I want to bring out my personal side a little more.
In this age of online shopping, I would like to know what is behind your decision to create a store.
Kojima: When we celebrated our 10th anniversary and decided to move on to the next step, we wanted to share a stronger image with not only our existing customers, but also with our overseas customers and those who will come to know our brand in the future.
Do you share the same worldview that Kojima-san describes?
Kojima: That's right. The source of our designs is basic men's clothing, so we are very particular about materials and details. We want to convey this to our customers. We want people to actually see, touch, and hear our thoughts. We really needed a place to do that.
The brand logo has also changed this time, right?
Kojima: We commissioned art director Naomi Hirabayashi. She also created the brand logo, shoppers, store cards, tags to be attached to clothing, and other shop-related fixtures.
Kojima: Your art direction is simple, yet very powerful. He cuts down on the parts that need to be cut down and conveys exactly what needs to be conveyed. I was attracted to that. Twelve years have passed since the brand was launched, and when I thought about the next 10 years, I felt that such a focused art direction was necessary.
Do you have an image in mind?
Kojima: We have ordered something classic and long-lasting. However, some people have the impression that the word "classic" means "classical. My image of a classic is not so much a classic as a universal classic, and I didn't want it to look too old-fashioned. I didn't want it to look too old-fashioned, and I wanted it to be something that would never fade away. You have done a wonderful job of giving form to this idea.
Has anything changed in the 12 years since the brand was launched?
Kojima: The focus has always been changing, but looking back over the past 12 years, what we have been doing has basically remained the same. Even though there have been changes in our output methods, what we like to do has remained the same. However, I think that owning a store will allow me to expand the variety of what I do. We need to make products that match the season and we need to think of tricks to make our customers enjoy our products.
Do you feel like your state of mind has changed since the store was actually opened?
Kojima: It is fun to build a base. It was a lot of work when I was building it, but now that it's finished, it's a lot of fun. I would like to show more of my personal side. This is the first store, so I'm thinking of just having "Captain Sunshine," but I'd like to open another store, and if that happens, I'd like to do vintage, select, furniture, and food and beverage someday. I have a lot of ideas.
It's like a new channel has been added to the design process.
Kojima: That's exactly how I feel. In creating this store, we visited many stores. For example, when looking for a particular pot, who should I consult? When I talked with various people in this way, I was stimulated by the fact that they had different ideas from my own.
It would be fun to hold events.
Kojima: We are thinking about that as well. We will decide on that while discussing it with the staff, but we are looking for an approach that is unique to us, not just a pop-up.
