New Era's backpacks are just right in function and design.

What kind of bags do you usually use?

the national well. a backpack. I often carry samples and my computer with me at work . I use a collaboration model with Yohji Yamamoto from "New Era.

What do you look for in a backpack?

the national well. minimalist in design. . And then there's durability. . As for functionality, as long as it is practical, but I don't want it to be excessive. . Because, after all, most of the time I can't even use it (laughs).

I see. So you are using items from "New Era" based on these points.

the national well. Yes, it is. New Era is not over-specialized in terms of function and design, but rather practical and just right. It has a good balance of design and function, and is very suitable for town use.

Kunii-san, I have the image that you usually wear black clothes and items.

the national well. is black. . I'm trying to reduce the number of choices in my daily routine. I still have trouble with mornings, so if I keep it total, I don't have to worry about which sneakers to wear that day. . I'm wearing burgundy today, but usually I wear all black. When I think of a bag that goes with such an outfit, black is the first thing that comes to mind.

New Era" gives the impression of being close to your lifestyle.

What kind of image do you have of the New Era brand?

the national wellI am a fan of New Era's apparel as well as the caps and bags they release. I myself use caps, clothes, and backpacks in my daily life, so they are really familiar to me.

Do you use it outside of your work?

the national well. I wear a New Era cap on my baseball team, so I am familiar with the brand in the sports scene. So I am familiar with New Era in the sports scene. Also, this is my job, but when I go on business trips in Japan, my carry-on case is also made of "New Era.

. You are a pretty heavy user, aren't you?

the national well: Yes, that's right. So I think the general image of the cap brand is highly recognized, but I also have the impression that "New Era" is close to our lifestyle.

What do you think about the affinity with sneakers, which is your area of expertise?

the national well. Many of the customers who come to "mita sneakers" wear "New Era" caps, and I often see people color-coordinating their sneakers with "New Era" caps. So I think sneakers and "New Era" are a great match in terms of fashion.

The tuning is attractive in a Shimono-kun way.

Mr. Kunii was asked to carry the collaboration model with "With Limited" this time. . What were your first impressions of this item?

the national well. The use of suede, the many metal parts, and the use of materials is extravagant. And yet the price is reasonable at 18,000 yen. I was very surprised at the gap. I thought the cost performance was extremely high.

. Certainly, the price is quite reasonable for the look and quality of the product.

the national wellI can only speculate, but I think that when "With Limited" collaborates, it is because there is some kind of meaning behind the collaboration. In this case, I think the reason why they collaborated with New Era, even though they have the background to produce their own bags, is because the designer, Mr. Shimono, was attracted to the functionality and practicality of New Era's bagpacks. I have actually seen Mr. Shimono carrying a New Era bag on his back many times.

You are usually friends with the designer, Mr. Shimono, aren't you?

the national well. Yes, there is. And this item is very "With Limited" like. The use of materials such as suede and metal fittings is a good blend of modern and classic. New Era's backpacks have a rather technical image, but by adding new elements to it, you have sublimated it into a product that is more like "With Limited. It is as I would expect.

What kind of image do you have of the "With Limited" brand?

the national well. I think it is a brand that shows a different approach each season with an unshakable core. I often spend time with Shimono, and his lifestyle is reflected in his creations. He incorporates his current interests into his creations, which surprises me every time I see his collections.

I see.

the national well. Also, Mr. Shimono has a wonderful balance between decorative and functional beauty. If one or the other were to stand out, it would be unbalanced, but Shimono-kun's items are all skillfully tuned, fashionable and practical at the same time. That's why they are so appealing.

The identities of "With Limited" and "New Era" coexist.

How did you feel when you actually used this item?

the national well: I don't feel a lot of peace of mind. . because the color is black and it fits my taste. . Also, the design is good. It's not too simple, but the use of the aforementioned materials and the embroidered accents that are typical of "With Limited" give it individuality as a stand-alone item. At the same time, it still has the distinctive features of a "New Era" backpack, doesn't it?

What about the functional aspects?

the national well.: I like that it has a compartment in it for caps. . I sometimes take several caps with me on business trips. I am happy to have such a compartment, and I feel that the protector that is included to prevent the caps from losing their shape inside the bag is an appealing feature of the cap brand. Moreover, the protector keeps the silhouette of the bag itself beautiful.

Do you yourself often use a tubular backpack like this?

the national well: Yes, that's right. . I like to carry my luggage in a gusset, so I tend to use a cylindrical shape that can hold a relatively large amount of space. . Because of my job, I have meetings with various brands, so I often have the opportunity to carry several pairs of sneakers with me at all times. . So it is very helpful to have such a large capacity. . This item also has a holder for a PC, so it's safe.

What do you think about the size?

the national well. just right. It holds a good amount of space, yet is kept to a size for town use. It's not too big to be like, "Where are you going?" . It's a size that doesn't make you say, "Where am I going?

Finally, in your lifestyle, what kind of situations would you be able to use this backpack?

the national well. I guess it's work after all. . I usually have a lot of luggage, so I think this is a daily-use item. . It would also be easy to use when I go on business trips. The color is black, so it goes well with my style, which is always all black. It looks good in every way.