Would it be name-value oriented apparel? . I was very concerned about that.

When did you first become aware of Oakley?

rough woodI don't even remember when I first heard about Oakley, but I noticed that there were a lot of people around me wearing Oakley sunglasses. It was probably around the time of the late "Urahara" boom, when the brand became popular due to the influence of Hiroshi Fujiwara's sunglasses. Later on, I was also impressed by the image visual of Supreme wearing frogskins with mirrored lenses.

I guess you are thinking of "Oakley" as eyewear, aren't you?

rough wood. Yes, I think so. . I have a particularly strong image of frogskin. I often use them in my styling work, and I have the impression that they are well designed, lightweight, and comfortable, and that they are well made. Also, I often see athletes such as Ichiro wearing Frogskin on TV. I was amazed at the level of trust that real athletes have in these products.

What was your honest impression when you learned that Oakley was going to start a new clothing line?

rough wood. I knew it was a brand with a reputation for quality and that the clothes would be good... No, to be honest, I was probably more worried about it at first. I wondered if it would be apparel that emphasized name value, making good use of the value of the brand that has been cultivated over many years in eyewear. I wondered. However, when I actually saw the products, I realized that they were really great.

You must have been relieved (laughs). What in particular about the Oakley NS gave you that impression?

rough wood. The functionality is reflected in the design in a good way, and the total look is very mature. In the first place, what I was looking for in Frogskin was not so much gear as fashion, and I often used it for casual wear by adults who know how to be fashionable. I felt that people with a sense of fun would choose something like this. I was happy to see that this feeling is still present in the Oakley NS apparel.

What did you think of the dress when you actually wore it this time?

rough wood. Speaking of the pants, the first impression I had was that they had a moderately tight silhouette, were lean, and had a good shape. . I used to play baseball, so I have thick legs. I personally don't like bottoms that show the line of my legs, but these are not too thin, and the fabric is soft and stretchy, so there is no stress at all. Anyway, they were light and comfortable.

I see. . It is true that the taper might be a little stronger than your usual wardrobe, Mr. Araki.

rough wood. Yes, that's right. I'm not very good at wearing sweatpants. My character itself is loose, so I think they look sloppy if they are too loose (laughs). But these Oakley NS are well designed, so even though they are comfortable, I don't feel the looseness that sweatpants tend to have. I think it's because the materials and details have a fashionable feel. I don't feel uncomfortable wearing them with my regular wardrobe.

The other top has a crew neck, which is typical of you, Mr. Araki.

rough wood. I like crew necks, that's for sure (laughs). This is fleece, but the fabric is like a cardboard knit and has a unique bounce, making it look stylish even when worn alone. It's more playful than a classic sweatshirt, so it's easy to coordinate with it.

As a stylist, what is your perspective on the Oakley NS collection?

rough wood. sports and mode are really close together now. But to be honest, that trend doesn't really affect my own wardrobe. Of course I like high-spec stuff, but I like to wear functional clothes without making them look like that. That makes me a brand killer (laughs). If anything, I feel more at home with basic or classic pieces that are casually mixed with high-tech elements. . However, I really benefit from functional things. . So I simply appreciate this approach of Oakley NS, which is highly functional and goes well with classic items.

Comfort is important to you, isn't it (laughs)? What do you wear on your days off?

rough wood. It's not a big change, but it may be a little more relaxed. For example, when I go surfing, I want to look stylish without too many layers, and I appreciate comfort, so the top I wore today will be very useful.

I see. It has only been a year since Oakley NS was launched, but what are your expectations for the future?

rough wood. I think the number of models is still minimal, but I think it would be interesting if, for example, there were more outerwear for the winter season. For example, I think it would be interesting to have more winter outerwear, such as the down-type outerwear that was released last year, or outerwear made of functional materials. If Oakley NS made such outerwear, I'm sure it would be comfortable yet mature. I hate the cold of winter, so I would really like to be helped (laughs).