Black Label [EN]: Chapter 107

Black Label 106

107. Until I See It Myself

After a moment of silence, Mark Jacobs muttered, “Damn it, fine…,” and immediately retorted,

“Just one question. Have you ever received any training in haute couture [high fashion design and creation]?”

“No, I haven’t.”

Jaesung replied curtly and resolutely, then continued,

“But I’ve never received any training in fashion itself, let alone haute couture. At least, not until I entered Parsons [The New School’s prestigious art and design college in New York City].”

Strictly speaking, it was true. Until he entered Parsons this time, he had never received any fashion-related education.

The same was true in his past life. He studied theory by devouring ‘textbooks’ and ‘major books’ purchased from used bookstores, and learned practical skills by throwing himself into the field.

Mark Jacobs then spoke in a growling, extremely irritable tone.

“You’re incredibly arrogant.”

“It might seem that way.”

Jaesung said indifferently, adding, “Depending on your perspective.”

“Listen, you idiot. This competition is a major event with Parsons’ reputation at stake. It’s not a lighthearted affair where you can indulge in artistic play as a hobby.”

“Mark, I’ve never once thought this competition was a lighthearted affair. As Mark said, it’s an important event with Parsons’ reputation at stake, as well as my own.”

“If you’re so interested in haute couture, I think you should look into other design schools now. I can say with certainty that you’re not a suitable student for Parsons.”

“That’s just a useless prejudice. It’s almost pathetic. There’s no reason why someone from Parsons can’t step into the realm of haute couture.”

Mark Jacobs then jumped up from his seat, picked up his sunglasses from the table,

and slowly looked around at everyone in the room, continuing in a tone full of resentment.

“As you can all see, it’s just a waste of my breath to talk. I’m leaving now. You can handle the competition, the documentary, and the damn haute couture yourselves.”

Just as the staff member ‘Tommy,’ who was busy trying to read the room, was about to say something, Mark Jacobs said, “No, No…,” and immediately continued.

“It’s better if you just don’t say anything. Because no words can persuade me.”

After finishing speaking, Mark Jacobs began to stride towards the exit of the making center.

Soon, Mark Jacobs, who had reached the door, turned to look at Jaesung with his hand on the doorknob.

“You foolish fellow….”

With those words, Mark Jacobs left the making center. Several staff members hurriedly followed him, but nothing changed.

The staff members who followed him out of the making center didn’t return until tens of minutes later.

* * *

As soon as Mark Jacobs stormed out of the making center, Tommy, the head of the site, decided to put the filming on ‘All Stop’ for a while.

‘Lee, if you give me some time, I will try to persuade him again somehow.’

Filming, which had been suspended, resumed two full days later.

That is, it took Tommy a full 48 hours to realize that ‘Mark Jacobs’ decision could never be reversed.’

“For your information, everyone expected this situation. From the conflict with Mark, to his overbearing attitude, and even the fact that he would never understand the theme of ‘haute couture.'”

After speaking, Jaesung took out the file he had prepared and placed it on the table in the center of the making center.

Tommy nodded once and then asked,

“Lee, is there a specific reason why you’re insisting on the theme of haute couture?”

The two were having a conversation in a natural tone.

However, the cameras placed throughout the making center were emitting a green light, indicating that filming was still in progress.

“There are several reasons why I decided to showcase haute couture. First of all, I wanted to take on a new challenge. I will show that there are no limits to designer Lee’s spectrum.”

“Hmm, a challenge….”

Tommy trailed off for a moment, then continued.

“Well, should that challenge have been done in this competition, where so many people’s attention is focused?”

“I think now, when so many eyes are on us, is the perfect opportunity.”

Jaesung replied in a resolute tone, continuing fluently.

“If I get good results, it’s an opportunity to easily convince everyone, right?”

“Hmm, then what’s the other reason?”

“I will break the stereotype that people from Parsons can’t step into ‘haute couture.'”

After speaking, Jaesung looked at the camera lens and continued.

“Are you aware that for decades after ‘gymnastics’ was included as an event in the Olympics, not a single person had ever received a perfect score?”

“No. That’s the first time I’ve heard that story.”

“In 1976, decades after gymnastics was included as an event, a 14-year-old Romanian girl scored the first perfect score at the Montreal Olympics. The surprising thing is that the number of athletes receiving perfect scores began to increase rapidly after that.”

Tommy then scratched his chin and asked,

“That’s a really interesting story. Hmm, was it because of a difference in mindset?”

“Yes. That’s right. Experts predict that the thought that ‘it’s difficult but definitely possible’ broke the psychological limits of the athletes.”

