“My grandfather was a printer, you see.”

When asked about his favorite football team at the end of the interview, Simon Taylor immediately replied, "Arsenal!" He spoke candidly about the 2014-15 Autumn/Winter collection, the sixth season for WORK NOT WORK.

—We understand this season's theme is "THE PRINTER." It seems the visual shoot was also quite particular.

We shot at a factory that produces type for letterpress printing. It was a very refined space, and the shoot was incredibly insightful. I actually studied letterpress printing a bit in college, so it was fascinating to see the entire process this time.

—Where did the inspiration for the theme "THE PRINTER" come from?

Actually, my grandfather was a printer, and I have memories of growing up watching him work. The concept of WORK NOT WORK is to mix and fuse design with classics, so I feel we've arrived at a very natural theme.

—What kind of person was your grandfather?

My grandfather lived in the north of London and had various jobs. He was a very intelligent man; he apparently could have gone to prestigious universities like Oxford, but I heard he had to give up his studies due to financial reasons at the time. Looking at any photograph, he's always in the center, suggesting he was well-liked by everyone.

—The catalog's composition is also quite unique.

We created a tabloid paper by combining the photos taken at the factory with personal photos of my grandfather. It's not often that one gets to feature their ancestors, so I'm very pleased.

—How is "THE PRINTER" expressed in the clothing?

This time, we studied the sewing methods of clothes worn by printers back then, but WORK NOT WORK doesn't create replicas of old clothes. It's a brand that incorporates the essence. The 2014-15 Autumn/Winter collection is broadly divided into three parts. One is what you might call Sunday best, or special occasion wear. Then there's more casual, everyday wear. And finally, playful pieces. We created it with those images in mind.

A contemporary collection that reflects individuality

—What do you find interesting about Tokyo?

While I don't chase trends myself, I feel that especially in womenswear, trends are caught very quickly, and Japanese people, both men and women, seem to be conscious of "how they are perceived." But that's a very good thing, as it makes the fashion market easy to understand.

—What does WORK NOT WORK propose in a city like this?

As I mentioned before, WORK NOT WORK isn't interested in making replicas. We propose items that are fun to wear, sophisticated, and that reflect individuality. This season, we've created a contemporary collection by fusing elements from my grandfather's era with counter-culture.

The shop is a great place to express us more deeply

—What's interesting about creating menswear?

It's always very enjoyable to decide on a theme each season and then have the team develop it together with shared interest. As you can see at the "WORK NOT WORK URBAN RESEARCH" store in Marunouchi, we express the brand's worldview not only through clothing but also through accessories. The shop staff understand this worldview and create a very good atmosphere. It's a great place to express us more deeply.

—Please tell us about the appeal of London, your base.

London has been a city with a strong youth and young culture since the 1890s, continuing through the 1950s and 60s, where culture was born from the energy of young people. Britain has the ability to mix various elements to create something new, and while London may not have the same dynamism as in the past, new things are constantly emerging from small communities.



—How does London influence you?

I don't chase trends, but I'm interested in many things, absorbing them, interpreting them in my own way, and expressing them. At WORK NOT WORK, I also incorporate ideas from my travels.

—Finally, could you tell us about the future development of the brand?

Having reached our sixth season, we're finally beginning to truly understand what this brand is about. The foundation of WORK NOT WORK's clothing creation lies in respect for British tradition and the craftsmanship that has continued since ancient times. We aim to incorporate our own preferences and new ideas into that. Moving forward, we hope to expand our offerings beyond clothing to include items like footwear.

WORK NOT WORK URBAN RESEARCH

2-7-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo JP Tower

KITTE Marunouchi 1F

Tel. 03-6269-9170

Opening Hours | 11:00–21:00 (Mon–Sat),
11:00–20:00 (Sun & Holidays, until 21:00 on the day before a holiday)

WORK NOT WORK

http://worknotwork.net/