Black Label [EN]: Chapter 33

Black Label 32

33. I Need Time

It was none other than the latest issue of FTV Magazine, featuring his interview.

“Huh? What? It’s already out?”

Jaeseung’s eyes widened as he began to examine Lee Seunghui’s feet.

Inside a delivery box that looked like it had been hastily torn open, copies of the latest issue were piled up.

It seemed they had sent plenty so she could share them with acquaintances and family without feeling pressured [b담, meaning burden or obligation in Korean culture].

“Seunghui, give me one for a second.”

Jaeseung said briefly, then carefully examined the magazine Lee Seunghui handed him.

First, the cover.

In the right corner of the cover, a feature containing his interview was briefly noted.

– The editor’s arbitrarily selected 10 promising fashion talents! From ‘F.I.T’ [Fashion Institute of Technology] full scholarship students to 18-year-old owner designers!

It seemed to have a slightly larger presence than what he had seen in Future Magazine before. Was it because of the ‘KooVaaKooVaa Store’ deal?

Jaeseung quickly flipped through the pages, looking for the section containing his interview.

Rustle, rustle.

‘Is it from here?’

From selling reformed clothing to entering the KooVaaKooVaa online store. Wall Flower’s owner designer, super rookie 18-year-old Lee Jaeseung.

Below the large text, a picture of himself smiling shyly was featured.

The photo was quite satisfactory.

Perhaps because it had been retouched, it was much better than the real thing.

Jaeseung nodded in satisfaction and began to check the interview content.

Reporter: It’s a pleasure to meet you! First, please give us a brief introduction.

Lee Jaeseung: I’m Lee Jaeseung, an 18-year-old who is currently leading a new brand called ‘Wall Flower.’

Reporter: I’m curious about the beginning. What made you dream of becoming a designer?

Lee Jaeseung: There wasn’t really a grand reason. I liked dressing up and I liked shopping (laughs). I just wondered, ‘Could this be a job?’ and the first thing that came to mind was being a designer.

Reporter: ‘Wall Flower’ started with the sale of reformed and resized clothing, right? Where did you learn the basic knowledge and practical skills needed to make clothes, such as reforming and sewing?

Lee Jaeseung: I studied on my own. First, I looked at the books distributed in bookstores, but I felt limited and bought textbooks used in fashion design classes. From used bookstores. I think I learned most of the practical parts through textbooks.

Some parts seemed to have slight changes from the actual interview, but it didn’t seem to touch the essence he was trying to convey.

It was just a matter of revising it a little more clearly.

He turned another page.

Rustle-

Reporter: I heard that you’ve been accepted into the online select shop that KooVaaKooVaa, a large fashion webzine, operates on its own. Congratulations!

Lee Jaeseung: Yes, thank you very much.

Reporter: Can I ask if there was a story behind it?

Lee Jaeseung: Well, I think I was just lucky. Before selling my first self-produced clothing, I went to Myeongdong [a bustling shopping district in Seoul] with a friend. At that time, my friend was wearing the first clothes I made.

Photo: Wall Flower’s first self-produced product. Coated denim jeans and a coated denim jacket.

Lee Jaeseung: As I was about to return home after finishing my business, I happened to meet a reporter from KooVaaKooVaa. I received a street snapshot shooting proposal. My friend who was wearing my first clothes.

Reporter: Ah! So the snapshot shoot was the beginning?

Lee Jaeseung: Yes. That’s right. Thankfully, the users of KooVaaKooVaa who saw the snapshot showed great interest in my clothes. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude.

Photo: Lee Jaeseung’s personal workspace, full of sensational 느낌 [n낌, a Korean word for feeling or vibe]. He said he remodeled it himself with a friend.

Below that, questions and answers about the meaning of the brand name Wall Flower and the plan to subdivide the label continued for a long time.

As it was a part that reflected the designer’s thoughts and philosophy, it seemed that those parts were recorded as they were without any editing.

It was a sign of consideration from the FTV Magazine editorial team.

‘I like it.’

Jaeseung nodded slightly in satisfaction and turned the page again.

Rustle-.

Reporter: Finally, what are your thoughts on being selected as one of the 10 promising talents arbitrarily selected by the editor?

