Hirofumi Kurino on Stories of Gifting | MARGARET HOWELL

MARGARET HOWELL

Hirofumi Kurino Discusses

Stories About Gifts

Photographs by JAMANDFIXText by ITO Yuji (OPENERS)

The Secret to Beloved Gifts: Unwavering Principles and Dedication

I myself am an overwhelming fan of gifts. Even when I'm just casually walking around town, I find myself thinking, “Would this person be happy if I gave it to them?” This isn't something new; I once even made a cassette tape of songs I thought Margaret Howell might like and gave it to her. Essentially, I guess I just enjoy thinking about other people. I’m a bit of a busybody.

Margaret Howell's clothing, while seemingly simple at first glance, is far from generic. It possesses quality and elegance, and while it appears timeless, it is designed to be in tune with the spirit of the times. For the past few years, I've been buying crewneck knits, and I'm very fond of them because the balance of length and width is exquisite.

Among the items in this gift book, I really wanted the cotton-cashmere crewneck knit. It’s been about 50 years since I started choosing and wearing my own clothes, and I always had the concept that knits were something to be worn over a shirt, a notion I stubbornly adhered to. However, since encountering Margaret Howell’s knits, I’ve come to enjoy wearing crewnecks directly over my bare skin or a T-shirt. I’ve never been one for overly fussy fashion, but Howell’s pieces align with the current fashion mood of being unforced and relaxed, an effortless feeling that allows for such unadorned styling. At the same time, the materials are high-quality, and the designs are elegant, so even when relaxed, one doesn’t appear sloppy – perhaps that’s the hallmark of this brand’s clothing.

And I believe Margaret Howell is also a brand that is unparalleled in its meticulous attention to color. Even basic colors like beige and blue are recognizable as belonging to this brand from afar. For instance, their use of black is exquisite; they are one of the few designers who can use black without it appearing heavy. This season, the coat with the subtle herringbone pattern was particularly wonderful.

Hirofumi Kurino
Senior Advisor, Creative Direction, United Arrows Ltd. After graduating from the Department of Art, Faculty of Letters, at Wako University, he entered the fashion industry. Following stints at Szuya and Beams, he participated in the establishment of United Arrows in 1989. After stepping down as a director in 2008, he took on the role of Senior Advisor. Currently, in addition to buying and brand direction, he also engages in writing essays. In 2004, he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the Royal College of Art in the UK.

Anglobal
Tel. 03-5467-7874 (MENS)
Tel. 03-5467-7864 (WOMENS/HOUSEHOLD GOODS)
http://www.margarethowell.jp