STYLE 02_Keiji Kaneko What we are looking for is not only functionality.
PROFILE
After working as a buyer at a select store, he launched "Reshop" and in 2023 opened a Western-style boutique in Gaienmae.
@keijikaneko
I understand that you have competed in cyclocross (off-road cycling) competitions.
Kaneko: When I was most enthusiastic, I used to ride my road bike about 1,000 km per month. I had a pneumothorax and had to take a break from racing, but recently I have gradually started to get back into it.
How did you manage your career and training while also supervising various brands and labels?
Kaneko: I valued the importance of balance. I kept my weekday practices to an hour and a half in the morning and finished them early in the morning so as not to inconvenience my family or work. In fact, I think exercising had a positive effect on my work. I think it's hard to come up with a breakthrough idea if you just work long hours at a leisurely pace. I felt comfortable resetting my brain by pushing myself through training.
What is your impression of Everlast?
Kaneko: It is a brand that still has an American feel to it. I myself was originally influenced by European fashion, so it was a school that I did not go through when I was young. But as I have grown up, I have lost my obsession with strange things, and the American mood is very interesting to me.
What are the key points of today's styling?
Kaneko: I imagined an American version of the tight silhouette and logo wear style of the mods and skins of the UK fashion scene. I have put together a collection of familiar items that can be found anywhere, such as vintage "Lee" slim pants.
You approach sports brands in a way that only a fashion lover can.
Kaneko: I myself am the type of person who likes to wear cotton T-shirts when training and get soaked with sweat. In the movie "Rocky," Sylvester Stallone was running in a sweatshirt and "Converse," and his sweat was soaked through. I find that kind of look cool. If he had been wearing a normal jersey made of synthetic fiber, I don't think it would have been so memorable.
Indeed, that figure is iconic, isn't it?
Kaneko: I think there is a difference between seeking comfort and style. We are not only looking for functionality, but also for coolness, even if it is a little inconvenient. It may be similar to the feeling of liking old cars or old jeans. In that sense, I think that "Everlast" clothes strike the perfect balance between active and lifestyle.
What do the brand's themes of "strength" and "beauty" mean to you?
Kaneko: I believe that what we can gain from training is not only superficial strength or physical beauty, but also something more valuable than that. It is beautiful to have mental strength that never shows fatigue, and to be able to look dignified at any time. Even when wearing simple clothes, this kind of charm can be seen in one's appearance.
