Black Label [EN]: Chapter 84

Black Label – Episode 83 (84/299)

84. Show Time

Inside the office of the Korea Fashion Designers Association (KFDA), Director Kim Geun-tae sat on a luxurious leather sofa, maintaining an extremely respectful posture.

“We have begun the full-scale taming process. First, we are blocking any avenues for them to open stores in department stores or outlets with any brand recognition, even in the future. We also plan to publish negative reviews through affiliated magazines.”

The 60-year-old man sitting across from Director Kim Geun-tae clicked his tongue and said,

“Tsk, when I look at you, you have some lacking aspects. How could you fail to persuade a young kid whose blood hasn’t even dried yet and make things so complicated?”

“I’m sorry….”

“Of course, you should be! It’s not a big deal, and you couldn’t even win over a kid with sweet talk, making things like this!”

The old man, who kept clicking his tongue as if very displeased, was none other than the chairman of the Korea Fashion Designers Association.

Chairman Heo Mun-cheol.

He, who reigned at the top of the association’s hierarchy, was a figure with a fairly solid position in the Korean fashion industry.

He could be said to be a seasoned veteran who had been scouted by Hanhyung Group and fought on the front lines since the Korean fashion industry faced a transitional period after the IMF [International Monetary Fund] crisis.

From the start, the SPA [Specialty store retailer of Private label Apparel] brand of Hanhyung Corporation’s parent company, Hanhyung Corporation, which Director Kim Geun-tae was in charge of, was also a work created through Chairman Heo’s guidance.

The secretly known notoriety was also very high.

Some of the designers working in the domestic fashion industry were quite aware of the misdeeds secretly committed by people in the association.

Among them, the biggest case was undoubtedly ‘design favoritism’.

They would steal the designs of new designers from the association and release them under the names of established designers who were inactive.

The new designers had no choice but to have their designs stolen without being able to resist due to fear of retaliation and disadvantage, and the established designers who received help from the association were, in a sense, accomplices, so they had no choice but to maintain an even stronger relationship.

Director Kim Geun-tae carefully glanced at Chairman Heo and cautiously began to continue speaking.

“I underestimated him because he was young, but he’s much more audacious than I expected. But once we finish taming him, I think he’ll be a valuable asset to the association.”

“Just corner him somehow and tighten his breath. If he can’t breathe, what can he do? He’ll have to raise both hands and feet and crawl out, won’t he?”

Director Kim Geun-tae, who replied with the cliché “That’s right,” gave an awkward laugh.

Chairman Heo, who kept scratching his chin, tilted his head slightly and asked back.

“By the way, what about those employees?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m talking about the employees of that brand!”

Chairman Heo, who raised his voice, began to continue speaking in a very eerie tone.

“First, find out about the SPA brands with remaining TO (Table of Organization) slots, and contact the employees of that brand. No matter how much they’re getting paid now, tell them you’ll give them more than they’re getting now, no matter what. Give them some sweet talk like, ‘Why are you working with such treatment when you’re such a talented person?'”

Chairman Heo, who finished speaking, gave a very despicable smile and asked back, “Do you know what I mean?” Director Kim Geun-tae, who had been lost in thought for a moment, cautiously began to express his opinion.

“Chairman, I don’t think this part would be possible. According to reports in several magazines, the employees seem to have considerable affection for the brand itself….”

“Director Kim! Isn’t it not important whether you bring those employees or not? What’s so great about those servants! Give them pressure, pressure! The pressure that if they make a mistake, they might even lose all their employees.”

Director Kim Geun-tae quickly bowed his head and replied in a very serious tone.

“I’m sorry. I’ll proceed right away.”

“And by the way….”

Chairman Heo Mun-cheol, who trailed off for a moment, began to continue speaking in an indifferent tone.

“How much do you think that ‘affection’ is worth? That kind of affection can be easily crushed with just a few pennies. It’s an affection that wavers, cracks, and breaks with words like, ‘Somewhere else gives more,’ or ‘Somewhere else gives even more….'”

Chairman Heo, who finished speaking, added a few words in a very eerie tone.

“Anyway, use all means and methods to prevent them from showing their fangs again. There’s a reason why they do early education, early education. The more ignorant the young ones are, the more important early education is. Do you understand?”

Director Kim Geun-tae gave a servile smile and bowed his head deeply.

“Yes, Chairman. I’ll keep that in mind.”

It was a smile that Chairman Heo would never see.

Nevertheless, Director Kim Geun-tae smiled as brightly as he could.

So brightly that the corners of his mouth trembled and cramped.

As he bowed his head deeply like that, he suddenly remembered what he had said to the young designer a few days ago while trying to win him over.

It often happens in the world of adults.

Yes, this is a common occurrence in the world of successful adults.

* * *

On the rooftop of the commercial building where the Wall Flower office was located, all the core employees of the brand, except for Jae-seung, were gathered.

Starting with Nam Gwang-min, Lee Gang-jun, Chu Ji-hoon, and finally Director Song….

