Xanth made it for us? (laughs).
Kaneko:This is exactly what the margins are (laughs).
NEAT PARIS VANEAU ¥57,200
On the live instagram, Mr. Frank, the representative of Xanth, called them "Hakama-like pants.
Westfield:Hakama? I thought so, but . I was convinced. I wondered if there were common elements such as deep pleats and straight surfaces.
Kaneko:That story was interesting. He said that things like one's own culture and unconscious quirks are unintentionally included.
Westfield:I would use it to write a brand release.
Kaneko:In English, it is called "hakama. Hakama is also a garment of marginality.
Westfield:By the way, I found out after the insta-live was over that Xanth always uses the name of a French street for their pants, and for "NEAT PARIS" they gave me the name VANEAU. It is written on the bottom tag.
Kaneko:That's great. It's like it's become one of the Xanth's product numbers.
Westfield:. it was amazing. When Mr. Frank asked you, "Is this okay?" and I cheerfully replied, "Exactly!" (laughs).
