MAKAVELIC gives a new challenge. Talkin' about FEARLESS
In 2013, MAKAVELIC started as a bag brand with an unprecedented stance, combining elements of fashion, street, and sports, pursuing functionality but also appealing in a totally coordinated way. The brand, which always surprises us with new challenges, has created the "FEARLESS" series with AKLO, a rapper and pisto bike enthusiast, and LEADER BIKES, the largest pisto bike brand in the United States. AKLO, Yudai Fukui, the representative of BROTURES, the Japanese distributor of LEADER BIKES, and Naoto Kitajima, the director of Machiavellian, talked about this project, which evokes a part of the essence of the Machiavellian brand.
First of all, please tell us how this project got started.
territory (pre-Taika: under the Yamato court; Heian: under a provincial governor, etc.)Originally, I was supporting AKLO as "Machiavellian. He usually rides a pisto bike, and through that connection, I got to know Yudai (Fukui) of BROTURES, and he started carrying "Machavelic" at his store. So, even if there is no problem in his daily life, it would be a different story when he rides a pistol. So, I was thinking, "I'm not sure if this is the case. When I was talking directly with AKLO, he came up with an idea that I could never have imagined.
What was the idea?
territory (pre-Taika: under the Yamato court; Heian: under a provincial governor, etc.)It is usually a large backpack, but it can be partially separated as a waist bag, which is the idea behind the "UNION BACKPACK. It was an idea that stuck with me quite a bit. I thought it would be interesting if it could be realized. And I thought that if we reflected not only AKLO's opinions but also those of "BROTURES", we could aim for a higher level of perfection, so the three of us decided to work on it together.
AKLOI was like, "This is the kind of bag I want to make! It was like, the heat was high (laughs). It was half-assed.
FukuiI had a vision from scratch in my head.
AKLOI have been riding pistols on a regular basis and have tried out many different bags. I have accumulated good and bad points of various bags as my experience, and I always had a feeling that it would be great if there was such a bag, so if there was a real chance, I wanted to do it right. If there was a real opportunity, I wanted to do it right.
territory (pre-Taika: under the Yamato court; Heian: under a provincial governor, etc.)Tell them: tell them I want them to tell me everything that's bothering them when they ride the piste, whatever it is first.
AKLOI was very happy to hear him say so. I was able to boldly express various requests without hesitation.
FukuiMachiavellian did not say "no" at all. （They told us that everything was possible. The level of acceptance was too great (laughs). (Laughs.) We could say whatever we wanted.
territory (pre-Taika: under the Yamato court; Heian: under a provincial governor, etc.)I told the designers to just make it work (laughs). It was a struggle, but it turned out to be a great project with a great sense of accomplishment. I think the good thing about collaboration is that various things and objects are fused together to create something new. We usually make a variety of bags, but this time we were able to learn a lot in terms of ideas, and I think we were able to grow as a brand.
AKLOIt looks mad black and is easy to match from a fashion point of view. Also, actually, for me, the detachable waist bag is the main thing. It's the bare essentials that I would normally keep in my pocket. I can't leave my wallet, cell phone, etc. in it when I'm riding the piste. You don't want to drive while worrying about what will happen if they fall out. So, if you leave the things you need in the smaller bag, you can always use this one as your main bag even when you don't have much luggage. Each part of this bag has been carefully designed, and although it is small, it has the functionality of a serious messenger bag.
Fukui: It looks like a really stiff messenger bag from the front, even when carried on your back. It has a part that allows you to adjust the length of the strap with one hand. There are very few messenger bags that have this level of functionality. And even though it is the size of a pouch, the attention to detail is ultra-luxurious, with cushioning and mesh used on this extra-thick belt to make it breathable (laughs).
AKLO: The backpacks are also highly functional: they have a solid PC compartment and a solid convertment. Also, both bags have my message printed on the inside. The message is "PUCK UP AND LEAVE YOUR FEAR BEHIND," which means, "Pack your bags and leave your fear behind! I thought I was a genius when I came up with the idea!
