The preparation for the exhibition next week is in its peak.
The samples are all here, and the shoot for the look book took place today.
When the usual photo shoot set gets assembled in the atelier,
the atmosphere of the place becomes quite pre-exhibition-like.

With the designer coordinating and the models wearing the pieces
the samples which were flat rapidly become three dimensional.
This is a moment where something you have been involved in from the start looks fresh.
From tomorrow they will be displayed and their role as the “collection” starts.
WTAPS EX20 is right around the corner.

Naoyuki Inoue / Production

Leather talk again
and this time it Chromexcel
from Horween of USA.
It is one of their representative leathers like Cordovan
and it is soft, supple, and heat resistant
also being relatively lightweight.

This season this is used for our lace up boot BEETLE.
It can be said that this material is perfect for boots
in how it does not give a bulky appearance and
when you put them on, they fit and feel well.

Actually, this has been used on the BAGUETTE
and it is becoming a standard for leather at WTAPS.

Naoyuki Inoue / Production

The longer you use, the more it fits the user
and depending on the use the expression changes…
This is what leather is all about.

Most of this season’s leather accessories
are made with the material called buttero from Italy.
A high quality tanned leather rich in oil with
restoring properties in which scratches smooth over time,
and a trademark dull luster which appears with use.

These have been made by downtown Tokyo craftsmen
whose careful work matches the quality of material.

Naoyuki Inoue / Production

From a long time ago we made do by being able to share many things among friends
like taking 1 CD and all of us would dub it to tape
or expensive foreign magazines and videos passed around and observed.

The archive at the atelier is something I still reply upon to this day.
Things can get pulled out during casual conversation and also at times
it gets used as necessary material for projects.
Depending on its flowing, there are times when customers who come here are handed something as a gift from the designer.
An environment where you can see or listen freely
helps out also in sharing the consciousness of working together.

In these times you can grab everything from the internet like music and video and borrowing and lending CDs might become less frequent compared to before,
but it seems sharing things with people is something that will keep going on.

Naoyuki Inoue / Production

Snack Bar

This is located where people frequently pass by in the atelier.
When you get a little hungry in the afternoon, or even good for guests.

Right now it is full with gifts and presents from various people but to keep it like this everyday, it requires a little attention. Depending on the snack, the consumption rate differs and the staff’s tastes vary. If you leave it alone thinking “someone will take care of it”
it turns barren quick
so you have to take care of it in a timely manner.

Attention and care like this is not something unrelated to our regular work. Actually, I think it is a job that can be done only after realizing small things.

Naoyuki Inoue / Production