Once in a while I clean up my memory cards and find interesting shots that I might have overlooked in my first triage. I’ll be posting a bunch of Lost Shots from my trips and previous photoshoots, consider these as a another photo series to keep you busy while you wait for the next installment of I WISH THEY MADE THIS FOR GIRLS. These ones are all from the best place in the world, man do I miss it…
After spending a good 20 minutes searching for the WM boutique in Daikanyama, I somehow ended up finding the HQ where I was greeted by Thomas, White Mountaineering’s International Account Rep (pictured below). He then brought me to the shop where I got to shake hands (and perform a bow of respect) with Aizawa himself. He went through the SS11 line with me as I snapped away. Finally, I was given the rare chance to shoot some images of the shop.
One of the pleasures of my not so recent, but still relevant trip to Japan, is meeting the folks at NEXUSVII®. I got a peek at their upcoming offerings from head designer Tomohiro and his right-hand man Tsuyoshi who was also my Shibuya tour guide!
The goods are now available!!!
Developped in conjunction with Koki, the Buddy frame from Deluxe is an hommage to 50′s mogul: the wayfarer. In fact, the S/S collection that is set to release conveys everything that is jazz, blues & Muddy Waters. While I’m eager yet unallowed to reveal photos of my trip to the Deluxe/Bedwin offices, these are little souvenir Hue kindly offered me; you’ll have to pick up the next issue of Inventory to peek behind the scenes!
Big thanks to Tsuyoshi of NexusVII for introducing me to Mr. Satoshi Suzuki owner and founder of LW. Legendary Status. Interview below taken from www.loophwheeler.co.jp
Ichigo: These are all vintage sweatshirts, right? How old are they?
Satoshi: They are all made in USA during late 40′s – mid 60′s. They still look great, don’t they?
Ichigo: That’s cool. Are they still wearable?
Satoshi: You bet. Just because they were knitted by a machine called “Loopwheel”. But they can knit only a meter of fabric per hour. I must say it’s awfully inefficient in the light of today’s technology.
Ichigo: Do they still use this machine in USA?
Satoshi: No, they don’t. Exactly speaking, they’d already scrapped Loopwheel machines in the past. Currently they use only the ones for mass production.
Ichigo: Then, where are sweatshirts of LOOPWHEELER being made?
Satoshi: They are being made here in Japan. Fabric in knitted in Wakayama prefecture.
Ichigo: I see. I wonder if I could see the whole process.
Satoshi: OK, let’s go. I will guide you through the production.
Ichigo: Nice looking town. I came here for the first time, but mountains are nearby, very much calming place.
Satoshi: This town looks a bit rustic now, but in the past, this place had been the biggest factory area in Japan for circular knitting. There are still a few factories running Loopwheel machines.
Satoshi: This is the factory of Kanekichi co. They are knitting Loopwheel fabric for us.
Ichigo: Are they winding yarn here?
Satoshi: Yes, this machine is re-winding yarn to make it suitable for knitting machine. The first stage of knitting.
Ichigo: I’ve never seen this kind of machine. Rotating very slowly…… Is this a Loopwheel?
Satoshi: That’s right. It’s rorating 24 rounds per minuite, knitting fabric. It’s so slow that actually you can count it.
Ichigo: I see, is that factor making soft fabric?
Satoshi: Being slow means no excess tension. Fabric is being made with very much relaxed yarn, making fabric with softness which comes from cotton yarn itself.
I’m currently working on a few projects out in Tokyo for several media outlets. One of them includes Japanese label White Mountaineering. I had the rare opportunity to meet and take photos of head designer Aizawa and his Spring/Summer 2011 collection. While the actual photos from the shoot are to be released elsewhere in due time, here are some random flicks from the day with Thomas (International Sales) and Suzuki the Shop manager who made sure I didn’t leave empty handed…
Hakone is a small village located at about 2 hours from Tokyo’s Shinjuku station, I got to venture out of the city and explore the little town best known for it’s volcanic Onsen’s (温泉) which is also known as natural hot springs with water streaming from atop the volcanoes. These Onsen baths are an outlet to the big city’s hectic lifestyle and it was the perfect time to escape Tokyo’s post-new year shopping madness…
