What Did Urbanite Jack Kerouac Wear on the Mountain?

──What is the theme/concept for the 2014-15 Autumn/Winter collection?

Jack Kerouac's "The Lonesome Traveler" is a collection of eight prose pieces, and within it is a story called "Alone on a Mountaintop." It describes Kerouac's three months spent alone as a fire lookout in the mountains of Seattle, and it contains the following line:──“Even the dull loneliness of the wilderness has meaning, relying on yourself alone who has discovered yourself, and in consequence learning your true and hidden strength! Like learning to eat when you are hungry and to sleep when you are sleepy.” To be completely alone, Jack Kerouac went into the mountains far from the city. There, he confronted his solitude and extracted his own psychology from it.

This collection began with imagining what kind of clothes an urbanite like him would have worn on the mountain. The lineup includes cold-weather gear made with functional materials like Pertex and PrimaLoft, knits with calculated weaves to trap air for enhanced insulation, pants for leisurely strolls with a favorite paperback in the pocket on sunny days, stretch pants designed for ease of movement, and padding jackets to withstand tough work on the mountain.

Like the heavy snow in Tokyo, harsh environments can appear anytime, anywhere, even when living in the city. Clothes to protect you from the cold city winds, clothes to prevent body temperature loss from sudden, unreasonable rain, clothes that act like a compass to lift your spirits and guide your direction even in complete solitude. This season's theme was to create clothing that supports both the physical and mental self.

──What points did you focus on and want us to pay attention to in this season's look shoot?

The most focused point was the mix styling of outdoor designs and basic items. A common point across all styling was neutralizing the sheen of nylon with the rustic textures of cotton and wool. Since the lookbook is mostly featured on web media, we unified the background with white walls to blend in with various web media backgrounds, and also unified the models' poses and expressions.

──What are the differences in styling, silhouette, and color compared to last year's Autumn/Winter collection?

Last year's collection had a rugged and earthy feel in its products and styling. We've eliminated those two aspects in this collection. The bottoms are unified with a smart silhouette, we've used many materials with a glossy finish, and adopted vibrant colors like blue and yellow. In place of ruggedness and earthiness, we've created a collection that exudes a quiet sensuality.

──What is the key look (coordination) for this season?

It's the styling with the coyote-colored Pertex setup. Even though it's a nylon top and bottom set, it doesn't feel sporty or outdoorsy. It's a proposal for a new balance. Also, the styling with the face guard jacket is a proposal for how a single piece of clothing can transform depending on the climate.

Focus on Functional Materials: Pertex and PrimaLoft

──What are the key items and key colors for this season?

The key items are the face guard jacket and the super tramp coat. The key color is coyote.

──What "materials" did you focus on this season?

Pertex nylon, which is windproof, water-repellent, and durable, and PrimaLoft, which is warm, dry, soft, and compressible.

──What are you paying attention to in the current fashion scene (things, people, items)?

Rehabilitation wear (wear that supports joints and muscles when injured). I think there's room for more design in this genre.

──What are your expectations for the web magazine OPENERS (http://openers.jp/)?

I hope it continues to be a media for sophisticated adults.

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BEAUTY & YOUTH UNITED ARROWS Harajuku Men's Store, BEAUTY & YOUTH UNITED ARROWS Osaka Store, BEAUTY & YOUTH UNITED ARROWS Fukuoka Store, Steven Alan Tokyo, and other select shops nationwide (details at http://www.metaphore.tv/dealer/)

BEAUTY & YOUTH UNITED ARROWS Harajuku Men's Store
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