Actually, It's the Brand's 3rd Anniversary

We made a long-sleeve T-shirt once before, but that was a chic design. This time, I wanted to create something more energetic. I conveyed that to Go, and then left the rest to him.

UekiI've known for a while that you like smiles... Are you a certified Smile Ambassador? You've been certified, right?

TodaThere's someone in America who holds the rights to the smiley face, and they certify people as smile ambassadors in various countries around the world. Well, anyone can become one by signing (laughs).

UekiKnowing that, I've always had the idea of creating something with a smile motif. Then, I was asked to create an energetic design this time, so I thought it was a good opportunity. I combined the smile with motifs we've designed before. Actually, it's the brand's 3rd anniversary. So, I thought about how to create a design that condenses our history, and decided to bring together all our brand icons. Regarding this smile, I had originally planned to draw the mouth with the words "Show must go on," which is also the brand's theme, but the eyebrows weren't there until I showed it to Keiko. After the layout was complete and we were in the final meeting stage, I wondered what would happen if I added eyebrows.



TodaThis little quirk adds a playful touch, you know, and I think it expresses the B.G. essence even more. What I focused on was the foil. I love this textured feel; it adds a sense of luxury, and I believe it creates an atmosphere that flat foil alone can't achieve. Usually, I'd use pink or blue, but this time, to make it suitable for both men and women, I chose purple. We've already received enthusiastic requests for short-sleeved versions!

UekiOn the back, we have the logo "Back Gamon," which is the origin of the brand name, and we've applied color only to Keiko's K and my G. Well, it's fine if only those who notice it understand (laughs). "0207" represents the alphabetical order of B and G from A, and also the start year of 2007. It's quite a coincidence, though I noticed it first (laughs).

The tote bags were almost entirely my idea! (laughs)

TodaWe also made stickers using this smile motif this time. This is partly to commemorate the 3rd anniversary, but I had wanted to make stickers for a while. Since this smile motif turned out so well, I initially intended to make only this one. But since it's our 3rd anniversary, we decided to include other representative motifs like the brand logo and the night skull. I really like the smile motif, based on our usual pink and blue, with the effective touch of yellow in the crown.



UekiThis smile might be the most impactful among the motifs we've created so far. Just changing the colors can drastically alter the mood, and we could also play with the expression, for example. There seems to be a lot of potential for future variations.

TodaThe tote bags were almost entirely my idea! (laughs)

UekiIt's your hobby, isn't it? I only use backpacks, so I don't know much about totes (laughs). I completely leave the bags to you.



Also, since people tend to pack a lot, we added magnets to close the top. The handles are pre-folded where you grip them to maintain a clean line. What I focused on was adding a base plate. It prevents the bag from losing its shape and, more importantly, provides stability.

UekiYou yourself own many tote bags, Keiko, so you understand them well. You've seen and studied so many, making them incredibly user-friendly! Big totes are also trending in men's fashion lately. You see them frequently on the streets. While basic designs like gentle canvas with blue or green handles are flooding the market, items with a cool image like this black x gold combination are rare.

TodaI'd like to create various items using this print pattern in the future.

UekiI can talk about backpacks, though! (laughs)

It's Time for the Brand to Step Up

UekiI think 2010 was a year where we broke the established image in a good way. Instead of staying in the same place, it was a time to break down what we had built and expand our scope. The chic design shown in the previous release was also part of that. While our direction is becoming clearer, we're gaining the ability to express ourselves in various ways.



While this T-shirt is flashy rather than subdued, its solid construction creates a different expression even when worn by young people. We aim to create items that both adults and young people can enjoy.

TodaLooking back to the beginning, we've become better at aligning our intentions, our work progresses more smoothly, and we've learned a lot and figured out how to do things. I think we'll continue to work through trial and error in a lively manner for about three years. Now that we've reached our third year, I feel it's time for the brand to step up. We don't want to end up just doing this as a hobby. We must always strive for more; otherwise, we won't grow. I want to keep that in mind.



TodaIt's still a secret, but for the next summer release, besides T-shirts, we're thinking of making fashion accessories.

UekiI'd also like to see a bag series. What kind of items could be developed using this pattern? How about plastic lunch boxes? (laughs)

TodaI could understand a drawstring bag to put lunch boxes in, but lunch boxes themselves... Black is a taboo color for food, isn't it? (laughs) I'd consider tumblers, though.

UekiIt wouldn't look like a tiered bento box, would it? (laughs) But I think this pattern could work on hard materials like plastic. Maybe iPhone or iPad cases? I already have ideas for the next collection, which we'll likely be able to show you around June. Please look forward to it!

TodaOur new items are currently on sale atrumors. Also, to celebrate the brand's 3rd anniversary, we're offering about a 30% discount on all items released up to 2009, so please take this opportunity to check out our past products as well!

— Thank you very much.