TOPIC 09 Will that fashion designer breathe new life into the ever-expanding e-sports scene?
Interest in e-sports is growing due to the new Corona. The number of competitors has been increasing every year, and there are now more than 100 million people worldwide. Global-scale tournaments are also gaining considerable momentum as a future entertainment venue created by digital communities connected around the world. . Nevertheless, the relationship with fashion is still tenuous. However, new actions are definitely emerging, such as "BEAMS" designing the official T-shirt for the e-sports event "RAGE ASIA 2020" and allowing avatars in VR to wear the same T-shirt. Even so, things may be changing with the appointment of Heron Preston, a standard-bearer for genre-crossing collaborations, as Executive Brand Advisor for Gen.Z, a global e-sports organization. In addition to designing limited-edition items, he will also provide advice and counseling on overall operations. We can't wait to see how the ideas of fashion designers will evolve e-sports.
PROFILE
Fashion designer, born in San Francisco in 1983. He studied design and management at Parsons School of Design in New York and received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 2008. He has worked for Nike and as a member of the art collective "Bean Trill," founded his own eponymous brand in 2005, and is a DJ, consultant, and art director.
www.heronpreston.com
TOPIC 10
GR8's Mitsuhiro Kubo turned his attention to Japan.
A unique capsule collection created by Diesel.
PROFILE
Owner and buyer of the select store GR8, he continues to inspire the fashion world with the backbone of the culture he has cultivated, including being named to the BOF 500 in 2017 .
Diesel has announced a collaboration with GR8, one of Tokyo's leading boutiques. However, this is not the kind of collaboration one often sees. GR8's owner and buyer, Mitsuhiro Kubo, has curated a selection of eight unique, independent-minded Japanese designers and artists. Each artwork breathes new life into Diesel's clothes. How did this exciting capsule collection come about, and why did you choose to focus on Japanese artists? We asked Mr. Kubo, who directed this project.
This collaboration was inspired by an encounter with Mr. Renzo Rosso, the founder of Diesel, who came to Japan. Could you tell us again about the concept behind the project?
The concept of the project was directly inspired by our desire to collaborate with a brand with over 40 years of tradition and history, and to make the project not just a commercial one, but one that would follow in Mr. Renzo's footsteps. I wanted to make this project a project that would give people a sense of his efforts and his past trajectory, reminiscent of the company's early days, which is unimaginable given the company's current scale. It would be impossible for a company of Diesel's current size to have been given this much freedom. However, that is the culture, and expressing it through "Diesel" is the main theme of this project.
. Why did you approach designers and artists who are active in Japan?
. originally planned to drop in August of this year. Tokyo is the host city of a world-class sports festival, and I was given the opportunity to communicate with the world as a Japanese from here in Japan. I also wanted to give people a chance to learn about the GR8 through Diesel, so I chose Japanese creators who could convey their feelings in their own words, and who would understand the purpose of this project and take it to heart.
Diesel's denim jackets, sweatshirts, and T-shirts were used as a base, and various techniques such as photography, illustration, calligraphy, and typography were used. What was the process of designing with each creator?
First, we selected about 10 styles that would form the basis of the design that Diesel and I had decided on. From these, we asked each brand to choose a style and design it freely. . I am neither a designer nor a creator. Out of respect for each brand and designer, I did not set any restrictions on their designs so that their individuality would come out 100%. . I also did not voice any of my opinions as a buyer here.
What do you think is the future of collaboration in the fashion and culture scene?
Although the project was underway before the corona became serious, the world was divided by the corona as a result. I used to go abroad once or twice a month, but I have not left Japan for six months now. Now that each country is in a state of isolation, we need to understand the world as a global company. Social media alone has its limitations, and it has become very difficult to understand the fashions that each country is transmitting from afar. This collaboration is a direct communication of current real Asian fashion trends and markets to Italy and the world. Now that we cannot travel back and forth around the world as we used to, this kind of collaboration with a global brand is very meaningful and a great project for both parties to understand each other. By working hand in hand, regardless of the size of the company, the signal will grow, and I believe it will also grow into a culture.
#FR2
FR2 (#FR2), which has been attracting attention for its radical message, is based on the concept of "DANGER" and prints witty graphics that are typical of the brand. Sweatshirt ¥23,000+TAX
CALI × YUTA HOSOKAWA
LA multi-visual artist Kari Thornhill DeWitt and Yuta Hosokawa, designer of the Japanese upcycling brand "READYMADE," have teamed up to create this item. The design incorporates the history of "Diesel," and the Old English font has a great impact. ¥12,000+TAX
D.TT.K
D.TT.K. was started by designer Detke in 2012. The brand proposes new styles with retro-future as its keyword, and offers jackets and knitwear in addition to the long T shown in the photo. ¥15,000+TAX
JUN INAGAWA
At just 19 years old, Jun Inagawa is an up-and-coming artist who has worked with various fashion brands such as Paradise and VLONE. His iconic illustrations are boldly used on this item. Sweatshirt ¥22,000+TAX (Diesel online store and GR8)
KOJI UEDA c/o KOSUKE KAWAMURA
KOJI UEDA c/o KOSUKE KAWAMURA" is a joint project by photographer and filmmaker Koji Ueda and graphic designer Kosuke Kawamura. The concept of this project is "conscious unconsciousness," and in addition to T-shirts printed with Ueda's black-and-white photographs, Kawamura's collage works are also printed on the items. . ¥12,000+TAX
NEGLECT ADULT PATiENTS
NEGLECT ADULT PATiENTS was established in 2018 by Junnosuke Watanabe, who is also a music producer. The design was inspired by the image of "Neglect Adult Patients" invading "Diesel".¥22,000+TAX
REVOLVER
Revolver" is known as a driving force behind the backstreet movement, and was relaunched in January 2020. The graphics by Parisian artist Saumie are impressive, and the design is cool in a way that is typical of the brand. Sweat parka ¥24,000+TAX
ROGIC
ROGIC, a streetwear label launched in 2018 by Mao, a female designer who is also a staff member of Off White Tokyo . For this collaboration, ROGIC released items with bold paisley designs that are representative of the brand. ¥35,000+TAX (all)Diesel Japan(/ Phone: 0120-55-1978)
