FEATURE｜Reebok CLASSIC ZOKU RUNNER" theme is "biker gang. Sneak into the shooting site of the Reebok ZOKU RUNNER movie.
Reebok CLASSIC ZOKU RUNNER
The theme is "biker gangs. Sneak into the movie shooting site of Reebok's "ZOKU RUNNER".
Based on street culture, the "ZOKU RUNNER" is a hybrid shoe that incorporates elements of running shoes from the 70s and 90s, such as the "AZTEC" vector mark, the "CLASSIC LEATHER" logo panel, and the "PUMP RUNNING DUAL" heel cage. The ZOKU RUNNER is Reebok CLASSIC's hybrid shoe that weaves elements of running shoes from the 70s to the 90s into the latest material, ULTRAKNIT. For the latest collection, the brand will create a special movie based on the theme of Japanese motorcycle gangs, adding the meaning of "Zoku (TRIBE)" to the existing keyword "Zoku (To Be Continued)". We visited the shooting site and interviewed Hitohiko Ando, representative of "THE Mongolian Chops," who designed the suicide uniforms, and designer Kenta Yamamoto, along with Masayoshi Taki of Reebok Japan.
First of all, please tell us about "THE Mongolian Chops.
Yamamoto.Based in Shinsekai, Osaka, the brand was launched in the 14SS season and is now in its fourth year. Ando is the representative and I am the director, but this is only a formality; we work together on management and design.
Looking at past collections, I have the impression that you favor Japanese motifs, such as the "denim school run" themed gladuator jacket. In that vein, this project is a perfect match for you.
waterfallOur first effort with THE Mongolian Chops was to promote Fury Lite and Classic Leather, the focus items of last year's FW season. This was one of the movies we made with four brands that Reebok is focusing on.
waterfallIn April of this year, we asked them to design "CLUB C" with a Kabuki theme for the limited opening of the Reebok Classic Store Abeno Hoop store. We already know each other's creations, and we thought the two of you would be the best fit for this theme, so we called on each other.
Yamamoto.So the bar was set very high (laughs). (Laughs.) Since they had chosen us based on their evaluation of us, we did not want to be disappointed, and we felt that we had to surpass our past work. We had never made a suicide suit before, so when they contacted us and said, "We have this next project for you," we had a hard time trying it out (laughs).
You are wearing a Reebok version of the "BOKU HA TANOSHII" T-shirt with impressive embroidery. I have the impression that "THE Mongolian Chops" often uses embroidery in their collections, but it is also a characteristic of their suicide uniforms.
Yamamoto.Prints have their own merits, but we have a kind of "appreciation for embroidery" in our mind. We choose the embroiderer according to the final result: machine embroidery when we want the text to come out clearly, and hand embroidery for products we want to bring out more flavor. This time, I asked a craftsman who can do hand waving, whom I have asked before. She is an old lady who lives in Shikoku, and she can produce a thickness that machine embroidery cannot. But even though we went to such lengths, the T-shirts are actually for the film crew, which we prepared on our own (laughs).
I think it is difficult to get a sense of balance on a flat surface.
Yamamoto.I paste the printed graphic on top of the actual item to be embroidered and send it to the embroiderer, and we exchange ideas on how we want the embroidery to be balanced, but in the end, I have to use my imagination for the final 3D effect. The embroiderer is also a professional, so they understand that.
Suicide suits are also a fashion trend.
waterfallIn "Reebok Classic," the key word for the SS season was "zoku" (continuity), but for the 17FW season, "zoku" (tribe) emerged as the keyword for the tribe. Biker gangs are part of Japanese subculture and street culture, and this overlaps with the base of Reebok Classic. I feel like we landed on the right spot while also keeping up with trends.
Yamamoto.The "ZOKU RUNNER" shoes were expressed in a thrilling way by a Japanese biker gang.
The "リ" in "Reebok Classic" is the character for "wear," and the "イ" is the character for "clothing," so the character "履衣菩躯々疾駆" came about because of these stories.
According to the materials, "'ZOKU RUNNER' was designed with the image of 'running through to the next era, encompassing the body, spirit, and senses that Reebok has accumulated over the years. The letters have a meaning as well.
Shoes means "footwear.
Clothing represents the "covering" and
Bodhi represents "heart and spirit.
The "body" represents the "body".
Luo represents the "vexation of the times.
Shisato means "to run fast."
Yamamoto.As you mentioned earlier, we incorporate interesting elements in our designs that can be understood only by Japanese people, but we had never done so before because suicide uniforms are too centered or difficult to use as a subject matter.
We are always conscious of creating products to the point where we can explain the concept, so it would be a waste if nothing comes out when we dig beyond that point. In this case, as we looked at actual products and materials, we worked out the balance and content of the embroidery on the back.
The words other than guesses, such as "With the pride of the Japanese people, we thank you for your kindness..." show the character of "THE Mongolian Chops".
Yamamoto.We also write what is called "yan shi," or "poetry," on the suicide uniforms. When I thought about what we could write, I suggested the slogan "BOKU HA TANOSII," which I thought would have something in common with "Reebok. Suicide-attack uniforms tend to be scary, so we were conscious of creating an image that was a bit offbeat. I am grateful that people said it was "cool" on the set.
You have designed a vector jersey as well as a suicide suit.
Yamamoto.The theme is the same, but the jackets are available in two colors, blue and black, with different embroidery placement and sizes. The pants are not knickerpockers with the hems tied up, but rather, we had an image in our mind of pants that would be called "suicide pants. However, we realized that these pants would hide the shoes, so we made some alterations to the hems and adjusted the final balance on site.
Filming is just about to begin, but what are some of the highlights of the movie?
Yamamoto.The movie is only a complement to "ZOKU RUNNER," so I hope the suicide uniforms will spice up the movie nicely. I hope that the suicide uniforms will spice up the movie nicely. I hope that people will be thrilled by such things.
The special movie that was completed is shown here! Actor Daishi Nakagawa and actress/model Risa Oda, both dressed in suicide uniforms, make up the main cast, and the thrilling music by DATS gives the movie a thrilling finish. The movie is a perfect representation of the timeless fusion of Japanese street culture, "BOSOUZOKU" and "ZOKU RUNNER.
