Isetan Mitsukoshi's women's clothing private brand, Clothing ISETAN MITSUKOSHI, has collaborated with bonpon, the extremely popular couple known for their "link coordination" on Instagram, to launch "Link ~bonpon x Clothing ISETAN MITSUKOSHI~" on June 6th.

FASHION HEADLINE will be sharing details about this collaboration in three stories. We'll introduce you to the couple, how they make their clothes, and the completed lineup all at once.

Episode 1: About bonpon

Bon and Pon

Bonpon are a married couple in their 60s living in Sendai, both with their trademark gray hair and glasses. Bon = husband, pon = wife. When they posted photos of their matching outfits on their Instagram account (@bonpon511) in December 2016, they quickly gained popularity, garnering attention both from within Japan and overseas. They currently have over 700,000 followers. Unlike matching outfits, matching outfits refer to outfits that are coordinated with each other through matching colors, patterns, materials, etc.

On the day of the interview, the weather was perfect for spring, and the two of them showed up dressed in matching gingham check outfits with a touch of red. They were eye-catching at the meeting place, and when fans approached them, they graciously posed for photos.


--You two are really popular!

pon: When we visited Dotonbori in Osaka the other day, hardly anyone spoke to us, so it may depend on the location. On the other hand, we often get approached by foreigners visiting Japan who say they're following our Instagram.


--Bon, you retired last spring. I imagine the response to Instagram has completely changed your life.

bon: It's a completely different kind of busyness from when you were working, but it's one that we're truly grateful for. Our environment has changed so much, so we're just enjoying it.

pon: People will talk to me when I go out, but other than that, my basic life hasn't changed much, so I don't feel any stress. In fact, I'm really grateful that people even talk to me.



--What kind of work have you done up until now?

bon: I worked at an advertising agency.

pon: I've done some short-term part-time jobs, but I've always been a full-time housewife.


--What made you start Instagram?

pon: I have two daughters, and my youngest daughter encouraged me to start using Instagram.


--So, let's talk about the two of you before your daughter was born. How did you meet and get married?

pon: I'm from Chiba Prefecture and my husband is from Akita Prefecture. We met at a vocational school in Tokyo after graduating from high school. It was an art school, and I was in the fine arts department, and he was in the design department, so we were classmates. We dated for a long time and got married on May 11, 1980.


--You didn't live in Sendai all that time, did you?

bon: We started out in Tokyo. After graduating from vocational school, we started living together in a one-room apartment with six tatami mats. I was the eldest son, and my father had died early, so my mother was the only one living at home, and we had always intended to return to Akita. In Tokyo, I worked at a design company, but design can be done anywhere, and three years after we got married, my wife became pregnant, so I decided to move back home to my parents' house. In Akita, I joined an advertising agency, where I worked until retirement.


--When I hear the word "advertising agency," I imagine it to be incredibly busy.

pon: I imagine it must have been incredibly hard. Even if I went to work in the morning, I wouldn't come home until the next day. I was constantly working until the early hours of the morning. It wasn't unusual for me to not come home for days at a time.


--Did your wife never say anything about you coming home late?

pon: Of course she did at first, and we fought a lot. But it didn't mean that she would come home earlier. I was worried about your health, but you managed to hold on well.

bon: When I was in Tokyo, I often missed the last train home. I didn't have cell phones back then, so I had no way to contact people and I'm sure I caused them a lot of worry. In Akita, I could walk home from work, so I had time to reset.


--When did you move to Sendai?

bon: Around April of last year. My mother passed away before I reached retirement age, and we were thinking about our retirement life, so we decided to use this opportunity to reset everything. Our house in Akita was old, and we didn't need a big house for just the two of us.

pon: I'd always thought Sendai, where my sister-in-law lives, was a great place, so we decided to make it our final home. The property we chose was a 30-year-old used apartment, but it was spacious enough for the two of us. Sendai is just the right amount of urban, and very livable.


-- Judging from your fashion sense, I'm sure the interior of your home is lovely as well.

pon: We remodeled our Japanese-style room into a Western-style one, but we only added some furniture that we needed, and we're still using most of the same things we had in Akita. In our just-published book ("Second Life, First Timers," Yamato Shobo), we've included detailed descriptions of everything from the floor plan to the inside of your closet.



