An urban oasis created by Jil Sander+ and Birkenstock. We took a closer look at the entire pop-up space, which will be open for about three weeks.

Fashion is born out of people's lives today, and with the rapid evolution of social networking and the Internet, our values have changed, the word "diversity" has become the focus, and social trends that were once grouped together as "tribe" or "lineage" have ceased to emerge. The social trends that used to be categorized as "tribe" or "kei" are no longer being born. In a situation where it is difficult to even live with peace of mind, what is demanded of fashion is something that accompanies our daily lives, rather than flamboyant design. I would add, something that is familiar and gives a sense of security.

It was in this vein that Jil Sander+ first encountered Birkenstock. BIRKENSTOCK is a German shoe manufacturer with which we are very familiar.

At first glance, the two brands may seem incompatible, but Lucy and Luke Meyer, the owners of Jil Sander+, explain how the project began. We've been wearing Birkenstocks for as long as we can remember. Not only are they comfortable, but they make us feel at home. We've worn them on out-of-the-way places, like camping in the Canadian wilderness and relaxing by the fireplace of our mountain cabin in the Swiss Alps.

This comment shows that Birkenstock is deeply rooted in the lives of the Mayers. It was a natural progression for them to collaborate with Birkenstock.

The shoes unveiled have already been featured in HOUYHNHNM, but the project is not complete. The next part of the project is a billboard installation that started on Wednesday, August 4, the same day the shoes went on sale. The stage is "StandBy," an art space created last year along Cat Street, which connects Shibuya and Harajuku. This is a boxy building made of poured concrete, which might be easier to understand if we say it is located next to the gallery "The Mass".

The exterior of "StandBy" is eye-catching with a huge campaign visual.

The highlight is the huge campaign visual of Jil Sander+ x Birkenstock displayed on the exterior wall. Shot in the suburbs of New York City in a lush natural setting, the photos seem to contrast with the urban jungle of Tokyo. The images were shot by up-and-coming American photographer Talia Chetrit. The photographer was selected by Talia Chetrit, an up-and-coming American photographer, who was chosen by the Meyers because of their commitment to the medium of photography.

The building is a pleasant space with natural light streaming in from the ceiling top lights. The attached café prepared coffee and latte using original cups only for this event. In addition, a free poster-type free paper, available only here during the period, was distributed free of charge. The front of the paper features a campaign visual, and the back is printed with an artwork by American poet Emily Dickinson. Dickinson's work is one of the Meyers' favorite poems, and it has something in common with the philosophy of Jil Sander+, which they hope will encourage people living in the Corona disaster.

A café is attached to the building, where visitors can sit in chairs and relax with a cup of coffee. The natural light coming in from the ceiling's top light is pleasant. Staff members wearing Jil Sander's "7 DAYS SHIRTS" serve coffee.

The café's menu consists of black coffee (¥350) and café latte (¥400). Each is available hot or iced, and customers can also choose soy milk for their latte. The cups and lids are made of environmentally friendly materials.

The poster-type free paper, made of rough paper with a good texture, is a large size of approximately 90 x 60 cm. Each person can take home as many sheets as they like.

You might think that you can buy shoes at "StandBy" after writing this, but they are not sold here. If you want to pick them up, visit the Jil Sander Omotesando store located a few minutes' walk from this space, or the pop-up store currently being held at the Isetan Shinjuku store.

A total of four types of shoes were prepared. Three of them are redesigned versions of the Birkenstock masterpieces "Arizona," "Milano," and "Berlin," with a more rounded form and wider outsole than the previous models. One of the key points is that the leather upper of each model is left uncut. The other model is not shown in the photo, but it is a women's model designed from scratch.

The shoes by Jil Sander+ and Birkenstock are unisex. They are rounder than the regular models and have a larger outsole to match. The "Arizona" (top photo: ¥59,400) and "Milano" (second from top: ¥66,000) made of calf leather are available in cream and black. The slip-on "Berlin" (third and fourth from top: ¥63,800 each) in suede comes in black, cream, and olive.

At the pop-up at Isetan Shinjuku, there was a line up on the first day of sales. The Jil Sander Omotesando store has also received many inquiries, so we strongly recommend those who are interested to purchase the product to do so as soon as possible.

This project conveys the extraordinary passion of Mr. and Mrs. Mayer. The pop-up at StandBy is scheduled to run for about three weeks, so if you are in the area, be sure to stop by. If you are ever in the area, stop by and see why this is an oasis in the city.

Photo_Takuroh Toyama