DAIRIKU" is a brand that reflects the backbone and mindset of the company.
First of all, please tell us how the two of you came to be in contact with each other.
Yoshikawa:DAIRIKU is a popular brand at BEAMS. After an enthusiastic presentation by a young buyer named Iizuka, we decided to carry the brand. However, before that, another buyer had also recommended DAIRIKU, and our team was aware that it was a good brand, but we were not able to take it one step further. However, Iizuka made a presentation with passion, and that really gave me the impetus to take the next step.
Continent:Mr. Iizuka came to our first exhibition. At the time, he was still a sales staff member, so I think it was like a private visit. But we became good friends there.
Yoshikawa:He became a buyer just before the Corona disaster. I had that presentation when the corona was finally alleviated.
Is your buyer Mr. Iizuka of the same generation as Mr. Tairiku?
Continent:Yes, that's right. He is one year older than me, so we are of the same generation.
Did you feel the power of the younger generation?
Yoshikawa:I was feeling it a lot. For example, besides Mr. Tairiku, [Joon] alsoT (TTTMSW)Tamada is also amazing, isn't he? His fashion is cool, and I sense a power that goes beyond that. I was also listening to Tairiku's story, and I felt that something was happening. It is not completed by a single brand alone, but is connected to everyone else, forming a kind of collective body.
Seeing them reminded me of when I was in my 20s. Designers of my generation are now leading brands in Japanese fashion, and when I was in my 20s, we used to hang out together every day. When I was in my 20s, we used to hang out together every day. We would talk about how it would be great if we could not only hang out but also work together. I feel that kind of groove in Tairiku and Tamada's work, and I have the feeling that something is definitely brewing among this generation.
Continent:I also felt that there were many designers of my generation around me. When I see you do a show or go to a TTTMSW exhibition and see cool clothes, it makes me want to do my best, and it makes it easier to find a goal. There are many people like that around me, so we often talk about doing something together. In fact, at "BEAMS" as well!SUGAR HILLI was also able to collaborate with
Yoshikawa:Our generation was close in private life, but we did not collaborate with other brands. So it was refreshing to see Tairiku and his colleagues collaborating with their peers. It was very convincing that they were creating something that would please the customers.
What do you feel when you see the DAIRIKU collection?
Yoshikawa:I feel that each season tells a story, or rather, I feel that the clothes are filled with stories. On the other hand, the iconic items that have been made since the brand's inception are also preserved. I was looking at the collection, thinking that the balance between the two is very good. You originally became interested in fashion through vintage clothing, right?
Continent:When I was in high school, I always went to vintage clothing stores and select stores in Ame-mura.
Yoshikawa:I felt the influence of vintage clothing. For example, 70's items were processed in a modern style. I was impressed by the way the designer incorporated a story into the items. I thought that the inspiration came from movies, and I wondered if the designers were emphasizing such themes in their seasonal creations.
Continent:Since the first season, I've been using movies as a theme. Rather than a single film, I cross several films and digest them in my own way. I watch a recent movie or dig up a past movie to suit my mood. I get inspiration from these sources and create the mood of the look in consultation with the photographer. I don't go so far as to say that I design costumes for movies, but I do design various things with that kind of image in mind.
I think "BEAMS" has the same cultural background in its manufacturing.
Yoshikawa:That's right. I value the process of digging down to the roots. Clothing has its origins, and these origins have changed over time. I place importance on deepening this understanding, and then translating the knowledge gained through this process to the present day and outputting it. People who like fashion tend to delve deeper into it, or rather, they want to pursue coolness that is not just about looks.
DAIRIKU's clothes also have a coolness other than their appearance. I think that DAIRIKU is a brand that firmly reflects its backbone and mindset.
Continent:I am so happy. Thank you very much. I used to present my collection at joint exhibitions and had buyers look at it, but I couldn't make a decision. I started the brand when I was still a student, and from that time on, I wanted the store to carry my collection, so when they decided to carry my collection, I really felt "yay! I was really excited when they decided to carry my brand.
