Lounge
April 28, 2015
Life is Edit. #002 ~ Dr. Romanelli x Mr. Yan ~
New "something" is spun and born through encounters with people. New "something" is attracted and born by a single object. An editor's job is precisely to create such "encounters." And life itself is nothing less than editing.
—Akira Shimada, editor, introduces the moving encounters with people, objects, and events that have touched him.
By Akira Shimada
#002 Dr. Romani × Mr. Yang
Will the endless late-night conversations at a soba restaurant between these two highly eloquent creators, where their creative spirits clash, draw others in? A truly groovy time. Hints of undiscovered creativity lie in the casual turns of phrase.
The globally celebrated Dr. Romani is actually a friendly, nice guy.
Dr. Romani is on the left, and Mr. Yang is on the right. At Yamato, their favorite soba restaurant. When the lens is pointed at them, they naturally strike a pose!
I met Dr. Romani, also known as Darren Romani (left), who has designed remade Nike and SOPHNET. wear and special Jaeger-LeCoultre watches, and recently handled Dunhill's leather items, about two years ago.
He designed a Jaeger-LeCoultre watch, and it was at the launch event for its release in Japan that Mr. Kiyonaga of SOPHNET. introduced us. From the start, he was full of warmth, completely defying my expectation that someone so affable might not remember me the next time we met (laughs).
I was stunned when I saw the Nike-approved remade wear, pieced together from vintage fabrics. Romani was 25 at the time of that work!!
When I went to Los Angeles for a shoot, I happened to run into him at a shop, and he immediately said, "Oh, how have you been, Aki? It's been since Kiyoshi introduced us at Isetan, hasn't it? How nostalgic."
Then he said, "Come over to my place!" and we were instantly deep in friendly conversation. I quickly went over and we chatted over cigars. As I was leaving, he casually gave me a leather blouson he designed with Cuban artist Jose as a souvenir. I was truly impressed by his generosity.
Since then, whenever he visits Japan, we've stayed in touch. He continues to lecture me not only on Los Angeles but also on street culture. I'm truly grateful.
The stylish and sophisticated Mr. Yang
When it comes to a mentor who teaches me about style, it's this gentleman, Mr. Yang (right). As the Creative Director of Dunhill and currently active in Shanghai, he is the very embodiment of sophistication. His coolness is well-known; he was selected as one of the "100 Coolest Men" by British GQ, a truly certified cool guy.
Actually, it was he who introduced me to Thom Browne, and that was four years ago, long before it became a trend.
He told me, "There's an interesting designer in New York, you should check him out. He's at Bergdorf Goodman. He's definitely going to make it, absolutely." So, I honestly bought two button-down shirts. And it was through buying those that I later became friends with Thom himself; encounters are truly mysterious.
Oh, and this time, I've asked him to find an Art Deco cricket cage for me in Shanghai, which I've been searching for (laughs).
Tireless and inseparable?
I suddenly invited the two of them for a meal, but because they shared a common interest in Dunhill's product design, their conversation flowed smoothly. In fact, they were soon engrossed in a passionate, heated discussion, leaving me completely out of it.
After Mr. Yang explained the Dunhill shop he was producing in Shanghai and Romani detailed the SOPHNET. wear he collaborated on and the Jaeger-LeCoultre watches, they moved on to discussing a potential new project together, as if to say, "Maybe we two can do something!" Indeed, the talk of passionate men never seems to end... To them, I dedicate a passage from Samuel Ullman's "Youth" (unauthorized, of course).
In youth, the spirit is not quenched, and the mind is covered with the snow of cynicism,
and frozen by the ice of despair.
Though you be only twenty, you are old.
But if you hold your head high and embrace the waves of hope,
though you be eighty, you are young.
Ah, to have created an encounter that feels like a page from youth—
This is truly the greatest reward for an editor.