そうですね。それを３年ぐらいやりました。それから、おかげさまで社員になって、ランチのボス(注：垂水さん)とかビームスさんへ営業に連れて行ってもらえるようになりました。中でも、やっぱり今でも一番印象強いのは川久保(玲)さんですね。当時、既にうちの会社はコム デ ギャルソンの別注をやらせてもらっていたので、先輩のカバン持ちとして付いて行くわけです。川久保さんと田中常務と初めて会ったときは衝撃でしたよ。我々にとってのカリスマですから。それがあってか、青山とか骨董通りは自分にとっては今でも特別な場所という印象がありますね。
そうですね。当時は、打ち合わせに行ってデザインと素材を決めて、サンプルを作って、それを職人さんのところで生産して。製品をトラックで納品するところまで自分でやっていましたから。仕事は厳しかったけど、いい思い出ですね。
そこからスタートです。
あれは完全に自分の趣味の世界です。バラバラっと３冊ずつぐらいが１つまとまった感じのコンセプトは一応ありますが、レア度もあまり関係ないです。
写真集って、本屋に探しに行っても、見つかったとしても１冊だったりするんです。でもポケットに入らないし、エコバッグだと本の角が守られないし。しかも仰々しいのも嫌だし。あれは、薄くて本のエッジを守るような四角いデザインで、縫製も角を守るように、アールじゃなくて四角く縫製しています。バッグをクルッと巻けばジャケットのポケットに入れられるかもしれないし、素材には蝋が入っていてよほどの大雨でなければ大丈夫です。外側に小さなポケットを付けたんですが、帰りの電車で読む文庫本サイズにしました。でも、その話を掘り下げていくと、ただの古書ハンティングになってしまうんですが(笑)。
何でもない感じのものがいいんですよね。色は黒とベージュがあるんですが、黒はコバも黒く塗って、ベージュのほうはクリアを塗って、床面の差も出していたりもします。あと、ショルダーバッグって、体に当たる部分がありますよね。そこは縫製が体で擦れないように仕立てているんですよ。そういうディテールって、ミリタリーのスペックのステッチングで採用されているんですよね。簡単なように見えるけど、触ってみてもらうとわかると思います。
Imported books used to be very expensive before, therefore, bookstore staff was looking down on me because I was too young to take a look those books. Also my senior taught me that I should ask book store staff before you take a look. I learned how to buy books properly through my senior advice.
After a year later at design team, I started to draw sketch of bags by hand because we held the sales exhibition in couple times a year. Sometimes, I kept drawing all day before the exhibition... It's not easy at all, however my senior told me "Can you draw it one size bigger?" or "It's too rough to show our customer." and then I had to re-draw again and again.... It was not allowed to use photosetting company as well... It's possible to draw with PC nowadays.
Right. I’ve done it for about three years. After It came to be able to take me to BEAMS or HRM (Mr.Tarumi) for sale meeting.
Especially, what stand out in my memory was impression of Ms. Rei Kawakubo still now. At that time, our company collaborated with Comme des Garcons already, I went to meeting as an assistant. When I met Ms. Kawakubo and executive director, Mr. Tanaka, I was shocked lots. Of course, they are both charismatic people for our generation. This is why I still have special impression of Aoyama and Kotto street where Comme des Garcons office has been located.
Yes. At that time, I took care of all process. Going to the meeting, deciding the design and materials, making the sample, producing products with craftsman's place and delivering to client. That was so hard, but great memories of mine.
It was definitely a start from there.
It's completely my taste. It's not bragging about rare books, but still have same sensibility what I like.
When you go to a book store looking for an art book, it's really difficult to bring it home back. It's too big to put in your pocket and difficult to protect the edge of the book with eco-bag, but you don't want to bring serious bag. This Book-Hunting bag is square and thin, all corner inside of the bag are sewn in a square round as well. You may put it into your pocket if you fold it smaller. It's strong in rain because of wax mixed in outside material, also attached a small pocket for a pocketbook to be able to read it when you return by train. If I keep telling this concept, it just becomes philosophy of vintage book-hunting...
I like simple and sophisticate things, there are two color ways, black bag painted the edge with black, the other bag with khaki painted the edge with clear toner, there is difference of color tone.
In the shoulder bag, there is a part that attaches to your body. The sewing line of this part is tailored stronger to endure rubbing. Such a detail is used with spec of military. It sounds like easy to do, but you can find the detail what I am saying when you touch it.