Lee Jaeseung: Thank you, and thank you again. I hope I can often say hello through FTV Magazine in the future.

Photo: Finally, another photo of Lee Jaeseung. In response to the compliment that he is really amazing at a young age, his 모습 [moseup, a Korean word for appearance or figure] answering, “Age is an advantage that will disappear soon anyway. I think I have to work harder,” was really impressive. Personally, it seems like it was the most pleasant meeting among the designers I met through this special feature. I look forward to Lee Jaeseung’s bright future.

“Hmm….”

The interview seemed to be packaged much better than he had 예상 [yesang, a Korean word for expected or anticipated].

If he had to express it in one word, ‘angel editing’ would be appropriate.

Parts that he thought he had spoken awkwardly seemed to have been deleted and 수정 [sujeong, a Korean word for revised or corrected], and parts that could appeal to the public seemed to have been quite 부각 [bugak, a Korean word for highlighted or emphasized].

The content was great, but the amount was also 남달랐다 [namdareudda, a Korean word for extraordinary or exceptional].

Compared to the interviews of the other 9 designers selected together in this special feature, his interview was 할애 [halrae, a Korean word for allocated or dedicated] the most space.

“Oppa? Are you done looking at it?”

“Huh? Yeah.”

“Why didn’t you say anything all this time?”

At Lee Seunghui’s question, Jaeseung shrugged his shoulders and answered.

“I was just trying to surprise you, what… It’s not fun if I say it in advance. Anyway, Seunghui, take one if you want to take one.”

“Yay! I have to 자랑 [jarang, a Korean word for show off or boast] to my friends!”

Was it because she was so 소란스럽게 [soranseureopge, a Korean word for noisy or boisterous]?

The day before, his mother, Kim Eunhyung, who had returned home quite late thanks to the high school reunion, walked out of the 안방 [anbang, a Korean word for the main room or master bedroom] and asked.

“What’s wrong? What’s going on?”

Jaeseung didn’t know what to answer and hesitated for a moment. Lee Seunghui immediately took out another magazine from the 택배 [taekbae, a Korean word for delivery] box and answered.

“Mom! My brother is in a magazine!”

“Huh? Magazine? What is….”

“Look at this. Can you see it here?”

Throughout his younger sister Seunghui’s explanation, his mother listened intently, unable to hide her surprised and happy 색 [saek, a Korean word for expression or look].

Jaeseung crossed his arms with an awkward 마음 [maeum, a Korean word for feeling or heart] and silently watched the two mothers and daughters.

It’s so unfamiliar.

It’s definitely an unfamiliar sight.

His mother reading a magazine with his interview in it, and his younger sister Seunghui 자랑 [jarang, a Korean word for boasting] next to her as if it were her own business. It’s just endlessly unfamiliar.

But, 모순되게 [mosondoedege, a Korean word for paradoxically], he also felt a strange 익숙함 [iksukham, a Korean word for familiarity].

Perhaps it was because this sight he had just 목도 [mokdo, a Korean word for witnessed] had been 상상 [sangsang, a Korean word for imagined] countless times since his 전생 [jeonsaeng, a Korean word for previous life].

Jaeseung was so lost in deep 상념 [sangnyeom, a Korean word for thought or contemplation].

Kim Eunhyung exclaimed, “Ah!” as if she had remembered something she had forgotten, and continued.

“That’s right, Jaeseung.”

“Yes?”

“Actually, my friend asked me to give her your number, so I gave it to her. Is that okay?”

“Yes? My number?”

Jaeseung asked in surprise, and Kim Eunhyung nodded and answered.

“Yes. That friend’s husband is a professor of fashion design at Hongshin University. He liked the bag you made.”

* * *

A cafe located near Jeongbalsan Station in Ilsan, ‘Huisten’.

Was it because it was a weekend afternoon? It was no exaggeration to say that the cafe was 가히 인산인해 [gahi insanhae, a Korean idiom for packed or crowded like a sea of people].

Jaeseung sat down in a seat near the entrance and was busy drawing 도식 [dosik, a Korean word for technical drawings or sketches].

슥슥- [seukseuk, an onomatopoeic word for sketching sound].

Jaeseung, who had been concentrating on drawing 도식 [dosik, a Korean word for technical drawings or sketches], stretched out.

