Two years after opening the store, the two brands are back on track.

F/CE (F/CE.®), which releases functional and well-designed clothing and bags under the theme of a country on earth each season, and So far (So far), which develops urban, moderately relaxed and stylish clothing based on the concept of "Urban Comfort Casual. ®, which releases bags, and "So far," which develops stylish wear with a modicum of urban sophistication based on the concept of "Urban Comfort Casual. The designer of both brands, Toshifumi Yamane, is a versatile individual who is well versed in outdoor activities, especially camping, and is also known as the bassist of the band "toe.

Yamane takes ideas that occur to him during camping and other activities, or in his daily life, and incorporates them into his creations and designs.

I was in the Boy Scouts when I was in elementary school, and the outdoors has been a part of my life since then. Then, when I grew up and started going to festivals, I started camping again. When I go camping, the design and functionality of the items sometimes pops into my head. Also, by actually moving my body, I can sometimes see what I need to modify in an item. Even if an item is a standard item, we are always updating it to make it the best it can be. Therefore, there is no such thing as a "finished" design.

Mr. Yamane says that he releases the best items at the time while repeatedly updating them each season. The store "ROOT" in Daikanyama offers not only items from both brands, but also clothing and goods selected by Mr. Yamane and his wife and business partner, Asami. The office is located behind the store, and Mr. Yamane's atelier is also in the same building.

In the beginning, we only had a store and an office, but recently we started to have an atelier as well. It has been just two years since the store opened, and the brand has grown, and all the staff members have come to understand their roles and are able to move more actively, so the studio is a necessary space for me to concentrate more on design.

What the car brings to the creation.

Yamane and Asami are at the helm of the brand together. They drive to work together every morning.

We talk about our work while driving. We exchange design ideas with each other, and some of the items we come up with are the result of our discussions. My wife has a different sensibility than I do, so she comes up with ideas that I would never have thought of. We have design meetings every day (laughs). The car creates the basis for our creations.

Of course, driving to work is not the only time he drives. The car is also used for family outings with two children, band practice, and camping trips for pleasure.

My car is not just a means of transportation, but a tool that connects my work, hobbies, and family, and in turn, supports the very foundation of my life. If I didn't have a car, the wheels of my life would go haywire.

Mr. Yamane has always loved the space of cars, and even if his life was difficult, he never missed owning a car.

I think the car is the best space for thinking. I have spent my entire life thinking about various events, so I need to be constantly engaged in my mind. When I drive a car, the scenery changes every time I step on the gas pedal, and looking at it gives me a sense that my thoughts flow smoothly. And when I look at the scenery, my thoughts flow smoothly, and I can get to the right point or come up with a good idea. That is why I like to ride alone in a car. Once upon a time, when I had time, I would get in the car alone and go on spur-of-the-moment excursions. I would often go solo camping with only the bare minimum of luggage.

Mr. Yamane's reasons for solo camping.

After getting married, having a child, and opening his own restaurant, Yamane has not had the opportunity to go camping alone for the past few years, but now that his life has finally settled down, he decided to try camping solo for the first time in a while. After leaving work early, he drove his car to a campground in Yamanashi.

A tent, a sleeping bag, a camping chair, a lantern, a table, a burner, tableware and cutlery, firewood and a fire pit, and a "Jeep Grand Cherokee. Mr. Yamane's style of solo camping with minimalist luggage, without any unnecessary items, is very masculine and cool.

I always pack about this much. In the warm season, I don't even need a tent (laughs). (Laughs) Since I'm a single guy, I cook just enough to cook bacon and boil instant noodles. I also enjoy reading a good book over a campfire. I've been playing the ukulele lately, so I'm going to practice that today.

For Yamane, solo camping is literally "a process of becoming alone.

I think everyone needs some alone time. In my case, I make time for this by camping solo and refreshing my mind by thinking about this and that, or by reading a book and inputting other people's ideas. It's been a while since I've been camping solo, but it's still a great experience.

With the sounds of nature as background music, he reads a book by the light of a campfire. For Mr. Yamane, who lives in the city, the grandeur of nature is an unreal space. Perhaps it is by placing himself in such an environment that he is able to check the functioning of his brain in a way that is different from usual.

When he plays the ukulele, a gentle yet joyful tone echoes in the silence, enveloping the area. Yamane describes herself as "clumsy," but the word doesn't quite fit the way she balances her work, hobbies, and family life.

The appeal of Jeep from the perspective of a designer, a bassist, and a father.

The home in Tokyo that is the base of his life, his studio where he works, a leisure facility where he goes with his family, a studio where he rehearses with his band, and a campsite where he spends his time alone. Jeep" connects each of these fields. What does the designer see in this brand?

He's manly and tough. This is the first thing that comes to mind. This is the unique appeal of Jeep that other car brands don't have. Also, even though it is authentic, I don't think it is popular. It's not flirtatious, or rather, it has a sense of being told that only those who understand it will understand it. I think that's what tickles men's fancy.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee that Mr. Yamane was driving this time is a vehicle with a variety of special features, including a grille that is the same color as the body, 20-inch alloy wheels in gloss black, and seats made of a combination of black leather and suede. The combination of the toughness of the Jeep and the sophisticated image of the charcoal gray color creates a cool and modern finish.

The car is simply cool looking. The interior has a luxurious feel in contrast to the tough body design, and the gap between the two is also nice.

What do you think of the actual driving experience?

The driving performance is outstanding and exhilarating. On high speeds, I can feel the car go forward with just a little pressure on the accelerator pedal, so it's a great feeling to drive. It's also convenient to be able to connect the navigation system to my smartphone via Bluetooth. I can make hands-free calls with it, so when I get a call from work while driving, I can talk without worrying.

In addition, he spoke about this car from his musician's point of view.

As a band, we need a big car to carry our instruments and equipment. In that respect, this car gives me a sense of security. We can carry a lot of stuff. Also, I basically listen to music while driving, not the radio, and I was surprised at the quality of the sound from the speakers. I was surprised at the quality of the sound in the speakers. I find new discoveries when I listen to familiar songs in this car, and it makes driving fun.

I want to drive a car and make more memories with my family.

After waking up early in the morning and having a light breakfast, Mr. Yamane quickly cleaned up and drove to his home where his family was waiting for him.

I have two sons, and the older one will soon be three years old. I would like to go camping with my two boys now that they are getting to know various things. I want them to grow up to be strong, energetic boys who are familiar with the outdoors from a young age.

When they arrived home safely, they were greeted by their family, who showed them to be a friendly family. Yamane-san's face broke into a smile when he saw his older brother, who had expressed a desire to go camping with the two boys, jump into his father's arms with great energy.

My immediate goal as a father is to go camping with my brother first, and then take my younger son camping as a family when he gets older. Until then, of course, I would like to take him to various places in the car and make more and more memories for our family.