For the trip to San Francisco next week,
I was checking out what to take.
These days the items you usually take
have become more and more compact.
Thinking back just to a few years ago,
I noticed how the number of items I would take overseas
have drastically decreased.

Stuff tales/14th round “Carrying bag”
Nowadays it is just clothes, notebook, and a book.
Other items are
cel phone,
passport,
ballpoint pen,
card case,
candy,
a bandana,
moisturizing cream,
lip cream,
digital camera, and tripod.
What is needed in the airport,
and what is used in the plane,
these small items
are rounded up in “MAG” when going out.

Next week our Fall/Winter collection exhibition starts.
In the venue which is our press room
many people from overseas and Japan will visit
so to make things smooth and stress free
to view the samples
the display and layout
have been thoroughly planned out accordingly.
Down to the details for the brand image
to convey
everything including the furniture and fixtures used
directing this
is part of the job.
One of the fixings I like
on all the samples
there is something called the “spec tag”.
This is basically a tag, but not just a regular piece of paper
the same material is used as found on the WTAPS item brand labels
the special material that is hard to tear
Tyvek® is used.
Sometimes this material is seen on labels
of military surplus items.
If you look at the information noted
name, size, colorways, material, modifications,
price, and expected delivery dates are all there.
This is only
something used in the press room
that does not get out, but
I wanted to show it and felt it was a good time to…

Most of the time for clothing
there are some things attached.
For example
zippers, buttons, and rivets.
Labels are also one of these things.
The design you see in these attached items
show the brand’s concept very well.
For WTAPS there is RISE ABOVE
used as a slogan for many cases
meaning to overcome, and this meaning is the reason
it is often used.

If life was a large ocean
man is a small boat floating in the sea.
In this large sea
large waves appear as
life’s unknown
future and
also troubles.
Overcoming these obstacles, people
are able to gain something
making who you are
is how I feel.
With this meaning in mind
the slogan RISE ABOVE
is one of the WTAPS philosophies.

The notebook I use is MOLESKINE’s
Squared Reporter model.
192 pages and 9 X 14cm
the pocket notebook is graphed with 5mm squares
easy for layouts and best for editing.
What is typical of a regular notebook
the format type that spreads open
is good on the desk, but
I have poor handwriting and suck at writing
it does not work well for me being a “memo anywhere fiend”
so the reporter style
flip format seems good.
The last 24 pages
are perforated so they are detachable.
Clipping and photographs can be put in
a pocket that it has and functionality is top notch.

On the cover is something that has a different atmosphere from a sticker
a decal that fits is slapped on
with a PHILOSOPHY Pegcil ballpoint pen and
a MONTBLANC MEISTERSTÜCK MOZART
mechanical pencil as a set makes me enjoy using this.

And as a matter of fact,
the standard WTAPS item
VATOS L/S's and UNION L/S's both chest pockets
were made to fit MOLESKINE’s and MONTBLANC’s
specs.

Since release is around the corner
it’s time to introduce the collaboration model
between VANS Syndicate and WTAPS.
This season 3 models were designed.
From stitching, specs, and to the packaging
it is a new original model
executed completely with WTAPS full direction.
First up for bat, is the BASH.

Bash

This model is
the void between analog and digital
the late 80s to the early 90s as the concept
a period that gave birth to hip hop culture
mashed up by
high end fashion and street fashion
expressing the fusion.
The colorway is vibrant with colors representing that era
using 3 types of leather with different texture
And for the feature part having the most area
the iconic VANS checker textile is
expressed with stitching at a changed angle
giving character.
At the Aoyama Blackflag
it is planned to go on sale this weekend.
Please stop by and take a look.