‘Hmm, it’s 갑작스럽긴… [gapjakseureopgin, a Korean word for sudden or abrupt].’

Just a few minutes after hearing the story from his mother, he received a phone call.

It was a call from the husband of his mother’s friend, who was a professor of fashion design at Hongshin University.

He introduced himself as ‘Professor Kang Hyungrok,’ and he seemed to be quite 성미 급한 [seongmi geupan, a Korean word for impatient].

Or maybe the handbag he had put so much effort into making had made him 성미 급해 [seongmi geupae, a Korean word for impatient].

– If you have time today, I’d like to meet you for a while. How about I go there?

It was a very 갑작스러운 제안 [gapjakseureoun jeahn, a Korean word for sudden proposal], but Jaeseung accepted without 망설임 [mangseorim, a Korean word for hesitation].

That’s why he was out here at Cafe Huisten.

A relationship that he had never 접점 [jeopjeom, a Korean word for contact or intersection] in his 전생 [jeonsaeng, a Korean word for previous life]. Jaeseung was 확신 [hwaksin, a Korean word for certain] that this new relationship was an 기회 [gihoe, a Korean word for opportunity] that had come to him.

He thought that his words would have to have quite a strong 힘 [him, a Korean word for power or influence].

Of course, it wasn’t just because he was a professor of fashion design at Hongshin University, which is called 명문 [myeongmun, a Korean word for prestigious].

His social 지위 [jiwi, a Korean word for status] as a professor of fashion design at Hongshin University, and his relationship as the husband of his mother’s friend.

Jaeseung was planning to create the situation he wanted by using these two conditions well.

‘Okay. Let’s do it….’

Jaeseung was busy 머릿속 계산기를 두드려 [meoritsok gyesan-gireul dudeuryeo, a Korean idiom for calculating in one’s head]. A middle-aged man with a very 중후한 인상 [junghuhan insang, a Korean word for dignified or stately impression] entered the cafe.

A coat made of 고급스러운 재질 [gogeupseureoun jaejil, a Korean word for luxurious material], a ‘Tom Brownie’ dress shirt of a 명품 [myeongpum, a Korean word for luxury] brand worn inside. Black 슬랙스 [seullekseu, a Konglish word for slacks] pants and 단화 [danhwa, a Korean word for dress shoes] that gave off a 고급스러운 느낌 [gogeupseureoun neukkim, a Korean word for luxurious feeling].

No matter how you looked at it, it was a 옷차림새 [otcharimsae, a Korean word for attire or outfit] that made you think he was a fashion design professor.

Jaeseung got up from his seat and greeted him first.

“Are you Professor Kang Hyungrok?”

“Ah! Jaeseung?”

“Yes, it’s an honor to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too. Let’s sit down first.”

Professor Kang Hyungrok ordered coffee and sat down, opening his mouth.

“Did you wait long? The car was more 막히 [makhi, a Korean word for congested] than I thought.”

“No, I hadn’t been 도착한 [dochakhan, a Korean word for arrived] for long either.”

“Really?”

Professor Kang Hyungrok asked 나직이 [najige, a Korean word for softly], 치켜올려 [chikyeoollyeo, a Korean word for adjusting or pushing up] his glasses and 꺼내 [kkeonae, a Korean word for bringing up] the main point.

“The handbag you made. It was really 인상 깊더군 [insang gipdeogun, a Korean expression for impressive].”

“Thank you for evaluating it well.”

“I’m not just saying that. I really thought it was better than the products of 웬만한 [wenmanhan, a Korean word for decent or average] designer brands.”

After finishing speaking, he glanced at his watch on his wrist and continued in a 나긋한 [nageutan, a Korean word for gentle or soft] tone.

“I don’t have much time, but I’m sure you don’t either. Let’s get straight to the point. First of all, I want to help you.”

“Yes? Me?”

“But there’s one condition.”

“What condition?”

“It may sound 불쾌하게 [bul쾌hage, a Korean word for unpleasant]. But to be honest… It’s a product of a 퀄리티 [kwolliti, a Konglish word for quality] that’s hard to believe was made by an 18-year-old high school student who studied design on his own. Can you 입증 [ipjeung, a Korean word for prove] the fact that you made that handbag yourself?”

