Continue to play with the first $200,000.
The last place they took us to was their home base, the POOLSIDE STORE.
It was completed in June 2022. He says that the unit, POOLSIDE itself, was already formed in 2021 and had no particular plans to have a store, but decided to set up the "POOLSIDE STORE" when he happened to find a property through an acquaintance.
The top floor is for Yoh-chan, I live on the third floor, the living room is on the second floor, and the shop is on the first floor. The living room is on the second floor, and the store is on the first floor.
The small store of about 4 tatami mats is lined with T-shirts and miscellaneous goods designed by Rui and Yosuke, respectively, and has an exhibition space on the wall. The shop is open only on weekends. As the name of the unit suggests, their illustrations are relaxing. And yet they are still cool.
Illustration by Louis. He drew the Nanga outfit he wore this time.
Illustration by Yosuke. He drew the Nanga outfit he wore this time.
Items are released on a regular basis, and the company says it started out making one T-shirt model, starting with 20 pieces.
When we run out, we make the next one, and so on. At first, we each put up 100,000 yen to make clothes, and then we gradually increase the funds. So we have been playing with that 200,000 yen for a long time," said Rui. However, most of the people who come into the store without knowing about it look at it for a minute or so and leave without buying anything (laughs).
Nevertheless, the duo's activities and recognition are just now rapidly spreading throughout Japan. The connections that were made in Nagano are being reconnected, and they are being invited to participate in nationwide events and pop-ups. Incidentally, Louis is in charge of one of the illustrations for the upcoming Nanga lookbook, and he told us, "That was also the result of a connection.
Six o'clock in the evening. As the sun was setting and the crowd was becoming sparse, the last thing I heard was about POOLSIDE's future activities.
When we first started the unit, we were excited about having fun and making what we both wanted to wear, so I hope that won't change.
First of all, I want to continue for a long time. I hope to meet many people in the process. Also, I would be happy if more people would come here to visit us.
It's only been a year since they started last June. They have just started, but as the unit name suggests, they don't reject anyone, nor do they force you to get closer to them, making you feel at home. Come and visit them, dressed in Nanga's summer clothes, to get rid of the heat.
