PROFILE
Influenced by his father, a mountain guide, he became a certified guide himself, and his mountaineering has surpassed the realm of his hobbies. He loves to dance at festivals and enjoys the outdoors, and goes to Fuji Rock every year.
PROFILE
In 2011, he joined "World Party Inc. He actively participates in music festivals while working as a sales representative for rain goods. He has been involved with "Kiwi" since the brand's initial launch in 2013. Currently, he oversees everything from product planning to the PR department.
PROFILE
As a stylist, he has worked for various media and brand catalogs. She specializes in outdoor styling, and is particularly well versed in gear and activities. Recently, a big change has come to her personal life with the birth of her second child.
It all started at a festival site in a dreary rainstorm.
KiU is a familiar name in the festival scene.
Kondo: Recently, I have been taking some time off to raise my children, but before they were born, I used to go to festivals frequently. I used to go to festivals frequently until my child was born, such as "Fuji Rock" and "Mori, Michi, Ichiba (Forest, Road, Market). I especially love "Fuji Rock" so much that I always go every year. I prefer festivals with a relaxed, happy atmosphere rather than intense music.
Seven Seas: I also go to "Fuji Rock" every year. I have also attended "Asagiri JAM" without fail for the past four years. I often have a great time with a large group of people.
Nanami-san, I understand that you love the outdoors and are a certified mountain climbing guide. Do you also go camping?
Seven Seas: Yes, I am a member of the community. I like to spend time in nature, so I camp and enjoy all outdoor activities, including mountain climbing. I actually have a 99%UV-cut folding umbrella from Kiwi.
So you are a real user. So, Mr. Yoshii, please tell us again about the origin of KIU.
Yoshii: Kiu was born in 2013 out of a company called World Party, which at the time was developing an umbrella brand for women called Wpc. The former president and many of the staff were music lovers, and the idea was to create unisex rainwear that could be used at festivals. At the time, the only options for rain protection at festivals were transparent raincoats from convenience stores or expensive, plain raincoats from outdoor brands.
The idea was to create functional and well-designed rainwear by utilizing the company's expertise in waterproofing and water repellency. This is how Kieu was born. Since this is our starting point, we design every pattern from scratch.
Yoshii: Incidentally, the name "kiu" is a seasonal word meaning "joyful rain. In the old days, when crops did not grow due to drought, people used to rejoice at the rainfall. It is a brand name that expresses the philosophy of coexisting with, rather than competing with, nature, no matter what the weather.
Please tell us about the functional aspects of your rainwear.
Yoshii: KIU's basic products boast high waterproof performance, with a water pressure resistance of 20,000 mmH2O. Considering that the water pressure resistance of ordinary tents is between 3,000mmH2O and 5,000mmH2O, these tents are designed to withstand heavy rainfall.
When the brand was first launched, we sold ponchos with a water pressure resistance of about 3,000 mmH2O, but we found that water seeped in after prolonged exposure to rain, so we increased the water pressure resistance to 5,000 mmH2O and then to 10,000 mmH2O. But one year, "Fuji Rock" was rained on like a storm, and...
Kondo: I was there too. It was amazing. I think it was around 2018 or 9.
Yoshii: That's right. From there, with the determination to "create a poncho that can withstand any weather conditions," the water pressure resistance was raised to 20,000 mmH2O. The K404 standard rain poncho from KIU is equipped with this high water pressure resistance. However, higher water pressure resistance inevitably increases the price, so we also offer a model with a water pressure resistance of 10,000 mmH2O that is easy to use on a daily basis.
How are the seams handled?
Yoshii: At festivals, people often wear ponchos with backpacks on their backs and without umbrellas. Even under such circumstances, the ponchos are seam taped to prevent water from entering through the seams, making them waterproof down to the smallest detail. Kieu is a brand that has grown while being closely connected to festival culture. Kieu is a brand that has grown up in close connection with the festival culture, and its commitment to waterproof performance is thorough, offering rainwear that is comfortable in any weather conditions.
