Black Label [EN]: Chapter 36

Black Label 35

36. Time Attack?

Jae-seung, who had briefly answered, carefully laid out a yard of denim fabric on the floor and began to slowly divide the area using a Spirograph.

Swoosh-.

Swoosh-.

Originally, clothes are just pieces of fabric until they go through the seam allowance process.

He was beginning the process of dividing the pieces.

Yeong-guk, who was standing beside him watching, exclaimed, “Oh.”

It was quite fascinating to see the gradual formation of the outline as Jae-seung drew each line with chalk.

In less than ten minutes, the work of dividing the patterns (*Pattern: fabric pieces before seam allowance*) was finished.

Jae-seung then took a long breath and opened the fabric paint.

“Are you going to put paint on it now?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

The reason why paint jeans, which several premium brands had unveiled through collections in various overseas locations, had not received much attention from the public was quite simple.

It was too much.

How many ordinary people would be able to wear jeans that were excessively painted with colorful paints without any hesitation?

The key to the paint jeans that Jae-seung was trying to make was to never give the feeling of being too much.

‘Let’s do it slowly.’

After taking a deep breath, Jae-seung picked up a ‘pencil’ instead of a brush.

He gently dabbed white fabric paint on the lead of the pencil and began to apply the paint to various parts of the pants as if dotting them.

The paint, which was precariously clinging to the tip of the pencil lead like dew, spread on the fabric, creating marks that were relatively larger than the area of the lead.

Near the front pocket, the thigh area, and even the ankle area. Even though it was just a few small dots, the feel of the fabric itself seemed to have changed.

Jae-seung then raised his head and asked Yeong-guk in a low voice.

“Yeong-guk, what do you think?”

“Well? I’m not sure yet.”

“I guess.”

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Jae-seung had made at least thousands of samples in the meantime.

Thanks to that experience, he could naturally envision the finished garment just by looking at the ‘pattern pieces’ that had not yet undergone the seam allowance process.

However, Yeong-guk was just an ordinary person. It would be strange if he had such an associative ability.

‘I’ll have to get his opinion after it’s finished.’

Jae-seung then picked up a ‘round brush’ with a thin tip this time.

Then, as if he were painting a watercolor, he began to draw thin, delicate lines on various parts of the pants.

Swish-. Swish-.

From the back of the knees to the front thighs and below the front pockets, thin lines began to appear one by one each time Jae-seung gently moved the brush in his hand.

The lines were no more than 4 cm long and less than 0.5 cm thick.

If you looked at them from a distance, they would only look like washing marks.

Jae-seung then put down the brush and said in a low voice.

“The paint is done.”

“Already?”

“Yeah, this is enough.”

After finishing his words, Jae-seung picked up a ‘cutter knife’ and ‘sandpaper.’ Yeong-guk, who had been silently watching the work process, narrowed his brows slightly and asked.

“What are you going to use that for?”

“I’m going to make bullet holes.”

“Bullet holes?”

Jae-seung nodded once in response and immediately began to cut small holes in the fabric with the knife.

The small holes were about 0.5 cm in size. Then, he began to rub the area around the holes with sandpaper.

Soon.

“Wow….”

Yeong-guk involuntarily exclaimed. The shape of the holes in the jeans resembled actual bullet marks.

Jae-seung then smiled and asked back.

“What do you think of this?”

“Wow, that’s really awesome. It’s totally cool….”

Now, the ‘basic work’ that had to be done before making the sample was almost finished.

All that was left was to cut out the pattern with *cutting* scissors, finish the seam allowance, sew, and attach subsidiary materials to complete the sample.

Jae-seung then moved the denim fabric to his workbench and looked at the clock.

‘Huh, it’s already 1 o’clock.’

“Yeong-guk, go in first today.”

“When are you going to go in?”

“Well? I think I’ll have to stay until morning for now.”

Once the ‘fabric paint’ on the fabric has dried to some extent, it needs to be ironed once.