“Ah! Then maybe…?”

“Yes. That’s right. I want to be a precedent for someone through this challenge. Just because you entered Parsons doesn’t mean you have to hide the artistry that occupies one side of your heart forever.”

Tommy then looked at Jaesung with calm eyes.

On the other hand, Jaesung was completely unaware of Tommy’s gaze and was busy taking out the A4 papers that were in his file.

At that moment.

“Actually, there’s another reason.”

“Another reason?”

“Christian Diom [Likely a fictional luxury fashion house, playing on ‘Christian Dior’].”

When Tommy tilted his head slightly as if in doubt, Jaesung began to reveal his inner thoughts in a nonchalant tone.

“In this competition, I will showcase haute couture so beautiful that Diom’s board of directors will drool over it. And the day after the competition….”

After a moment of silence, Jaesung looked intently at the camera lens again and added.

“I will be in talks with Diom’s board of directors regarding the terms of recruiting a creative director.”

* * *

Meanwhile, at that time.

Inside the faculty conference room located within Parsons Design School, two prominent designers were sitting together.

The first to break the silence was Edin Thomas, a professor with the highest authority in the undergraduate program and the owner designer of ‘Vermont.’

“Mark, I wish you would reconsider.”

As soon as Edin heard from CNN STYLE that the ‘Lee & Mark’ team had broken up, he summoned Mark Jacobs.

It was Edin’s decision to assign Mark Jacobs as Jaesung’s partner in the first place.

Although there might be friction at first, he was confident that they would show a great ‘*chemistry*’ from then on.

He had hoped that Mark Jacobs’ solid sense of fabric and texture selection would be added to Lee’s sensational haute couture design.

“Haa-.”

Mark Jacobs didn’t readily give an answer and covered his face with both hands.

Silence lingered inside the conference room for a moment. Then, he began to speak in a low voice.

“I sincerely respect Edin, but I don’t think I can follow your wishes this time.”

“But, this competition is….”

“No, it won’t work. It would be a much wiser choice to recruit another Parsons designer right now.”

When Edin Thomas took a long breath, Mark Jacobs spoke in a rather agitated tone.

“If it were normal, I would have given in when Edin brought it up. You know that, right?”

He was serious. If it were a different situation, he would have followed his words without being able to win.

Although he had not been directly taught by Edin Thomas when he was a student at Parsons, Edin Thomas was a figure like a living history in the fashion world, wasn’t he?

Moreover, he was now serving as a professor at his alma mater.

Edin Thomas then gave a kind smile and spoke softly.

“I watched the conversation between the two of you. It was captured in the video sent by CNN STYLE.”

“Yes. As Edin saw, he was a very arrogant guy. He was the one who rejected my help first.”

Mark Jacobs took a breath, took a few sips of bottled water on the table, and then spoke again.

“I can understand that far enough. I thought I was the best genius designer in the world until I tasted failure in the 1993 S/S [Spring/Summer] season. His biggest problem is that he’s taking this competition lightly.”

“Why do you think so? Is it because Lee is trying to showcase haute couture clothes in this competition?”

Mark Jacobs frowned and asked in a slightly trembling voice.

“Wait, wait a minute, Edin. Don’t tell me you knew Lee was preparing haute couture and still assigned me as Lee’s partner?”

“That’s a surprisingly accurate inference.”

“Oh my god. Why did you make that decision? I thought you knew me well, Edin….”

“Calm down. Maybe it’s because I know you well that I made that decision, don’t you think?”

Edin Thomas then raised his slightly slipped glasses and continued.

“I think it would be right to look at Lee’s diagrams first.”

“Yes…?”

“It won’t be difficult.”

After speaking, Edin Thomas immediately took out a bundle of A4 paper from his briefcase.

They were the materials he had received from Jaesung yesterday after contacting him separately, and they were the ‘draft diagrams’ of the haute couture products that would be exhibited in this competition.

“Yes. It’s not difficult to watch. But even after watching it, my decision will not change. It’s not that Lee’s attempt to express artistry is wrong. I just judged that the ‘time’ and ‘place’ were not appropriate. This competition is an important event with the school’s honor at stake, and as a member selected to participate, Lee has an obligation to do his best….”

Mark Jacobs, who was continuing to speak, closed his mouth tightly as he began to examine the diagrams.

How much time had passed? Mark Jacobs, who had been staring at the diagrams for a long time, opened his mouth in a somewhat excited tone.

“Damn it. I think it would be good to meet Lee again.”