Purple Label: A Brand That Enhances the Wearer

Tomoki Sukezane (hereinafter, Sukezane)AKIRA, you look fantastic in Ralph Lauren.



SukezaneRalph Lauren is like an icon; any man who loves fashion must have worn it at least once. For the upcoming shoot, you'll be wearing Purple Label, but when people think of Ralph Lauren, they often picture RRL or Oxford shirts from Polo, right? Do you wear Purple Label often?

AKIRAYes, I do. I often wear suits for stage greetings, but in my daily life, I mix it with vintage pieces. It's quite challenging, so I'm always mindful of not getting the styling wrong.

SukezaneIs it easy to coordinate?

AKIRAI think Purple Label and RRL pair well together. I see people around me combining Purple Label knits with RRL denim. I actually met Mr. Ralph Lauren recently, and he was wearing a purple knit with an all-vintage outfit. It was quite striking.

SukezaneIt's interesting because we can't quite present it that way in fashion editorials for magazines. You have a keen interest in fashion, AKIRA, so when did you first become aware of Ralph Lauren?

AKIRAI knew about Polo shirts when I was in elementary school, but the first time I bought something with my own allowance was in junior high. I bought RRL denim. I loved vintage clothing, but I couldn't find good pieces with nice shapes at the local thrift stores. I happened to walk into a select shop and found a pair of RRL jeans in size L.

SukezaneWere you already tall back then?

AKIRAI was already around 181-182 cm.

SukezaneThat's tall. So you were wearing around an XL size then? It reminds me of a time about 25 years ago when XL sizes were trendy. Big Polo shirts were in vogue.

AKIRAWas that Polo Sport, perhaps?

SukezaneYes, exactly. There was a period when it was popular among rappers.

AKIRAThe 90s, right? I loved it and admired it, so I tried to imitate it. But I only started buying them after I moved to Tokyo.




SukezaneDid you start dancing around the 90s as well?

AKIRAYes. I got into vintage clothing in junior high, and started dancing in high school. From there, I went through American casual, street casual, and West Coast casual styles. Then I began imitating the styles of New York rappers and dancers who wore Ralph Lauren Polo and Polo Sport, and I also wore FILA sports jerseys. I wanted to wear Ralph Lauren, but only the ones that fit perfectly were available, and they didn't quite capture the nuance I was looking for, so I couldn't really wear them. I admired them, though.

SukezaneSo you were referencing not only the music but also the fashion of American rappers and dancers.

AKIRAYes, I'd scour new releases and watch how rappers styled their clothes. If they wore military items, I'd go buy camouflage-patterned pieces. If they wore Evisu jeans, I'd imitate that. I was constantly chasing after rappers' fashion.

SukezaneWas there anything that struck you as incredibly cool?

AKIRADefinitely groups like ZIGGY, Smif-n-Wessun, and Leaders of the New School from the 90s.

SukezaneI apologize, but I'm not very familiar with them. Are they rappers too?

AKIRAYes, they were popular rappers in the 90s. I took inspiration from their styling, like their T-shirts and sports jerseys.

Page02. Styling Purple Label Casually: A Sophisticated Approach

Styling Purple Label Casually: A Sophisticated Approach

SukezaneMy impression is that Purple Label is quite inaccessible. What about you, AKIRA?

AKIRAI've mostly worn the casual lines, so I felt the same way. Purple Label clothing is from a more premium line. For me, high-end brand clothing can sometimes come across as ostentatious or flashy if not worn carefully (laughs). The wonderful thing about Purple Label is that it doesn't look gaudy; instead, it makes you look refined. I believe this is because Mr. Ralph Lauren's personal aesthetic and philosophy, his pursuits and taste, are reflected in the designs. It fits my body well when I wear it, and I also like that it somehow makes me feel gentlemanly.

SukezaneIt certainly makes a statement. I saw an editorial in another magazine where you wore Purple Label, and it looked incredibly cool and sharp.





AKIRAIt has a certain 'looseness' in a good way.

Sukezane'Looseness'! That's a great phrase.

AKIRAIt's not too formal, not too stiff. It creates a perfect balance.

SukezaneYou probably travel to New York and LA often. Do you visit Ralph Lauren stores when you're there?

AKIRAYes. I've always been particularly fond of RRL and used to visit frequently. Also, I loved the world of Rugby, although it's no longer around.

SukezaneThe Rugby store in New York was so cool.

AKIRAYes. There was a really cool salesperson at the University Place store.



SukezaneYes, him! The Black staff member, right? He was quite a character.

AKIRAThat's right! I admired him and ended up buying something a bit flashy, which I couldn't wear in Tokyo (laughs).

SukezaneOh, it didn't work out? (laughs) That happens. It's understandable. It's common for the staff at Ralph Lauren shops to be so stylish. Back then, as soon as I arrived in New York, I'd head to the second Rugby store on Bleecker Street. They also had a cool Black staff member there. Across the street, at the RRL shop, all the staff were impeccably dressed in suits. The RRL in London is also very cool.

AKIRAI'd love to go to London.

SukezaneThe RRL in London has everything from flannel shirts to vintage-like clothing, and the staff wear it all so sharply. They really embody the style. They look like real mobsters, or perhaps Al Pacino?

AKIRAThey look cool. I imagine the atmosphere is different from America.

SukezaneBy the way, AKIRA, do you watch movies? What have you enjoyed recently?

AKIRAI watch Hollywood movies, of course, but lately, I've become completely hooked on Korean suspense films like 'Memories of Murder' and 'I Saw the Devil'.

SukezaneThe actors in Korean films are all remarkably talented.

AKIRAThey really are. Choi Min-sik, who played a mobster in the Hollywood film 'Lucy,' is particularly impressive. He can play a goofy old man and a terrifying murderer with equal brilliance. He also appeared in 'Oldboy' with disheveled hair.

SukezaneTheir acting is so deep and realistic.

AKIRAThe scenes where characters are hurt or beaten are incredibly visceral and realistic, which is amazing. I also love the classic 'The Godfather.' I think I first saw it in high school, and my perspective on it changes with each viewing as I get older, which is fascinating.

SukezaneIt really does change with each viewing. I've seen it many times, and each time my impression shifts. I often find myself thinking, 'Wait, was it like this before?' It's a film full of discoveries.

AKIRAI'm looking forward to seeing how I'll feel about it when I'm 40 or 50.

SukezaneSo you like mafia films, AKIRA.

AKIRAI do. They're classics.

SukezaneI love them too. And it's cool how even mobsters look good in Ralph Lauren.

AKIRAYes, they do. I think they look great.



SukezaneFinally, could you tell us what you find most appealing about Ralph Lauren Purple Label?

AKIRADespite being a high-end line, I believe it's a brand that enhances the wearer. With luxury brands, it often feels like the clothes wear you, or the clothes shine brighter than the person. But with Purple Label, it's wonderful how it makes your own 'brand' stand out.

SukezaneSo it fits the person wearing it. I'll do my best to express that sentiment in the next fashion feature.

AKIRAI look forward to it.

SukezaneLikewise. Thank you for your time today.