I think they are probably so many
things that are called tools
even from my completely untrained eyes
and I bet there are many more and more types of tools
at the WTAPS atelier
than what should at most apparel workplaces.

The WTAPS atelier interior
was handmade by the designer.
At first I was really surprised that
interior work was done by someone not from that profession
but while watching how the large amount of tools at the atelier
appear when needed and what needed
I started to think that this was normal
and when something happened to break, or when something was needed
my initial reaction has become “fix/make it yourself”.

But
I cannot think up of things and far from being familiar with the
tasks having movement with no waste like the designer
so in my case the tool I use the most is a
flathead screwdriver.

Shiori Etsugu / PR

All things WTAPS.

Doek.
It is supposedly Dutch
and spelled that way.
Meaning a rubber soled shoe made with thick canvas.

The WTAPS Canvas Sneaker is truly this.
For the upper, a #7 canvas is used and the sole is vulcanized
finished with a rubber wrapping tape;
a really simple basic doek.
The role a doek should only play is to “not get in the way”.
To not get in the way of anyone.
Including the clothes matched with
or the person wearing it.
That is the way of the doek.

Tetsu Nishiyama / Director

All things WTAPS.

 There is a washer/dryer in the corner of the atelier.
A must have item which always gets used the first thing in the morning.
There are various uses for it;
washing the staff’s clothes, washing the atelier supplies,
checking the after wash feel of samples, and checking the shrinkage of material.
 
During this season when it is very hot and humid, you cannot help but want to change often, but the touch and scent of freshly washed clothes is something nice.

Yasunari Iwasaki / Pattern Maker

All things WTAPS.

It is hot. Well, after all it is mid July.
Around this time I remember the summer vacations I had as a child. It has been quite a while since taking such a long vacation, but compared to memories of other seasons it is a little different; the outlines are sharp and unusually clear. The heat, the smells, the sounds. Instead of just a memory inside your mind, it is more close to a sense or a feeling.
There is something to gain especially from this season. There are things you can leave behind especially because of this season.
This summer, WTAPS will be making moves.

Naoyuki Inoue / Production

All things WTAPS.

This summer at the atelier we are conserving energy
with the breeze from the windows and coolbiz (a Japanese term coined for dressing down in the business place to keep cool/conserve energy).
Although I said coolbiz, more than half of the year is spent in a T-shirt so I do not feel like I am doing anything special but when summer starts
and you start wearing them, sandals are something you cannot keep off with how cool and open they feel.
This season WTAPS released an espadrille with a woven hemp sole.
In HUgE’s「SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCK」CLASS. 3, these beach sandals, locals, sold at Hawaiian drug stores appear in the dialogue.
Everyone at the atelier is wearing either one of these.
Something handy for the season that you can match with UDTs.

Yukiyoshi Shimada / Production

All things WTAPS.