He also wanted to finish at least one of the three types of samples and go home.

Jae-seung then put his hand on Yeong-guk’s shoulder and continued in a gentle tone.

“If you’re coming to the studio in the morning, wake me up.”

“Okay. I got it. Then I’ll go first.”

“Okay. See you tomorrow.”

After Yeong-guk left the studio, Jae-seung took a long breath and took out a can of energy drink from the refrigerator. The can he had just taken out was as cold as the night air in early January.

Chik-!

After opening the can, he immediately took a few gulps. It was really quiet, as if a mouse had died, just because Yeong-guk, who had been standing there without saying anything, had left.

Jae-seung then turned his gaze and looked out the window.

A wide street with no cars passing by, orange streetlights, and a calm-looking black night sky.

“Hoo….”

After taking a long breath, he began to walk back to the workbench.

The history will be completed only when the fiercely spent days are piled up.

His own history.

Also, the history of Wallflower.

Jae-seung smiled strangely and put the earphones in his ears before picking up the *cutting* scissors.

The quiet and lonely dawn is no longer unfamiliar.

By the time he becomes more familiar with this loneliness, he will be standing in a much higher place.

Squeak. Squeak.

The sound of the scissors blades meshing together echoed pleasantly.

* * *

The next morning. Jae-seung woke up not because of Yeong-guk, but because of the vibration of his cell phone.

Beeeeep-.

Beeeeep-.

The cell phone that had fallen on the floor was vibrating fiercely.

Jae-seung then frowned deeply and began to grope the floor under the mattress with his hands.

‘Who is it at this hour?’

When he looked at the clock with his eyes barely open, it was not yet nine in the morning.

He had laid down on the mattress around 8:30 in the morning, so he had only slept for about thirty minutes.

“Haa….”

After exhaling as if spitting out his breath, he checked the screen of the cell phone he had just picked up.

[ Kuba Kuba Kim Min-hyuk ]

The caller was none other than Kim Min-hyuk, the chief manager of the Kuba Kuba online select shop.

Jae-seung immediately pressed the receive button and opened his mouth in a voice that was still very sleepy.

“Hello?”

– Were you sleeping? I’m sorry.

“No, it’s okay.”

– Ah! I saw the interview. This FTV magazine interview.

“Thank you.”

– The internet reaction is also good?

Thanks to the fact that FTV magazine had packaged it so well, he had succeeded in creating his own image.

He was being praised by a small number of netizens as a young but opinionated designer with a clear philosophy.

“I think it’s thanks to FTV’s editing. But what brings you here?”

– I’m calling about the new product arrival schedule.

Jae-seung then let out a sigh of “Ah….”

Although he said it indirectly, it was a kind of urging call.

Well, it was understandable that they would have questions since they were in a situation where they would be short of new products to release right away, but they were postponing the release without even a separate word.

Jae-seung then rubbed his eyes, which were not yet fully open, and replied in a gentle tone.

“I was going to call you today anyway. I think I’ll be able to release three types at once soon.”

– Three types?

“Yes. This new product includes a total of three types: jeans, a rider jacket [a type of motorcycle jacket], and a cotton t-shirt. The jeans sample was just completed in the early morning.”

– Hmm….

After a moment of silence. Kim Min-hyuk then opened his mouth in a soft tone.

– Would it be possible for me to visit you now?

“Now?”

– I happen to have a meeting in Deokyi-dong today. Jae-seung’s office is in Ilsan, right?

Deokyi-dong was only about 10 minutes away from the office by car.

Jae-seung nodded slightly and replied.

“Ah, yes. That’s right. It’s near Madu Station.”

– Jae-seung, if you’re okay with it, I’ll stop by on the way. I’ll bring you a housewarming gift, and I’ll also take a look at the samples.

“Okay. Then I’ll be waiting.”

– Yes, just text me the address. I’ll be there soon.

After exchanging a few more words, the call ended. After sending the office address to Kim Min-hyuk’s number, he immediately got up from his seat.

