BIRD HOUSE, a select shop in Minami-Aoyama that proposes a lifestyle and fashion for nomadic workers, opened on April 13th. Birdhouse is located on the second floor of the building housing the Undercover Aoyama store on the first floor. The interior is surrounded by a large wooden enclosure, and plants line the entrance and windows, creating a natural and clean feel. In addition to clothing, the shop also offers a wide selection of miscellaneous goods. It is managed by Come Off Well, a company established specifically to launch the shop. Director Masaharu Kawasaki is a former nomad himself. Why did you choose "nomadism" as your concept? After eight years as a menswear designer at a select shop, I spent two years as a freelance brand director and designer, a style of work that didn't require me to work in a fixed location. Whether it's at home, a coworking space, or a cafe with Wi-Fi, I'll take a walk in a nearby park to refresh myself when I'm feeling overwhelmed. I've seen many nomad workers like this around me. A place between a living space and a workspace is generally called a "third space," but for us, our third space is "home." Placing objects, plants, or even art books in the work space at home can really change the mood. I started this project with the hope of introducing a lifestyle that can serve as a source of inspiration for people who work from home.

--What kind of schedule does a nomad worker typically have? What does your daily routine actually involve?

After waking up and having breakfast, I'd head to my computer and answer emails... then go out for meetings during the day, and come back home in the evening. I'd pop into a cafe with my computer in hand while I was on my way from one client to another. I wanted to target people who work in this way. That's why we chose Minami-Aoyama, a location surrounded by many shared offices and coworking spaces.

--The store design, resembling a nested structure, is quite intricate.

Rather than a shop designer, we decided to commission a residential architect named Takato Tamagami, who chose the theme of "atelier." We explained the concept of a space that would be both a living space and a work space, and when I showed him a foreign book I like to read between tasks, he said, "I had this in mind," and he replied, "How about a loft, like a European attic?" European buildings are often enclosed, creating an "outdoor-inside" atmosphere. With this in mind, we created a loft-like enclosure around the store, creating a building-within-a-building feel, creating a courtyard-like, hideaway-like space.

--What kind of clothes do you stock?

We mostly stock high-quality, relaxed, one-mile wear (something between loungewear and outdoor wear). It's comfortable like loungewear, but also has a "refined" feel so you can wear it straight to a meeting with a client if you're unexpectedly called in. We offer a selection of loose-fitting pieces that don't show off your figure, but the shirts aren't too casual either. As for our original products, I was a men's designer, so I create women's items that directly adapt men's designs. Men's clothing comes from uniforms, so it has a "refined" feel. I think that these two aspects come together to create a perfect balance.

--What is unique about your selection aside from clothing?

As you can see, we have a huge range of items, but houseplants are a symbolic presence. Plants have always been important to me, so when I started the shop, rather than bringing in an external plant shop, I brought in an individual to source the greenery. That individual is Nozato Hidetaka, a landscape gardener, and I entrust him with sourcing the plants and coordinating the greenery with the vases. Rather than simply stocking the store, we have unique purchasing routes and only stock the best items, such as those with unique branching patterns or rare varieties. We'd like to create a corner that feels like a jungle, but we don't have many at the moment. We mainly carry flower vase brands like DOMANI from Belgium and BAGSAC from Paris, and many customers purchase items paired with plants, in line with Nozato's style. We'd also like to develop a business that can generate sales outside the store, such as proposing plants to offices.

--You also hold special exhibitions in the store.

We're currently holding an exhibition featuring three female creators, "The Age of Hybrid Weddings." I've curated the exhibition, featuring jewelry, dress, and accessory designers. We wanted this store to be a hub for sharing a variety of ideas, so we'll be holding collaborative exhibitions once a month next month.

--What's the customer demographic like?

Initially, we were expecting customers to be in their early to mid-30s, but when we opened, we were surprised to see that most of our customers were in their mid to late 20s. It feels like the Jingumae clientele has been drifting over here. It feels like the area is becoming more separated from Ginza. Also, you can see the plants from outside, and it seems that plants strike a chord with people in the fashion industry (laughs). I think they're looking for healing because they live in the city due to the nature of their work.