Black Label [EN]: Chapter 245

245. Diamond Look VS Wallflower (4)

Thump, thump, thump.

As the intense electronic music began to play, the audience members shifted in their seats.

Most of them were there solely to see ‘Wallflower’s’ collection.

Like fanatics awaiting a sacred ritual, they stared intently at the runway stage, eyes wide with anticipation.

Then, a figure appeared on the runway.

The first model emerged, but the lighting was so dim it was difficult to make out any details.

Long, narrow spotlights illuminated only the end of the runway where the models would turn.

Soon, the first model reached the end, revealing their outfit.

“Avant-garde?”

“Huh….”

A low murmur rippled through the audience.

The outfit was indeed a prime example of avant-garde fashion.

It’s a term for experimental fashion—designs created to showcase artistry, often with little regard for mainstream appeal.

The outfit worn by Wallflower’s first model fit that description perfectly.

Wide, baggy black pants and a gray string tank top, the kind a pop artist who enjoys bizarre performances might wear as a stage costume. The exposed shoulders evoked a strange mystique rather than overt sensuality.

Everyone seemed surprised that ‘Lee’ would showcase such an experimental design lineup so early in the show.

The murmur that started somewhere in the audience grew louder and showed no sign of stopping.

But, why?

The model, having reached the end of the runway, didn’t turn but stopped to pose.

As if in a photo shoot, they stared straight ahead into the empty space, unblinking.

This only amplified the murmur.

Soon.

Static—.

A strange ‘noise’ echoed through the speakers, and suddenly all the lights went out.

In an instant, a deep darkness enveloped the venue.

Then, a line of text appeared on the large screen behind the runway stage.

– Wall flower

Soon, the text began to disappear from the left, and a black and white video began to play.

It was a motivational video filmed at Wallflower’s headquarters in Korea.

The video showed master craftsmen from the atelier diligently sewing, then transitioned to scenes of Lee and his designers carefully reviewing design layouts for the season, deeply engaged in meetings.

– This season is the time to show the identity and future direction of the Wallflower brand.

Jaesung’s words were translated and displayed as subtitles.

Jaesung, smoking a thick cigar and deep in thought, the dark night sky, and then the designers diligently working….

It was just like a typical brand motivational video.

The problem was that a motivational video was suddenly being shown during the collection show.

But, so what?

Not a single person felt distracted or found it strange.

The reason? Simple. This was ‘Wallflower’s’ collection show.

Perhaps because all the collections Lee had planned and conceived so far had not been bound by convention?

Now, Wallflower had cultivated such a unique image that no matter what kind of performance they put on at a collection show, it wouldn’t seem out of place.

Soon, the video ended, fading to black. The video had been edited using a ‘*Fade-Out*’ technique [a video editing transition where the image gradually disappears to black].

At the same time, the music resumed, and the first model, who had been standing still for a long time, made a splendid turn and began to walk towards the backstage.

Soon, the second model appeared on stage.

“I can see the intention not to lose mass appeal.”

The authoritative critic Phil Adore spoke as soon as the second model, a tall Caucasian man, appeared on the runway.

He was wearing a thin black blazer jacket and wide, baggy black slacks.

The pants were so long that only the tips of his shoes were barely visible.

But, what to say?

Isn’t avant-garde fashion often so challenging that most people wouldn’t even dare to wear it on the street?

On the other hand, the avant-garde presented by Wallflower felt quite different.

Rather than being intimidating, it felt special, and it was clear that great effort had been put into pursuing trends and capturing mass appeal.

At least, the thought of ‘I could never wear that on the street’ never even crossed my mind.

No, it even made me think that it might become a statement piece that could make me look like a trendsetter.

The runway show continued.

The third model, a black woman, was wearing jumpsuit-style overalls.

The only striking thing was that she wasn’t wearing anything underneath.

“It’s really special.”

A short-haired woman sitting in the audience said without realizing it.

She was ‘Woman Kiko’, a world-renowned Japanese pop star who had earned the title of queen of performance, possessing both bizarre artistic views and brilliant performance planning skills.

Even from her perspective, Wallflower’s clothing for this season felt like a ‘milestone’ or a ‘guide’.

A futuristic fashion that could give viewers the feeling of being slightly ahead of the curve.