On the surface, it just looked like a normal ‘break time during work’, but in a rather serious atmosphere, various conversations were taking place.

Director Song, who had been nodding his head for a long time while listening to the employees’ explanations, asked back in a very serious tone.

“So, what? Gang-jun was scouted from the ‘Double Eight’ design room? What are the conditions?”

“They said they’d discuss the specific conditions when we meet, but they said they’d give me much more than I’m getting now, no matter what.”

“Those crazy bastards, do they even know how much we’re getting paid now….”

The salaries of the design team employees, including Lee Gang-jun, Nam Gwang-min, and Chu Ji-hoon, were virtually on par with the salaries of designers with more than a decade of experience in the industry.

So much so that Director Song couldn’t help but be shocked in the process of grasping Wall Flower’s financial situation.

Director Song looked at Chu Ji-hoon and Nam Gwang-min alternately and asked a question.

“Then what about you guys?”

Nam Gwang-min answered for everyone.

“Ji-hoon and I were in the HG Group design room. The conditions were the same as Gang-jun’s.”

“No matter how much you’re getting paid, they’ll give you more than that? And the details will be discussed when we meet?”

“Yes. Director, but I think it’s a more serious matter than I thought.”

Nam Gwang-min, who took a breath, threw the cigarette butt he was holding in his hand into an empty can and continued speaking.

“It’s one thing for us, but it seems like they’ve contacted some of the new employees as well. Some of them are actually preparing to change jobs.”

In fact, it was no exaggeration to say that the core employees, including Nam Gwang-min, Lee Gang-jun, and Chu Ji-hoon, had no reason to change jobs at all.

Even if you think about it without considering the bond with Jae-seung, the owner designer.

Apart from the annual salary, Wall Flower is a place that continuously gives opportunities, isn’t it?

They were already receiving a considerable amount of money every month as a salary, and the bonuses given under various pretexts were also not small.

The problem is the new employees who have no bond at all.

If the manpower that was barely replenished in such an important situation as now leaves, wouldn’t there be various disruptions in the work?

Director Song sighed once and said quietly.

“Damn it, those old foxes are really determined.”

Lee Gang-jun frowned deeply and cautiously asked a question.

“Director, what’s going on?”

“It’s just a bad situation….”

Lee Gang-jun shook his head and cut off Director Song’s words just as he was about to continue speaking.

“It’s our brand.”

“Huh…?”

“I hope you’ll tell us.”

Other employees also started to say something, as if agreeing with Lee Gang-jun’s words.

The first to speak was Nam Gwang-min.

“That’s right, Director. Some magazines have suddenly changed their attitude, and it seems like a pretty serious matter, so please just tell us.”

Some magazines, which had been begging to get an interview until just last month, had published columns with aggressive content.

The employees couldn’t help but notice the signs of abnormality already.

This time, Chu Ji-hoon nodded his head and added a word quietly.

“If we put our heads together, we might come up with a good alternative.”

Director Song looked at the faces of the employees one by one, and then slowly continued speaking as if he couldn’t win.

“Okay. I’ll tell you, but… don’t ever show it to your boss, okay?”

After getting confirmation from the employees, Director Song began to explain the details in detail.

What kind of proposal he received from the association and what kind of conversations took place, in detail.

Finally, when Director Song’s explanation was roughly finished. Chu Ji-hoon clenched his fists and opened his mouth in a very excited tone.

“Oh my god, our boss….”

As everyone in the room paid attention to him, Chu Ji-hoon added the last words in a low voice.

“He’s really cool….”

Nam Gwang-min chuckled once and quietly expressed his opinion.

“I know. He’s really amazing.”

He didn’t know exactly what conditions the association had offered to Jae-seung to win him over, but it was clear that it was much bigger and sweeter than the temptation that had come to them.

Lee Gang-jun also added a word, shining his eyes.

“I think it’s the right confrontation. Even if we had avoided it this time, it’s an opponent we would have faced someday.”

As if it was the right thing to say, Director Song nodded his head and continued speaking.

“First, don’t show it and wait until the boss brings it up first. Your boss will definitely do well on his own. He’ll find a way to get through the situation somehow.”

After a moment of silence, Director Song added again in a very serious tone.

“Even if he can’t find it, I’ll find it somehow. Personally, I want our ‘Boss’ to be an innocent person who doesn’t know the bitter taste of defeat.”

He had lived a few years longer than Jae-seung.

So it would be no exaggeration to say that he had studied the world for a few years more.

So there is one thing he knows well.

People are bound to grow up someday. Jae-seung will also grow up someday.

But Director Song didn’t want a dreamer like Jae-seung to be forced to grow up in front of ‘money’ or the ‘power’ of the powerful vested interests.

* * *

Not many days passed before the association’s movements began to be detected in various places.

The starting point was the distorted reports from various media companies. They began to report Jae-seung’s past remarks in an interview with a fashion magazine, completely distorting them.

