It would be nice if we could create an entrance and expand someone's view of the world.
Have your impressions of BEAMS changed after seeing all the items?
Continent:My impression of "BEAMS" was that it was mostly tailor-made items, shirts, and other clothes worn by mature, relaxed people. It had an American IVY-like atmosphere, like Dustin Hoffman's "The Graduate.
Yoshikawa:I think many people think so.
Continent:However, when I actually looked at the clothes, I found some technical items and some items that looked so secondhand that I wondered if they were really new. There were also items that looked so vintage that even 20-somethings could easily wear them. It's great that you can reach out to a wide range of generations.
Yoshikawa:It makes me happy to hear that from a designer. The people who come to BEAMS are of a wide range of ages. Therefore, while we have a lineup of basic items, there are also many items that people want to wear now that match the season's theme. In order to differentiate ourselves from other brands, we need to express what is unique to us. We pay close attention to not only the detailed design, but also to the color and size balance. For items that look like vintage clothing, we try to design clothes that look like they could be found in a vintage clothing store, but you would not be able to find them even if you were looking for them.
Continent:I like the sense of balance, or rather, the sense that you have hit the perfect spot.
*Dustin Hoffman's "The Graduate" = a 1968 film by Mike Nichols. In this coming-of-age romance, the protagonist Benjamin, a college graduate with a bright future ahead of him, is involved in a raw love triangle with a middle-aged woman, Mrs. Robinson, and her daughter, Elaine. This is Dustin Hoffman's film debut and a classic coming-of-age film that won an Academy Award for Best Director.
Do you feel an affinity with DAIRIKU's clothes, which are placed together with such items in your store?
Continent:I don't feel at all uncomfortable even when we are standing side by side. I styled them this time as well, and it was very easy to match them. As I mentioned earlier, I like vintage clothing and movies, so we have many similarities in that sense.
Yoshikawa:I also had a part-time job at a vintage clothing store when I was in high school, and that was my entry point into fashion. There are items I bought back then that I still like today, but as I get older, I can no longer wear them in my size (laughs). (Laughs.) Sometimes I take those items and rework them with a modern size balance in mind.
Continent:I, too, have a lot of regrettable clothes that I have kept because I can't wear them. But as Mr. Kikkawa said, such items become a gateway to make new clothes again. While designing clothes, I also hope that my clothes can be a gateway to movies or vintage clothing for someone else. I hope to expand someone's view of the world in this way. Nowadays, there is so much information available, so I think there are many ways to enter the world.
Lastly, I would like to ask Continental, what are your expectations for the future of BEAMS?
Continent:I want to make clothes together again. I would like to create a space with them and hold a music event. I have had the opportunity to mix various cultures, not just fashion, in the past. I think that only BEAMS can do that. Even if it is difficult this year, I definitely want to do it again next year or so!
Reflecting on the dialogue...
I met Tairiku last year, but this was the first time I had a chance to talk to him. I got to know Tairiku last year, but this is the first time I've had a chance to talk to him. I was very happy to see that he has a great personality and that he respects BEAMS. I felt that such a good personality must have been the force that brought the people around us together. I was also happy that he said he wanted to collaborate with us again, and I would like to support him in ways that only we can, such as connecting global brands and DAIRIKU in ways that have never been done before (Yoshikawa).