However, they had found and created a subtle and ambiguous boundary that wouldn’t be offensive to the average person.

Soon, she and many other celebrities took off their sunglasses and began to watch the runway show with furrowed brows.

Their minds were filled only with the image of themselves wearing Wallflower’s products from this season at important upcoming performances or award ceremonies.

Wallflower’s products from this season stimulated a primal desire.

Originally, wasn’t fashion a culture that originated for the nobles of high society?

It felt like they were seducing with a sense of exclusivity.

It felt like they were appealing to us to pay attention to them, promising to make us special people.

After that, stimulating and flashy designs that weren’t excessive continued to be revealed.

A model appeared wearing a dress with gorgeous colors that seemed to capture the universe, and a long cardigan made of ramie fabric [a durable, linen-like fabric made from plant fibers] as the main material.

Thanks to the intense lighting, the model’s skin was clearly visible beneath the long cardigan.

It was a design that had sensuality, splendor, a progressive feel, and mass appeal.

Next, a model appeared wearing a high-waisted black long skirt and a long-sleeved t-shirt made of thin, soft synthetic material.

What impressed the VIPs was the print on the t-shirt.

The colors, reminiscent of a sunset, were mixed evenly to create an abstract feel.

Soon, designer ‘Drew McQueen’, known as the ‘pioneer of avant-garde’, who was sitting in the audience, muttered in a daze with a slightly trembling voice.

“Popular avant-garde, it’s like an incongruous feeling like ‘hot ice’ [an oxymoron, a self-contradictory phrase]. I can’t believe it. Lee has created something that shouldn’t exist….”

He was in great shock.

Is this the identity and future direction of the premium brand Wallflower?

Then, is Lee confident that he can create such innovative designs every year?

What is certain is that this is not a selfish form of art that is forced on the public.

This is art, but it was clear that it also had the commercial potential to sell like hotcakes.

At the same time as goosebumps, I felt like my blocked thoughts were breaking down and a new form of something was solidifying.

It was a similar feeling to the moment when you come face to face with an awe-inspiring and sublime work of art, and a great realization washes over you like a wave.

Innovative designs that would be a milestone in history continued to pour out.

Whenever that happened, exclamations and admiration were invariably heard. The reporters’ hands became even busier.

‘In just one season?’

That was the thought that all the fashion people in the audience had in common.

Wasn’t it only half a year ago that they had conquered Paris Fashion Week with the Dreamer T-shirt and a wondrous performance that shattered the mold?

However, in that short period of time, they had created an entirely new concept.

“It’s not competitive.”

Can a painter who skillfully imitates nature and the creator who created nature compete on the same level?

Absolutely impossible.

The relationship between the brands participating in this Paris Fashion Week and Wallflower was exactly that.

How can those who produce the most innovative works within an already established system compete with those who create and establish the system?

A competition between Diamond Look and Wallflower?

No. From the beginning, they cannot be on the same level. Not only Diamond Look, but all the brands participating in this fashion week were like that.

This Paris Fashion Week was Wallflower’s solo stage, and all the brands were just supporting roles.

However, Diamond Look was just the brand that was at the forefront of those supporting roles.

Soon.

As the last model’s runway walk ended, the finale stage began.

Everyone was watching the procession of models as if they had lost their souls, when the back part of the motivational video was revealed again through the screen.

– We don’t hope to be remembered as a brand that presents popular avant-garde.

Jaesung’s words were translated as subtitles.

– Then?

Then the designer’s question.

– An innovative brand that is not bound by genre and framework. When you think of the word fashion, our goal is to become a brand that everyone in the world will inevitably think of first.

Soon.

The darkened lights turned on again, and Jaesung appeared.

From the white shirt, shining cufflinks, slim-fit high-end custom tailor, and handmade shoes.

He was dressed no differently from what he usually looked like on stage.

However, the audience’s reaction was different. Even though the owner designer appeared and greeted them like a British gentleman, no reaction was coming back.

“…….”

“…….”

Everyone was just silently looking at Jaesung with eyes full of reverence and awe.

How long has it been?

Slowly, applause began to spread from one side of the audience.

Clap clap clap clap clap-!

It was a moment when it became very clear that Wallflower had steadfastly defended its throne this season as well, and that the landscape would not change in the coming years.