– Designer Lee Jae-seung says, the Korean fashion industry is just stagnant water.

– New designer Lee Jae-seung, are all Korean designers except himself copycats?

They began to exaggerate and report the remarks that the wind of change was needed in the Korean fashion industry and the answers to questions about the plagiarism controversy between the premium brand and a domestic brand.

Although the aftermath was not that big, it seemed to be a hot topic at least within the narrow fashion industry.

Even if you look at a few fashion web communities, it was being treated like a hot topic.

Moonswings22: Those who haven’t even looked at the full text of the interview are talking nonsense without knowing anything. It’s just clickbait articles from reporters.

Taewoos: He tasted the money, so he thinks he’s something? Tsk tsk, Lee Jae-seung was also a hopeless guy.

Enhoson: No, what is he to criticize Korean fashion itself? He seems to be the type who lives only for his own good.

Triple-AAA: I was a fan, but I’m really disappointed. You can know the inside of ten feet of water, but you can’t know the inside of a person, that’s exactly what it is.

The aftermath of that also seemed to be not small at all.

– Director, ha… I really don’t know what’s going on. You’ve checked all the articles, right?

As soon as Director Song answered the phone, Kim Min-hyuk, the person in charge of the Cuba Cuba store, asked the question.

“Yes. I’m staying in the office day and night to file a complaint.”

– The situation is serious. Some brands are boycotting, taking issue with designer Lee Jae-seung’s interview.

“Yes? That’s ridiculous… It’s all false reports!”

– If Wall Flower participates in the Cuba Cuba offline edit shop, there are too many brands that say they won’t participate. Even the higher-ups….”

The Cuba Cuba offline edit shop, which had been proceeding smoothly, was about to be canceled.

Director Song tried to speak in a calm tone.

“Wait 5 minutes, no, 10 minutes. I’ll call you back.”

As soon as he finished the call, Director Song jumped up from his seat and suddenly shouted.

“Jae-seung! How long are you going to stand by?”

Jae-seung, who was sitting in his seat and surfing the web, asked back as if he was puzzled.

“Why? What’s wrong again?”

As the atmosphere in the office became serious, the employees were just busy watching the situation with bated breath.

Director Song put his hands on his waist and began to continue speaking.

“Magazines are pouring out bad reviews, the fashion community is never calm because of internet articles, and do you know how much sales have dropped-?”

“Of course. My stomach is already aching so much….”

“Even some brands have started boycotting! If Wall Flower is going to participate in the Cuba Cuba edit shop, they say they’ll never participate! It’s like pouring ashes on a finished meal!”

Director Song, who poured out a cool scolding, swept his bangs up and continued speaking.

“Before starting a job, you should have thought a little about how to resolve it! Are we really all going to sit on the streets together like this?”

“Why are we sitting on the streets? And who said I was standing by? I was wondering how to smash it in the coolest way, so I thought my hair would fall out….”

Jae-seung, who spoke in a playful tone, said, “Everyone gather around,” and then immediately opened an internet window. It was none other than Geraldine Saglio’s personal SNS [Social Networking Service] page.

“Ji-hoon, please translate it once.”

Chu Ji-hoon, with a blank face, began to read the text of the post that Geraldine Saglio had posted on her SNS.

“I hope you will read this issue of Paris Fog. We will provide the first 1,000 people who leave a comment with a purchased issue at my own expense. Would you believe that there are still countries where artists are not treated well? This month, Paris Fog focused on the humiliation that Korea’s rising designer ‘Lee, Wall Flower’, who is slowly showing his talent in the world fashion industry based on his innate talent, is experiencing in his own country….”

The photo attached with the text seemed to be the main cover of this month’s Paris Fog. It was a picture with a red X mark on the logo of the Korea Fashion Designers Association (KFDA) engraved in the center.

Just as the employees were all making blank expressions.

“Next is this.”

This time, Jae-seung displayed an article on the monitor screen about the press conference that famous designers, including ‘Alexander King’, had just finished.

“Ji-hoon, please do this too.”

Chu Ji-hoon began to translate and tell the article, stammering.

The more Chu Ji-hoon’s words continued, the more everyone couldn’t help but be shocked.

“Tonight, famous designers of the Parsons faction belonging to the ‘The Real Artist’ crew gathered in one place and shouted about the talent that deserves to be protected. They revealed what unfair treatment Korea’s rising designer ‘Lee’ had received from his association, and released the recording data that could prove the fact….”

Director Song looked at Jae-seung and asked back.

“What? Recording data?”

“It’s a smart world.”

“Oh my god….”

Chu Ji-hoon’s translation continued.

“…Also, Alexander King revealed that ‘Lee’ is also a member of the same The Real Artist crew as himself, and said that he will use all means and methods to ensure that the corrupt group pays the price.”

Silence flowed into the office for a moment.

Jae-seung, who smiled brightly, snapped his fingers once and said.

“Enjoy it, it’s show time.”