-- Bon retired and you moved to Sendai, and now you two spend your days together, right?

bon: You two have been together for a long time now. We clean together, but I'm still at an apprentice level when it comes to general housework. I don't know basic things like cooking, so I'm really grateful that my wife has been doing it all by herself up until now.

pon: We need to be able to do things on our own, just in case one of us gets sick.


--Do you two also discuss and decide on outfits for going out?

bon: My wife decides first, and I choose something to match. For example, if the skirt is red, I'll incorporate red in the sweater or socks.


--Speaking of red, your wife's bright red lipstick is also striking. Do you have any particular preferences for makeup?

pon: No, I have sensitive skin, so I don't use lotion or milk, and I don't wear makeup. The only thing I wear is lipstick. Red lipstick is also difficult; it's neither rosy nor orange, so it's hard to find just the right shade. Even when I finally find it, it's often discontinued, so I've always been a lipstick gypsy.


--Your wife's lipstick is very symbolic as one of the elements that make up your style, but I never imagined that you don't wear any other basic makeup at all! When did you start coordinating your looks like you do now?

pon: We're from the Ivy League generation, and we've always had the same taste in clothes and favorite colors. The basics haven't changed since we were little. That said, we didn't always have the same style from the beginning; it was our second daughter who encouraged us to use Instagram that led us to our current style.


--So your daughters come into the picture here too! 

pon: Your eldest daughter left Akita to go to university and then moved to Tokyo to get married, but your second daughter always lived with you in Akita, so the three of you often went out together. When you went to the movies or the art museum, she suggested that you all coordinate your outfits, and gradually your current style took shape. Your second daughter would give you hats and sweaters as gifts, and your husband said he wouldn't buy them for himself, but if they were gifts from his daughter, he'd try them out. They're nothing outlandish, and it's easy to incorporate them into your life as long as you play with colors.


--It really does seem like your daughter was the catalyst that brought about a dramatic change in your life as a couple. I imagine your daughter's love of fashion is also due to your parents' influence.

pon: In an interview with my daughter in our first book ("bon and pon: Our Life Together"), she wrote that she was influenced by something I would casually say to her when she was little, like, "It's good to match one color of your outfit with your socks," but I've never spoken to her directly because I was too embarrassed.


--You two were so popular that you published a book, and now you're collaborating with Isetan Mitsukoshi, Mitsukoshi's private brand. How did you feel when you received the offer?

pon: I received a direct Instagram DM from a female buyer, and I was so surprised. I'm grateful to receive contact from so many people, but I never expected it to come from such an esteemed place as Isetan Mitsukoshi.

bon: Our stance is to hear their story first, but this was an exciting project unlike anything they've done before, and I thought it was typical of Isetan Mitsukoshi. My wife loves clothes, so I think the idea of being able to make clothes that suited her tastes was appealing to her. Once we met in person, the conversation really took off.


--How was it making the clothes?

pon: It was all a new experience for me, and I really enjoyed it. When I came to Tokyo, I saw color samples and was shown where the bags are made.

bon: I didn't know much about it because advertising only promotes finished products, but I was surprised to learn that so much detail goes into making clothes, with so many processes and so many people involved.

Buyer Hatanaka and bonpon selecting yarn to use in the knitwear

--Did bonpon communicate the design image directly to the planning team? Were there any points that you were particularly particular about?

pon: We made a few requests, such as a simple A-line dress and a round collar and opaque material for the blouse, but they all ended up with really basic shapes. We also mentioned image colors such as blue and red. We were shown the finished samples, and they were exactly what we wanted, so we were thrilled! We are also very happy that they made brooches with our portraits and our beloved cat.


--There are also unisex knitwear pieces, and with Father's Day in June, they would also make good gifts for family. Who do you want to wear them?

pon: The theme was "link," so I hope couples, families, and friends can wear them together and enjoy a new way of fashion. I also recommend matching socks in carefully selected colors for the whole family.

bon: It's great for parents and children, but I also think it would be good for grandparents and grandchildren to wear them together.




--Finally, please give a message to your fans.

bonpon: Having even a slight connection in your outfits makes going out more fun. I can't wait to see everyone wearing the collaborative clothes.




Bon and Pon spoke softly and politely. I was completely captivated by their gentle aura and felt a warmth in my heart. I believe the secret to bonpon's popularity is not only their stylish matching outfits, but also their personalities that shine through in their photographs.

Next time, we will bring you "Episode 2: The bonpon x Clothing ISETAN MITSUKOSHI collaboration."