PROFILE
Born in 1977, he started "Multiple Maniaxx & Technixx" in 2001 under the concept of "Multiple Maniaxx & Technixx". In 2001, he started "NEXUSⅦ." under the concept of "Multiple Maniaxx & Technixx. With a deep knowledge of vintage clothing, he is particular about fabrics, sewing, and other production backgrounds, and his work is highly polished down to the smallest detail. He is also involved in "BEYONDEXX," which uses denim fabrics as its base, and is the creative director of "Altiri Chiba," a professional basketball team in the B-League.
PROFILE
Born in Taito-ku, Tokyo. In 2000, he started the clothing label "CHOKE" with Eric Clapton, William Anstey, and Simon Porter, whom he met at the "Fly Clothing" store on the Kings Road in London. In 2023, he launched Rebel Dread Hardware with Don Letts, a DJ and filmmaker from London. He also organizes a party called "YELLOW CAVE MIX" with Shinko of Schadaraparr, and is also active as a DJ.
Ideally, both music and clothing should be cool.
First of all, please tell us how the two of you met.
Konno: I opened my own store in Tsudanuma, Chiba in 1999, where I sold imported and vintage items. At that time, Hatchuck started a brand called "CHOKE," which we also started carrying.
Hatchuck: At the time, I was working at a store called "Fly Clothing" on the King's Road in London. I was working at a store called "Fly Clothing" on the King's Road in London. It carried brands such as Cyrus, Supreme, Sacastic, and Subwear. They had those clothes on the ground floor and skateboard decks in the basement.
Eric Clapton was a frequent visitor. He was a big art fan, and at the time, he saw Futura and Stash, who were recognized as graffiti artists, as contemporary artists, just like Andy Warhol. We became friends because we both liked the same culture.
I didn't know that Eric Clapton was familiar with such culture.
Hatchuck: We started Chalk with him, Simon, and a staff member named William. Kono-kun was the one who contacted me at that time. I was very happy because he was the same age as me, and he was also very manly, so we became good friends right away.
What kind of brand was Chalk?
Hatchuck: Crash, who has been active since the time of "Wild Style," and SheOne, a graffiti artist from England, did the graffiti. Eric also designed the clothes, which included denim sampling vintage World War II models, workwear, and other American-style clothing arranged in a tight, UK-style silhouette.
Konno: There were not that many items, but they had a lot of expressive power. Both CRASH and C.I.W.A. were artists with different styles, and I was attracted by the wide range of their work even though they were one brand. I really liked Seawan's abstract graffiti, which was really artistic. It was really artistic. It was also very popular in our store.
Hatchuck: From the 90s to the beginning of the 2000s, American culture was overwhelmingly strong. British clothes were not that popular. However, I really liked UK culture, and I preferred the clean silhouettes of the clothes.
When did you start going to England?
Hatchuck: The first time I went was when I was in junior high school, and it was like a local exchange program. As long as I worked hard in English, I could go for free during summer vacation (laughs). (Laughs) I went to England and East Germany before it was integrated. I got hooked on it, and when I was in high school, I worked part-time every day and used the money I saved to go to Europe for long vacations. After graduating from school, I went to London and started working at "Chalk" about two years later.
What was London like at the time?
Hatchuck: When I was there, the economy was not that bad and it was relatively safe. The music and fashion culture was very active, and clubs were thriving. Not only on weekends, but every night there was an interesting party going on somewhere. I was always in a state of excitement. There was always something interesting happening somewhere. But I think it is the same in London now as it was then.
As a side note, I was in London right around the time Primal Scream released their album "Screamadelica". I was staying with a host family, and my host family's brother told me, "If you like Primal Scream, there's a release party coming up, so let's go.
Andrew Weatherall was DJing on the roof of Rough Trade Records in Portobello, where Bobby Gillespie and the other members were gathered in a fully finished state. I thought to myself, "He's in such a good mood" (laughs). Sorry, it was a fun memory (laughs).
So you were right in the middle of the culture (laughs).
Hatchuck: Eric's presence at the start of Chalk was also a musical expansion. I myself have always been a DJ, but I also liked fashion from a musical point of view. The Clash, for example, have cool fashion. So I thought it would be ideal to have both music and clothes that are cool. The clothes you sold in your store were all brands with a strong musical background, weren't they?
Konno: That may be so. I've heard Takashi Izumiya's "Complete Finesse" and EZ's "Tilt". There was also "Chalk" among them.
Hatchuck: Izumiya-san and EZ-san are both DJs. The anniversary party at Konno's restaurant was a lot of fun.
Konno: Yes, there was (laughs). We rented out a floor in a hotel with a beautiful night view, but so many guests came on the day of the party that the windows were completely white with condensation. We had a party to listen to good music in the night view, but we couldn't see it at all (laughs). We asked Hatchuck to DJ, and we also asked the two members of Force of Nature and EZ to perform. I wanted the party to be not only about fashion, but also about music.
What was the common language between the two of you?
Hatchuck: It was like we were exchanging information about music and fashion with each other. Hip-hop was the common denominator for our generation, but it was not the only thing. I was often the one who learned from him.
Konno: No, no, no, no. We also went to Shizuoka together, didn't we?
Hatchuck: That's right! For a while after we launched Chalk, we had a relationship with Stussy's U.S. factory for production. At the time, I went to Shizuoka with Makoto Okishima to visit him.
Konno: I have been indebted to Mr. Okishima for a long time. I am truly indebted to Mr. Okishima, without whose help I would not have survived.
Hatchuck: I got acquainted with Don Letts when Mr. Okishima introduced me to him.
I'm curious about that episode.
Hatchuck: In 2005, "Stussy" held its 25th anniversary party at Ageha in Shinkiba, and Don Letts was credited in the lineup. I respected him as the person who had done all the related videos, including The Clash's music video, and as someone who had influenced them with reggae. So I wanted to meet him, so I contacted Nobu and he introduced me.
Konno: Cowes was here at the same time.
Hatchuck: At that time, were you already working on "Original Fake" (*editor's note: a joint project by Cow's and Medicom Toys, in which Konno participated as apparel director)?
Konno: We did that. Also, Josh Chuse came with us.
It's kind of a great party, or a great time.
Hatchuck: Don Letts was a member of BIG AUDIO DYNAMITE (hereinafter referred to as "BAD"), and in the 1980s, members of BAD wore "Stussy" clothes. That connection is also interesting.
Konno: T-shirts with "BAD" painted on them are now quite expensive on the vintage market.
