Marcus Wainwright and David Neville, designers of the popular New York brand rag & bone, visited Japan. The interview took place on the third floor of the newly remodeled Isetan Shinjuku store on December 5th.
Following stores in London, LA, and Boston, rag & bone opened a corner in the "Re-Style" section on the third floor of the newly remodeled Isetan Shinjuku store on December 5th, and a pop-up shop at the Hankyu Umeda Main Store on the 12th. Furthermore, a shop-in-shop will open at the Isetan Shinjuku Main Store in March, and a 150-square-meter store carrying both men's and women's items is scheduled to open in Futako-Tamagawa in April, creating a flurry of new openings.
The secret to their popularity lies in their proposals of cool, original styles incorporating menswear. We asked the two designers about the key points of rag & bone styling.

"We're experts when it comes to styling, because we always incorporate elements of menswear into our women's collections. The key is balance. For example, it's important not to put together everything with men's items, such as pairing an oversized jacket with a feminine dress" (Marcus)

Accessories such as shoes and bags complete the rag & bone style. It is known for making your legs look beautiful when paired with skinny jeans, and continues to be in short supply. Following the success of the "NEWBERRY BOOTS," this season the long-awaited iconic bag, the "PILOT BAG," has been released. "It took about a year to create the Pilot Bag. We wanted to create a bag that symbolized the rag & bone brand's purpose, and we were inspired by the bag that pilots carry their helmets in. Military is an important essence for rag & bone. We mixed both uptown and downtown vibes to create a dressy yet edgy look. It's produced in the same Italian factory as luxury brands in Paris and Milan, so quality is guaranteed." (Marcus)

The Pilot Bag is selling so well at CO-OP, a select shop at Barneys New York in New York, with 20 bags sold per day. Currently available in three colors, with plans to expand to include tote bags and clutch bags in the future. In Japan, it will only be available at the company's flagship store, and will also be available at Re-Style and the Omotesando store.

We also spoke to the duo about the current atmosphere of New York, which is the base of their creations.

"New York fashion has been booming over the past eight years or so, with young designers emerging one after the other. The hottest area right now is the Meatpacking District. I recommend the High Line, where art and nature mix together. Our office is right nearby." (David)

On December 15th, in conjunction with "FASHION'S NIGHT OUT 2012 OSAKA in Umeda Hankyu," the two will also appear in front of a pop-up shop at Hankyu Umeda Main Store. A personal appearance event will be held.