There is value in putting out something that has the scent of Mr. Kumagai.
Did you find a lot of bargains when you were picking up the items?
Kanno:Of course. There are many items that I think are typical of Mr. Kumagai, and I have brought some items here today that I think are among the best.
Kumagaya:You know exactly what I mean (laughs).
All:(Laughter).
Kanno:Items that I have seen styled in magazines, or clothes that Mr. Kumagai himself has worn in snapshots. I think the value of this event lies in presenting items that have the scent of Mr. Kumagai.
You said that you have been collecting since you were in your twenties. Do you collect from all over the world without limiting the area you buy from?
Kumagaya:I have a big body, so clothes from overseas have to fit me. So when I went abroad, I dug for clothes and often went to flea markets.
Also, there was a vintage clothing store called "Voice" once upon a time, and I helped them buy in Los Angeles, and I also went with them to Holland to buy for a vintage clothing store called "Vintage King", so I bought things I picked up from their buying perspective and things I liked myself in various places. I also buy things that I like from the store's buying point of view. One pair of [Carhartt] work pants is enough, but I have many more (laughs).
Kanno:Duck work pants are heavy, so I only brought these today, but there are more (laughs). (Laughs) We also have jackets and vests. The value of American-made "Carhartt" is rising in the vintage clothing market, so I think the timing is very good. And the silhouette is thick, so it fits with the current mood of the city.
Kumagaya:You know how young girls are getting better at dressing these days? Even thin girls wear thick pants well.
Kanno:But not all of them are big, and some of them fit true to size.
I would love to hear your memories of the items here.
Kumagaya:I used to wear this china jacket with white downy paints to parties and such. The same goes for this happi coat. I used to wear shorts with "Alden" shoes.
Kumagaya:You didn't wear the Guatemalan shirt in an old-fashioned way, but with clean pants on the bottom. I don't think shirts of this size come along very often, so I recommend it.
Kumagaya:And the jacket is probably remade vintage clothing. I think I bought it in Los Angeles. The yellow seersucker is from [Marcel Lassens], right?
Tailored jackets like this are fresh when you look at them now.
Kanno:I think Mr. Kumagai made it fashionable to match these jackets with short shorts.
Kumagaya:Can I still wear it? Let's try to put some sleeves through it.
Kanno:I also like the way it looks worn over a T-shirt. It's hard to get hold of on its own, but when you actually wear it and style it, it looks great.
Were all of the items purchased overseas?
Kumagaya:No, I also go to Japanese folk craft stores, so I bought the happi coat there. I also go to flea markets held at temples in Kyoto. I like "Jantique" in Nakameguro, and I bought some things there.
Kumagaya:The short-sleeved shirts around here are made in Italy, but I think I bought them at "Jantique". I just love Mr. Uchida's selections.
Do you release more vintage clothing at this event than you do at regular events?
Kumagaya:What do you think?
Kanno:The old stuff is really old. There were some regular old clothes, but many of them I thought were probably worn in hassles. Aloha shirts made in China, polyester shirts, and so on. The shirt I am wearing today is also Mr. Kumagai's.
Kumagaya:Really? I didn't notice that at all.
Kanno:There are lots of shirts like this. There are also lots of short-sleeved open-collar shirts and so on.
I can see the breadth of the genres.
Kumagaya:I think it is wide-ranging. It is in season from time to time. I don't wear heavy clothes anymore, such as duck pants.
Kanno:You like work-type clothing, don't you? There were jeans, of course, but there were also lots of painter's pants.
Kumagaya:Maybe so.
Kanno:But the shirt is very feminine. This kind of balance is very Kumagai-san-like.
It would be interesting to see how you propose to wear it.
Kanno:That's right. However, I would rather cover that part by serving customers than by showing them how to dress on a torso. I used to be in sales, and I like customer service.
Kumagaya:Also, people who make clothes can come here to look for stories. Stussy" is also exploding, so enthusiasts should pay attention.
Kanno:I think people in their late 30s and 40s would be quite pleased with many of the items.
Kumagaya:Yes, I know. And then there are those in their 50s.
Do you have a lot of T-shirts?
Kanno:There are soooo many.
Kumagaya:I have to do my best to wash it and make it smell good with fabric softener (laughs).
Kanno:Of course I do (laughs).