‘I should at least wash my face.’

* * *

Has it been less than 20 minutes since the call?

Kim Min-hyuk stepped into the office with a housewarming gift in his hand.

“You came so quickly?”

“Yes. I called you when I entered Jayu Road.”

“Would you like something to drink?”

“Yes, thank you.”

While Jae-seung was preparing a simple refreshment, Kim Min-hyuk put the box he had brought on the side table and said.

“It’s a housewarming gift. It’s nothing great, it’s an air purifier. I thought you’d be spending a lot of time in the studio.”

“Thank you. I’ll use it well.”

“Were you sleeping here?”

Jae-seung scratched the back of his head awkwardly and replied in a low voice.

“Yes. Somehow….”

“Where are the samples?”

“Ah, just a moment.”

Jae-seung, who had briefly answered, handed Kim Min-hyuk the new jeans sample that he had roughly placed on the workbench and said.

“It’s the first sample.”

“Yes? The first one?”

When Kim Min-hyuk asked back as if he was wondering, Jae-seung nodded once and replied.

“I hesitated to select the basic fabric, so I ordered three types of fabric.”

“Are you going to make them all one by one for now?”

“Yes.”

“Wow, you’re really dedicated.”

Kim Min-hyuk, who seemed to be impressed, began to slowly look over the sample jeans he had received.

At first, he looked at the pants with both hands spread out, but in the end, he laid them out well on the side table and began to look at them. He carefully examined the front, the back, and even the lining.

Before long, he narrowed his brows slightly and asked back.

“Jae-seung. How much do you think the product price will be?”

“It’s a pair of pants that takes a lot of work.”

“Please feel free to tell me.”

“I’m thinking of about 200,000 won per piece [approximately $150 USD]. The fabric is a bit expensive, and I think the factory labor cost will be quite high.”

After finishing his words, Jae-seung tilted his head slightly and asked.

“What do you think of the pants? Are they okay?”

“This is not just okay….”

Kim Min-hyuk trailed off and fell into deep thought.

He was staring blankly into the air, but the calculator in his head was being tapped at a rapid pace.

Kim Min-hyuk then began to look at Jae-seung intently. It was a clear look of reverence.

Where on earth did such a designer suddenly appear?

Soon.

“Jae-seung. By when can you release these jeans?”

“Yes? Well? It’s just the sample stage….”

“I’m really sorry, but would it be possible to tighten the schedule and release it by next week?”

At Kim Min-hyuk’s sudden question, Jae-seung widened his eyes and asked back.

“…Yes? Next week?”

It is rare for a select shop to urge a brand that is in the store to release a new product.

This is because they know that clothes are not easy to come out, and they do not have the right to urge them.

If they want to increase sales, they can only recommend a quick release.

From that point of view, it was a very unusual case.

While Jae-seung was blinking his eyes, Kim Min-hyuk took out his notebook and replied in a low voice.

“Next week, one space on the site’s main banner will be empty.”

“Yes? The main banner?”

“I’m talking about the main banner in the center of the Kuba Kuba store online site.”

Jae-seung then exclaimed, “Ah!” as if he finally understood.

The main banner.

A banner that occupies almost 40% of the main screen of the Kuba Kuba store.

Advertising space that is given to only a few brands with the highest sales in turn.

His instincts say. This is not just a simple urging. It was clear that he was trying to propose a huge ‘big deal.’

Just as Jae-seung was looking at Kim Min-hyuk with eyes full of subtle anticipation.

“Ahem, ahem….”

Kim Min-hyuk cleared his throat a couple of times and continued in a very serious tone.

“Even just the jeans are fine. If the product comes out with the same quality as the sample, I think it’s perfect for receiving the main banner.”

“Yes…?”

He doubted his ears. What?

Kim Min-hyuk added again.

“If you can match the quantity by the beginning of next week, I’ll put it on the site’s main banner. ‘Wallflower’ alone.”

Another opportunity has come.

And a huge opportunity at that.