H: By the way, Jonio is still running, right? How far do you run in one session?

J: 10km.

H: That's amazing. I also do swimming and pressurized training, and when I exercise, I can think while I'm doing it, which is great. It gets the adrenaline going.

J: That's true. When I'm jogging, I think about a lot of things, but it doesn't always come together, and when I finish, I'm like, "Oh well, it's okay." In fashion, being able to move forward without thinking too much might be important. However, I think that sense of accomplishment is something that only sports can give you. I don't really get that sense of accomplishment when I do shows.

H: The same can be said for the 14-15 AW collection that was presented in Paris in March this year. The Undercover collection, which was originally born from the street, has become more and more fashion-oriented with each passing season.

J: Otherwise, there would be no point in doing it in Paris. But behind it all is a reflection of the times, the streets and Tokyo I grew up in. Many brands hold shows in Paris, but in that sense, I think Undercover occupies a unique position.

H: In that sense, it's completely different from other brands. At Saint Laurent, Hedi Slimane promotes an image of rock and fashion, and presents pieces that feel like they've been seen before, but Undercover is unique.

J: Hedi Slimane is very straightforward, isn't he? When you go to LA, you see a lot of people dressing like that.

H: That's right. A rider's jacket and black pants. It's certainly a classic and traditional look, but there's nothing handmade about it.

J: When I look at the collection, I think it's interesting, but I also wonder if it's really okay.

H: A few seasons ago, Undercover took apart a white rider's jacket and made a dress out of it. I think that's a symbolic item of Undercover. Even though we both deal with the same theme of riders, when you look at Jonio's work, which uses them as a material, I think the difference between Hedi Slimane and Undercover is clear.

J: When I look at the people at the forefront of Paris, their way of coming into being and their upbringing are completely different from my own. I was in a band in Tokyo, loved music, hung out with all kinds of people, and before I knew it, I was doing shows in Tokyo, and then I ended up doing shows in Paris. I'm in a unique position, so I'd like to create a genre like that within the Paris fashion industry. It's something only I can do.

H: But isn't it only because it's already established that it can continue like this?

J: It's finally starting to be recognized recently, so I have the ambition to escalate it and make it even more interesting.

Back to 3/6.
Continued on 5/6.