Just as Mozart once said, "A musician is unhappy without traveling," travel, which frees you from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, is an invaluable source of nourishment for creativity. This is evident from the fact that Koji Udou, designer of FACTOTUM, a brand renowned internationally, travels the world before each collection.

-- Travel has been a theme for FACTOTUM since the brand's inception. What is the aim behind this?

When I was working on LOUNGE LIZARD (a brand I founded with a friend), I pursued real clothing without any prior experience. It was a rewarding approach, as it required me to test my own experience, but I now believe that travel adds depth to my craftsmanship. Walking around a city allows me to experience the culture as it is, which in itself opens up new possibilities.

-- How do you choose the cities you visit?

First, I decide on a concept. It varies from time to time, such as favorite movies, novels, artists, or even a sense of the times. Then, I select an area that best fits that concept.

--How do you spend your time during your stay?

The first thing I do is jog. Since the project is based on narrow British streets, the creators couldn't afford to gain weight (laughs), but it's a good way to get a feel for the city. I aim for 10 kilometers, a distance that gives you a general feel for the city. I also meet key people, research literature, historical buildings, and historical sites, and so on. My stays can be as short as a week, or as long as more than two weeks.

--What is the most memorable trip?

I went to Sweden to meet Roy Andersson, director of the film "Swedish Love Story" (the film won four awards, including the Interfilm Award, at the 20th Berlin International Film Festival). At first he turned me down, but luckily he was in a good mood at the time when his new work was finished (laughs). I persisted and he agreed. And to my surprise, he invited me to a preview screening with only his family in attendance.

--That was a valuable experience.

So I asked him a question I had always wanted to know: "There's a rider's jacket in 'Swedish Love Story.' What's the motif behind that?" I thought it was something like New Cinema, but it turns out it was inspired by the good old days of England. That season I made a rider's jacket modeled after Lewis Leathers.


-In the second part, I talk about what I felt when I traveled to Asian countries and what sparked my love for travel.
To be continued on 2/2.