A Small Shop with a Strong Concept

Congratulations on the shop's opening. It's a great space that really suits the location.

Thank you. It's still new now (laughs), but we designed it to develop a good atmosphere as it ages. For the interior, I enlisted the help of someone who deals in vintage clothing and fixtures, who also handles the interior for Nigel Cabourn's exhibitions. It was mostly handmade and took a lot of time, but thanks to their hard work, we've created a small shop with a strong concept, and I'm very satisfied.

What about the shop's name, "THE ARMY GYM"?

About 15 years ago, there was a Nigel Cabourn shop in Covent Garden, London, designed by architect John Pawson, where we created a fitting room with a metal door. The windows and some chairs, like those you might find in a training gym, were placed inside the shop, and everyone said it had a "gym-like atmosphere," so they called it ARMY GYM.
That image stayed with me, and I thought, "Yes, let's go with ARMY GYM!"



The lockers in the shop also have that feel, don't they?

Exactly! When I came to Japan last November, I was looking for vintage furniture, and I found those metal lockers. The exterior of the shop is also very British, and I think it conveys the feeling of THE ARMY GYM.

So, "THE ARMY GYM" is Nigel Cabourn's only exclusive shop in the world?

The birth of this shop was very exciting and nerve-wracking. Of course, I was really looking forward to it, but I was worried about the final result because the shop is so far from where I live (laughs). But it turned out very well.



What aspects of the shop would you like people to focus on?

I really want people to see the "Authentic Line," which is produced in the UK using primarily British materials. I think it creates a truly wonderful atmosphere, in harmony with the shop's ambiance.



You also opened a store on the 6th floor of Isetan Shinjuku Men's Building on September 2nd, and it's receiving a lot of attention.

My collection is unique because it's made carefully in old-fashioned factories that can't mass-produce, unlike other brands. In that sense, I don't want it to be a popular brand (laughs). I'd prefer it to be an exclusive brand.