When working together, it is easy to recognize commonalities.
-Before the start of this interview, I saw Mr. Sasaki and Mr. Kawase greet each other, saying "Nice to meet you. And yet, I thought it was amazing how well the space and uniforms matched each other.
Nakamuro：Mr. Sasaki was quick to provide me with a 3D CG drawing of this space, and the quality was so high that I immediately showed it to Mr. Kawase. I showed it to Mr. Kawase right away, but even though we threw out our ideas at about the same time, it is amazing that we were able to come up with something that resonated so well with each other. I am truly grateful to both of you.
Sasaki-san and Kawase-san, was there anything that was difficult for you to express?
Sasaki:The fabrics, details, and designs of Monolith's products all have their reasons, and although they must be difficult to make, the concept itself is very clear. That's why it was easy for me to understand, and I was able to get into it easily. I could easily understand what was OK and what was not.
Kawase:I am of the same opinion. When I heard about Monolith's philosophy and approach to products, I thought, "I see. It was very clear and easy to understand, and at the same time, it was very easy to visualize Mr. Nakamuro's vision. It was easy to visualize the vision that Mr. Nakamuro had. Then, the idea of this kind of wear came to me rather smoothly. That is why I was happy with Mr. Nakamuro's path.
The core of the brand was solid, so all you had to do was match it.
Nakamuro：The way we make bags is totally different from the way we make clothes. I am the director, and the designers actually design the bags. Therefore, I felt that unless we had a clear guideline, things would fall apart. When we work together on a product, we sometimes get stuck, but if we have a clear concept, we can go back to it. In other words, when multiple people are working together, it is easy to reaffirm commonalities. This also works when people like Mr. Sasaki and Mr. Kawase are involved. I thought that concept is really important.
Sasaki:Wittgenstein has been a theme of mine for over 10 years, and I have even visited the site and looked at many things there. I have always wanted to somehow apply that feeling to my designs, but I have never had the opportunity to do so.
Nakamuro：So you have been in the warehouse for over 10 years? Was there no place to get hooked?
Sasaki:It is quite difficult because the space concept is the opposite of commercial design. But this time, I had the feeling that we finally achieved it. I was very happy about that.
Nakamuro：It is difficult for me to say this as the creator of "Monolith," but a year has passed since its launch, and I am finally beginning to understand the brand in some respects. When you have just started out, it is difficult to determine what is right and what is wrong. But through the creation of this store, that became clear. After a year, I finally understood what "monolithic style" is.
Kawase:It would be great if we could make more updated products when the season changes or when a new store is opened. When the second store opens, please let us make a second model (laughs).
Sasaki:Please do so!
What are your expectations for the brand now that this store is open?
Nakamuro：I am feeling a lot of pressure, but as I mentioned earlier, I hope that the tension in this space will come across naturally. The two of you designed the space and the uniforms to showcase the Monolith bags in the best possible light. I think that the atmosphere in this store will help people feel the appeal of the products even more. The items are filled with various reasons and logic, which can be explained in words, but I would be happy if you could feel it firsthand.
1WAY SOLID OFFICE M Based on the "2WAY SOLID OFFICE," it has been updated from a 2-way to a 1-way backpack to make it even easier to carry. In addition to dedicated storage for PCs and tablets, it features a magnet pocket, quick access to smartphones, and other features that make it highly compatible with mobile devices. The zipper is made of YKK AQUAGUARD to cope with inclement weather. Limited to Monolith Marunouchi and online store only. ¥37,400
