The best customer is myself.
Many of the items at "di Dreiberg" are made in Japan. Is that because of the quality?
Ramdan: The products in this store are made in Japan, but Paris is different. I thought that if we were going to open a store in Japan, the products should also be made in Japan. You are right, the quality is very good. However, manufacturing is not easy. The number of factories is decreasing and the craftsmen are getting older. There are fewer and fewer workers.
Have you ever found it difficult to communicate with craftsmen?
Ramdan: Not at all. I have a good team. The problem is, as I said, that the number of factories is decreasing and there is no one to take care of them. That is the result of the Japanese elections, and I feel that people should think more carefully about how they vote.
You introduced a few items earlier, but are there any other items you would recommend?
DIE DREI BERG
PRELIMINARY TEACHING T-SHIRT ¥11,000
Ramdan: Of course. This is a T-shirt that we knit on a loopwheel hang knitting machine. We drew the graphics ourselves. This cut-and-sew is the best. We make them at a factory in Wakayama called Toki, where we have an 86 year old craftsman who also makes crazy sweatshirts.
This item.
DIE DREI BERGE
CASHMERE/COTTON MAXIMAL BUTTON HOODIE ¥113,300
DIE DREI BERGE
CASHMERE / COTTON MAXIMAL SWEATSHIRT ¥97,900
Ramdan: It's cotton on the outside, can you touch the inside?
It is soft and fluffy.
Ramdan: Cashmere. Feels good, doesn't it? Toki's craftsmen said, "We've never made anything like this before" (laughs). It took us three years to develop it.
This shirt is also cute.
DIE DREI BERGE
IMPERIAL SUSHI ROLL SILK SHIRT ¥63,800
Ramdan: It's also the best. They use the best silk in the world, which is also recognized by the Japanese imperial family. China and Brazil are also famous for their silk, but Japanese cocoons are very small and of high quality. They are also very rare. This shirt is made of such material. If you look closely at the dot pattern, you can see that each dot is different in size and expression. All of the patterns were hand-drawn. The buttons are made of shells, again expressing the no-plastic will.
DIE DREI BERGE
GRAND PAPA 1930'S YARN ¥83,600
Ramdan: And then there's knitwear. Hold that for a second.
It's very heavy.
Ramdan: That's right. That's the kind of knit I wanted to make. This is also quality. I wanted to make better products than anyone else. I don't look at the price (laughs).
The design is very classic.
Ramdan: It's classic, but not classic. I am conscious of the perfect balance between the two. The most important customer of this brand is myself. As I said before, I just make what I want to make.
DIE DREI BERGE
ZACAFFE ESPRESSO CUP WITH LID & SAUCER (M) ¥4,950
Is this tableware also made in Japan?
Ramdan: I made it out of Arita porcelain. I had a flash of inspiration while drinking coffee. I wanted to make a cup that would keep my drink from spilling. I like my coffee hot, so I made a cup with a lid.
DIE DREI BERGE
CARABINER BRACELET ¥253,000
What about this series of carabiners?
Ramdan: This is jewelry. I call it the "carabiner collection. I made earrings and bracelets, but they are made of gold and silver, so they are very expensive (laughs).
DIE DREI BERGE
VENTILE ANORAK ¥97,900
Ramdan: Oh yeah, and I also recommend this anorak. I made it for riding a bicycle. The fabric is bentile.
By increasing the density of the weave as much as possible, you are able to achieve a high level of water resistance even with cotton.
Ramdan: The length is also well balanced. I think it should be functional and cool at the same time.
DIE DREI BERGE
DENIM PAINTER PANTS HARD WASH ¥72,600
Ramdan: These pants are also a work of confidence. Various brands have designed painted pants, but there were not many that I felt were original. That's why I made "mountain pants. People used to wear these pants in the past. I was also particular about the pattern, and used the 1968 Levi's® 501® as a reference. It's a perfect shape. I also added three stitches, and the buttons are metal. I also engraved some animals on it for fun.
