Is this bag necessary?
Key people in Kansai who quickly discovered Monolith.

Nakamuro：You and Mr. Fujiwara met back in 2013, right?

Fujiwara:Has it been that long already? At the exhibition of Teatra's debut season, the designer, Daisuke Kamide, introduced us as "old friends. Mr. Nakamuro is a well-known figure in the fashion industry, so I knew of him, and after that, I was impressed by the excellent work he was doing through "Eyevol" (which Mr. Nakamuro directs), which is also selected at our store. I had actually overheard that Mr. Nakamuro was working on a new brand in collaboration with Seiban, which is known as the largest manufacturer of school bags. I was very happy when I heard about it. Before I actually saw the samples, I was overwhelmed by the catchphrase, "Is this bag necessary? I was overwhelmed by the catchphrase "Do you need this bag?

Nakamuro：When we started the brand, we were looking for a challenging hook that would make people think, "What? I was looking for a challenging hook that would make people think, "What? I was looking for something challenging from a PR standpoint. One day, I came across a hanging advertisement for a women's college that read, "Women should not go to college. I couldn't help but read the text and was fascinated to see that it said, "That story is now a thing of the past." I thought that if I wanted to get people's attention from the first impression, I should choose such bold words.

Fujiwara:Each item is compelling, as if based on that concept. Like the "Converse" All Star, the designs of daypacks and two-way bags have remained unchanged over the years. Without deviating from these rules, Monolith's unique creations are demonstrated in the use of materials and the position of pockets. From the moment I saw the bag, I thought, "This bag will definitely please our customers. We want to carry it at our store.

Nakamuro：Thank you very much. Actually, I was dreading until I received the order sheet, wondering if it would be OK... (laughs).

Fujiwara:If Mr. Nakamuro gives me an enthusiastic explanation, I can't say no (laughs). (Laughs.) But the items we carry in our store are not only "monoliths," but all of them have the maker's face visible through them. Like "Eyevol," which transcends the boundaries between fashion and sports, Mr. Nakamuro's thinking is very thorough, isn't it? I felt that the "Tote Office M" was symbolic of this. It is a tote-like design, but its vertical form, which I have never seen before, is innovative.

Nakamuro："STANDARD", "OFFICE", and "PRO" are the three categories, and this tote bag is for the "OFFICE" category, which is designed for work style. This tote bag is an "OFFICE" bag designed for work style. The vertical length of the bag goes well with the jacket, and it is less likely to touch the person beside you on the train, so you can move smartly inside the train or on the platform.

Fujiwara:I myself commute by train, so I was convinced. Vertical bags tend to conjure up images of canvas eco-bags, but "Monolith" is a tough and functional material. Moreover, it is well thought out to accommodate digital devices. I think it's a fresh design that people who know what they are doing will notice.

Nakamuro：I am honored to hear you say so. I once organized a pop-up event at "Reshop" in Tokyo, and customers came to the store for the event saying, "I've been waiting for a bag like this! and they came to the store for the event. They ranged from people in their late 20s to people in their 40s. It was the moment when I was convinced that there were only a few bags that could be used for work.

Fujiwara:And all models have a sleeve for a PC, don't they? As work styles shift under the influence of Corona, we have selected a wide range of bags in our store to "respond flexibly to our customers' requests.

Nakamuro：Bags for daily use do not originally need such high specifications. A simple daypack with a single compartment would be sufficient. However, if there is a function, you will want to use it, won't you? The same goes for the laptop sleeve and the smartphone pocket on the side. We hope that the added details will encourage users to take action. In this day and age, though...

Fujiwara:We have asked for additional orders for the 27L medium size, and the 33L large size is also in short supply at the moment.

Nakamuro：For me, it was a surprise. I had just been asked to do an interview for another media outlet for a project called "I've Stopped Wearing Small Bags. I was asked. I used to be fine with a satchel, but now it seems that bags need to have a pocket for a PC so that remote meetings can be held wherever you are. It seems that the mainstream is to carry a variety of things in storage. I think it's a perfect tailwind (laughs).

Fujiwara:As with digital devices, which are becoming smaller and smaller, it is common for other bag brands to sell smaller sizes. However, in the case of "Monolith," the high-end models are overwhelmingly supported by customers, saying, "If I'm going to buy it anyway, I should get it. Bags are not something you replace often, so I think this is proof that the product itself has strong appeal. In addition, our customers are also pleased with the exquisite price setting, which is not too difficult to afford.

Nakamuro：It was a very important point that Seiban understood our needs. It took about two years of development, and the choice of materials was a process of trial and error. Normally, we would have had to consider a little more, but we were able to achieve the current reasonable price by adding professionals who are experienced in bag manufacturing to the production team. Even so, it is not a cheap purchase....

Fujiwara:You have been active in the PR world for a long time, and you have a clear vision for branding, don't you?

Nakamuro：That's right. When I launched Monolith, I wanted to create something that I would be happy with for the rest of my life. I am also involved in producing and planning brands, but I always think of PR as my main focus. Eyevol was essential to the PR of Ivan, and the relationship between Seiban and Monolith is the same. In order to cherish this worldview, we have Seyvan's understanding of our approach to manufacturing at our own pace.

Fujiwara:I think it is a difficult task to maintain quality without changing the world view as lifestyles change. In the future, you will be updating the invisible parts as well, won't you?

Nakamuro：That is exactly how we think, and we do not consider our new products to be in their current state of perfection. We hope to receive feedback from our users and continue to evolve. We will probably never be finished, but we are eager to absorb what we feel when using the bags.

Fujiwara:As the custodian of the brand, I am trying to let everyone in town know about it without compromising the philosophy of Monolith.

Nakamuro：I have absolute confidence in our products, but I never expected to be introduced to a brand that has just entered its 1st season to this extent. Thank you so much. I was happy to be able to talk with you at leisure today.