PROFILE
Born in Nara, Japan in 1994. He launched his own brand "DAIRIKU" while enrolled in the Fashion Design Department at Vantan Design Institute, and won the Grand Prix at the Asia Fashion Collection in 2016. His items inspired by movies are gaining popularity among young people.
PROFILE
Born in Miyagi Prefecture in 1991, he has been working for BAYCREW'S since 2020 in both PR and buying in addition to his duties at Red Wing. He is directing the new "BAYCREW'S DEPO" upon the opening of the "BAYCREW'S STORE" in Nagoya.
The relationship is more like that of friends than business associates.
Please start by telling us how the two of you, who are also good friends in your private lives, met.
Abe:Our first encounter was four or five years ago. It was the setup for the first Dairiku pop-up at the Shibuya store of 417 Edifice, which is operated by BAYCREW'S, wasn't it?
Okamoto:That's right. When we were exhibiting for the first time as "Dairiku" at a joint exhibition, the buyer of "417 Edifice" at the time found us. I was told about the pop-up at that time.
Abe:The pop-up was such a success that from the very first day, there was a huge lineup of people who wanted to buy "Dairiku" products, and most of the items were gone by morning. Since then, we have been working on some kind of special order every season.
Why did BAYCREW'S take notice of Dairiku when it was still not very well known in Tokyo?
Abe:What I remember clearly is that one of our senior buyers who discovered "Dairiku" said, "It really hit me. I am a buyer myself, so I understand that it takes a lot of courage to do a special order from the very first season of dealing with a brand. If we do a special order and it doesn't sell at all, it will damage the brand's image. However, I felt that if we worked together, including PR, Dairiku would be a sure thing.
Okamoto:It was the first pop-up we held on a large scale in Tokyo, and I remember it was a lot of fun, with drinks being served and all kinds of people coming to the event. I think it was a very big deal for the brand to be able to take the first step of wanting to put our clothes in stores in Tokyo from the second season, and to be able to do a pop-up.
What does BAYCREW'S mean to you?
Okamoto:When I held pop-ups, I was given a fairly spacious place to hold them, and they lent me a TV for display and other things to do what I wanted to do. I was very happy with BAYCREW's attitude.
Abe:We have experience with the first pop-up, where we did what the continent wanted to do and it worked out well, so I have confidence in him. I think it is the brand's intention, as well as my own, to realize the continent's requests as much as possible.
But isn't it partly because of the trust between the two of you?
Abe:There is a special feeling that you don't get from other brands, isn't there? I have been watching the brand since its early days. I think our relationship is more like that of friends than business associates.
Okamoto:We often have fun in private. The other day, Abe-san gave me a ride in his car and we went to a furniture store together. We have quite different tastes in clothing, so I often learn about new brands and stores. We talk about a wide variety of things.
