So, What is NEW VINTAGE? Vol.68 If you are looking for a Y2K style bag, look no further than Oakley's iconic bag.

In the 1990s, the term "vintage" was used to describe vintage clothing that did not meet the definition of "antique," but was still valuable. Nowadays, there is a movement to find new value in "new vintage," even in old clothes from the 1980s onward, which were called "regular" at the time. In this project, four vintage clothing stores with different styles propose new ways to enjoy vintage clothing. Each of them will talk about the charm of vintage clothing with their own sense of style.

Season 9 has restarted with all the stores replaced, and the 68th edition, the last of the first round, features Koji from danjil, who is back on board for the first time since Season 2.

Text_Tommy
Edit_Yosuke Ishii

Koji / danjil Manager
Vol.68_Oakley's iconic backpacks

-. This is my second time on the board since Season 2. What are the new vintage items you will be introducing?

Oakley's Icon Backpack ¥39,800(Danzil)

Oakley's "Icon Backpack" is a classic backpack that has been released in a variety of designs. Among Oakley's backpacks, this model is known as a classic backpack that has been released with different designs. In the past few years, the 1990s and 2000s styles have been the focus of attention, and many of you may have seen them on social networking sites and the like. The "2.0" and "3.0" backpacks used to be available in two different sizes, but it seems that only the "2.0" is currently available, and we have prepared a colorful version of the 1990s "deca logo" backpack.

. - I have the impression that at that time, they were often published in culture and fashion magazines that also covered extreme sports, such as Warp Magazine.

Extreme Sports!　Sounds nostalgic, doesn't it? Since these items were made around 1998, they are linked to the period when such culture was just getting popular, so the tough details that are "only possible" are fresh when we look at them now. For example, the straps and other plastic parts are made by a company called "ITW," which is officially adopted by the U.S. military. This company is also famous for its bags used by "bagjack," a German-born professional-use bag brand that also designs bags for special forces.

Oakley's Icon Backpack ¥39,800(Danzil)

-Does the design basically stay the same all the time?

Some details have been added over time, and some have been omitted, but the basic elements have not changed. The Cordura nylon body, the tough handles and studs, the upper eyewear pocket, the back panel that enhances carrying comfort, and the organizer pocket that can protect and store digital gadgets are just a few examples. The biggest difference between the current model and the model of that time is the three-point fastening flap that covers the front of the bag.

Oakley's Icon Backpack ¥39,800(Danzil)

-I miss it!　I'm sure many of us were screwed at the time by this over-the-top look that visualized functionality.

Right . Also, one of the charms of this backpack is that it maintains its form regardless of how much or how little you carry. At that time, big backpacks were popular on the streets, and many brands released them. However, the amount of luggage one carries on a daily basis is quite limited, and the bag itself tends to be crumpled and ugly when carried on the back. So, when carrying a large backpack, everyone used to put a book or a change of T-shirt in it to keep the silhouette of the bag. Another manner of carrying was to wear long straps "hanging down. However, some people liked the crumpled shape of the straps, so I guess it was up to each person to decide what he or she liked best.

-What was the internal structure made of?

Flip down the three-point flap to reveal the main compartment, which opens with a hook-and-loop fastener. In addition, the lower front pocket functions as a large pocket that can be used for a variety of purposes, such as storing a helmet for snowboarding or MTB, dirty clothes, etc. There are also side pockets. There are also side pockets, and in short, all the functions that were considered "nice to have" in the 90's and 00's have been incorporated.

Oakley's Icon Backpack ¥39,800(Danzil)

-. Every single thing tickles a man's fancy, doesn't it? In recent years, the popularity of the tech style has led to a reevaluation of the "Oakleys" of "back in the day," and I wonder if these items are also fetching high prices in the vintage clothing market.

It is messed up and expensive. However, it also depends on the condition. In many cases, parts made of rubber or plastic materials are damaged due to age-related deterioration, or the body itself has a smell or the fabric coating has peeled off. So, the market price is generally from 20,000 yen to 40,000 yen in a complete condition.

-I see. . It's a side effect of the state-of-the-art construction of the time.

However, I personally like the fact that it uses "parts that break down over time. The sense of impermanence, that it is not something that will last a lifetime, is also irresistible.

-and there are a lot of people looking for it.

The Y2K boom has led to a huge increase in the number of these items. In our case, we have been promoting these items for a long time, and we just happened to fall in with the times. Recently, there have been many cases where the clothes are in Y2K style, but the shoes and bags are not in perfect condition, and I feel that it is a waste of time, even though they are so close to the end of the line. I would like to recommend this to such bag refugees. In these uncertain times, I want people to keep both hands free in their daily lives (laughs).

Koji / danjil Manager
In 2003, he opened "danjil," a vintage clothing store featuring items related to American culture from the 1980s to the 2000s, in Machida, which was known as a mecca for vintage clothing in the southwest area of Tokyo. The store, which celebrated its 20th anniversary on July 7 this year, is filled with items related to street culture and American sports, making visitors "lovers" fainter in agony. He is also the director of the up-and-coming brand "Cotton Pan.
Instagram:@danjil2