I see. And it's wonderful that they are not forcibly detachable or 2-way, but rather they look good on their own and are easy to use!
territory (pre-Taika: under the Yamato court; Heian: under a provincial governor, etc.)The designer was very particular about the angle of the form, which allows the bag to be used as a backpack without discomfort even when the waist bag is removed. The item is based on the "LUDUS" series, which is a sports-inspired series. It is made of tough, lightweight, and strong Cordura® fabric, and although it is not completely waterproof, it is highly waterproof. The zippers are made of waterproof YKK, reflectors are used throughout, and there is a lot of attention to detail.
Let me ask you about the other bag, the "ROLLTOP BACKPACK". Did you plan to release two bags in the first place?
territory (pre-Taika: under the Yamato court; Heian: under a provincial governor, etc.)We started with one bag, but when we exchanged opinions with the "BROTURES" staff, they told us that roll-top bags are often used by cyclists because they can easily handle a sudden increase in luggage, so we decided to make a roll-top type as well.
AKLOWe made this bag while talking about how it could also be used for town use if we had a slightly slimmer silhouette. Anyway, the key issue was how to accommodate additional luggage. The netting in the front can hold everything from helmets to jackets. Anyway, the functionality of this series is very interesting. The title of this series, "FEARLESS," means "fearless. You don't want to feel insecure, do you? With this bag, you can go out without any worries.
territory (pre-Taika: under the Yamato court; Heian: under a provincial governor, etc.)The netting can be removed for a simpler, sleeker look. Of course, if you remove the netting, you can have a simpler, sleeker look and enjoy it in two different ways. The logo is a combination of "Leader Bike" and "Machiavellian," and we also used a lot of our original parts. One of them was our original buckle, and everyone liked the plating on the buckle so much that we got excited about making a pisto together since we had done so much (laughs). (Laughs) We decided to have the pistol frame have the same plated look.
FukuiThe mud black texture is a basic symbol of "Leader Bike," but we dared to go for the opposite. The other parts were blacked out and made to look manly, but after assembly, AKLO requested that the suspension be made to the same specs as the piste he usually rides, so we installed full carbon parts and made it a serious bike.
It is a luxurious gem! It really is not just a vague collaboration of all items, but you have created items that are very meaningful to all of you.
territory (pre-Taika: under the Yamato court; Heian: under a provincial governor, etc.)I think it was a good thing that we spent a lot of time discussing our opinions. The three of us and our designer had many meetings since last summer, and we spent a lot of time in preparation, so we were able to create something we were satisfied with at the sample stage. I felt that I had to create something that was equal to the price of the Leader Bike, so I did not compromise on any of the materials or parts, and I did the best I could.
AKLOI feel that both "BROTURES" and "Machiavellian" place great importance on fashion. Yudai often says that he wants people to ride bicycles in style. I didn't want to make a bag for a piste that was too stiff, because it would make people feel uncomfortable on the street after getting off the piste. I wanted to make a bag that would be stylish even after getting off the piste. In that sense, the quality is of course perfect, but I think the design is also excellent.
territory (pre-Taika: under the Yamato court; Heian: under a provincial governor, etc.)Thanks to your support, this has been a truly rewarding project. The bags are not limited to this one time only, but we would like to continue to make them a standard item, and if there are any requests for something like this for riding a bike in the future, it would be ideal to release them again as part of the "FEARLESS" series.
Right: Director of "Machiavellian". After studying branding and manufacturing at a certain maison brand, he joined a bag manufacturing company, Regalis, and launched "Machiavellian" in 2013. He has been creating a global branding that crossovers the culture of Tokyo, where he grew up, with fashion.
AKLO Middle: Rapper. Born in Tokyo and raised in Mexico, he is a member of One Year War Music. He has released three full-length albums and is highly acclaimed beyond the Hip Hop scene for his outstanding skills and musicality. In his private life, he has been a longtime user of a pisto bike.
Yudai Fukui Left: Representative of "BROTURES," which is also the Japanese distributor of "Leader Bike," the largest pisto bike brand in the United States. He is a leading figure in the Japanese pisto industry, and in January 2017, he opened "DOGGY BRO." in Chigasaki, Kanagawa, a store that redefines and enriches the relationship between dogs and humans.
