Me or everyone else?
I believe it's quite common for categories to be defined by multifaceted perspectives and words in the world.
What's important is where you set the standard and where you draw the line.
Taking the opening line from ROLAND, the charismatic host, as an example:
It clearly divides people into "one" and "the rest," straightforwardly conveying how "that one person" is a unique and special existence.
What about the brands our store carries?
Each has its own characteristics, individuality, and charm, and I believe there are various ways to categorize them.
What if we categorize the brand "KENNETH FIELD" from the title?
"Is it an easy-to-understand brand, or a difficult-to-understand brand?"
Among several options, this was the first thing that came to my mind.
To tell you the truth, KENNETH FIELD was the brand that took me the longest to grasp its characteristics after I joined SEEK&FIND.
Despite the existence of numerous iconic items such as sports coats, chambray shirts, Gurkha trousers, and ties, the brand's concept is:
"For NEW TRADITIONALIST," which means "for those who respect tradition while not forgetting a mixed sensibility and playfulness that are not bound by the times."
This sensibility and the degree of balance in products based on this concept always puzzle my mind.
And as I ponder, I feel that "this elusive sensation" might be the true charm of KENNETH FIELD.
Yes, KENNETH FIELD falls into the latter category of "easy-to-understand brand or difficult-to-understand brand," and I believe that's why I continue to be fascinated by it.
In this age of SNS and the internet's heyday.
In any field, results and answers are available with a single click, like a highlight reel.
Sometimes, like a sudden accident, we stumble upon spoilers we didn't want to see.
Regarding clothing brands, the production background, design roots, andこだわり (commitment) are starting to become easily accessible to everyone.
And in KENNETH FIELD's case:
While designer Kusano naturally has the answers regarding the brand's philosophy and the inspiration behind its products, there aren't many spoilers, in a good way.
For example, if there's a certain product, what specific era or model was it inspired by?
To such questions, the answer is not a specific product number that can be easily identified.
Sometimes, the answers are given with depth and implication.
I believe this gives the questioner room to imagine, leading to their own interpretations, discoveries, and interests.
From KENNETH FIELD's products, I feel as if I'm being taught that not everything is about the true meaning (the outcome),
but that the process (the content) of reaching that true meaning is also full of enjoyment.
It would be great if we could nonchalantly confirm the truth years or decades from now.
That's all for today.