Jaeseung narrowed his brow and asked.

“입증 [ipjeung, a Korean word for prove]?”

It wasn’t that he was 찡그려 [jjinggeuryeo, a Korean word for frowning] because he was 불쾌 [bul쾌, a Korean word for unpleasant] the 의심 [uisim, a Korean word for doubt].

It was to 표방 [pyobang, a Korean word for feigning] the 치기 어린 행동 [chigi eorin haengdong, a Korean word for immature behavior] that a 남학생 [namhaksaeng, a Korean word for male student] of this age could 품 [pum, a Korean word for harbor] when he received this 의심 [uisim, a Korean word for doubt].

Rather, Jaeseung 존중 [jonjung, a Korean word for respect] Professor Kang Hyungrok’s 의심 [uisim, a Korean word for doubt]. It’s a 지극히 당연한 의심 [jigeukhi dangyeonhan uisim, a Korean word for perfectly natural doubt].

It’s definitely not a 가방 [gabang, a Korean word for bag] of a 퀄리티 [kwolliti, a Konglish word for quality] that an eighteen-year-old high school student who studied design on his own could 만들어낼 [mandeureonael, a Korean word for create].

Unless it’s a thirty-one-year-old 이미테이션 [imiteisyeon, a Konglish word for imitation] professional designer who has spent more than a third of his life making 이미테이션 [imiteisyeon, a Konglish word for imitation].

After maintaining 침묵 [chimmuk, a Korean word for silence] for a while, Jaeseung tilted his head slightly and asked.

“Do I just have to 입증 [ipjeung, a Korean word for prove] that I made it?”

“Yes. Then, I promise to help you by 총동원 [chongdongwon, a Korean word for mobilizing all] all means. I can help you with 입시 [ipsi, a Korean word for college entrance], or I can 소개시켜 [sogyesikyeo, a Korean word for introduce] you to a brand that will 구입 [guip, a Korean word for purchase] your designs at an expensive 값 [gap, a Korean word for price]. I can give you other 도움 [doeum, a Korean word for help] as well.”

At the 유려한 [yuryeohan, a Korean word for fluent or eloquent] explanation, Jaeseung asked in an 어수룩한 [eosureukan, a Korean word for naive or artless] tone.

“But why?”

“응 [eung, a Korean interjection for huh]?”

“Why would you 도와주시 [dowajusi, a Korean word for help]?”

Professor Kang Hyungrok 피식 미소 [pisik miso, a Korean expression for a slight smile] and asked.

“Put yourself in my 처지 [cheoji, a Korean word for position or situation] and think about it. If I found a 재능 [jaeneung, a Korean word for talent] that I could believe was the 환생 [hwanseang, a Korean word for reincarnation] of Coco Chanel, wouldn’t I want to 투자 [tuja, a Korean word for invest]?”

침묵 오가기를 잠시 [chimmuk ogagireul jamsi, a Korean expression for a moment of silence passing].

“Professor. You said you could help me with 입시 [ipsi, a Korean word for college entrance], right?”

“I did. If you 입증 [ipjeung, a Korean word for prove] that the 가방 [gabang, a Korean word for bag] you made is yours.”

Jaeseung opened his eyes more 또렷하게 [ttoreothage, a Korean word for clearly] and asked in a 진중하기 그지없는 [jinjunghagi geujieomneun, a Korean expression for extremely serious] tone.

“Then can you also 도와주시 [dowajusi, a Korean word for help] with 자퇴 [jatwae, a Korean word for dropping out]?”

What Jaeseung wanted to 얻고자 [eotgoja, a Korean word for obtain] through the 기회 [gihoe, a Korean word for opportunity] of Professor Kang Hyungrok was not much.

‘시간 [sigan, a Korean word for time].’

The 시간 [sigan, a Korean word for time] that can be 할애 [halrae, a Korean word for allocated] to the 운영 [unyeong, a Korean word for operation] of Wall Flower and 작업 [jageop, a Korean word for work].

And, the 시간 [sigan, a Korean word for time] to 본격적으로 [bongyeokjeogeuro, a Korean word for seriously] prepare for the 입시 [ipsi, a Korean word for entrance exam] of overseas fashion schools.

That was all.