Black Label [EN]: Chapter 109

109. Time to Claim the Glory

Isn’t there a saying that the ground hardens after rain? It suggests that challenges make one stronger.

The Lee & Marc team, which had faced a near dissolution, was now displaying unparalleled chemistry.

Product design was now entirely Jae Seung’s domain, while Marc focused on selecting the ‘Color,’ ‘Fabric,’ and ‘Texture’ to complement Jae Seung’s haute couture designs.

The same held true now.

Marc Jacobs’ booming voice echoed through the making center, which the Lee & Marc team had converted into their workshop.

“Damn it! That’s not the feel we’re going for! I distinctly remember specifying that the yarn itself be dyed, not the fabric!”

“Now, Marc, calm down….”

“What did you say? Calm down? With the show just around the corner, you bring me this garbage and call it fabric? It’s utterly absurd.”

The ‘Marc Jacobs’ brand employee responsible for requesting and transporting the fabric apologized profusely, “I’m truly sorry.”

Standing nearby, Jae Seung, who had been listening in, began to tear open the vinyl wrapping the fabric and examined its surface.

‘Hmm, this seems usable enough….’

To Jae Seung, it appeared to be fabric of ‘a pretty decent level.’

While not exceptional, it lacked any glaring flaws and seemed perfectly suitable for immediate use in haute couture production.

However, it clearly fell short of Marc’s exacting standards.

“I’ll give you one more day. Scour New York, Paris, Milan, London, and Tokyo. Find a company that can flawlessly produce the fabric by the deadline.”

“Marc, you need to be a little more specific. Are you after depth? Or the overall feel?”

“You idiot… of course, I want both. Take another good look at this garbage you bought and dared to call fabric.”

Marc Jacobs then pointed at Jae Seung—or rather, at the fabric piled next to Jae Seung—and asked with a growl.

“Does this heap of trash fabric look like a ‘*Sterling Ruby*’ artwork to you?” (Sterling Ruby is a contemporary artist known for his vibrant and abstract works.)

“No, that’s….”

“Good, good. Then let me spell it out for you. First, take this garbage fabric back and burn it all.”

“Marc, but….”

The hesitant employee started to ask, “Do you know how much this fabric costs?” but stopped himself.

He knew better than to provoke Marc Jacobs in his current agitated state.

“After burning it all, send me a picture of the ashes. Then I’ll forward that picture to the person in charge at the company that supplied this garbage fabric.”

After a moment of silence, the person in charge reluctantly nodded and replied, “Yes, sir.”

“From now on, for the next 24 hours, find a company that can produce it properly. Spare no expense. Offer a premium—no, pay double or triple. Produce the highest quality fabric that looks exactly like Sterling Ruby’s work, as ‘Lee’ wants. Got it?”

“Yes, I understand.”

Jae Seung then sighed. He felt his unreasonable request had triggered this outburst.

Not long ago, while dining with Marc Jacobs, Jae Seung had shown him some paintings by the visual artist ‘Sterling Ruby’ that he had found online and asked cautiously.

‘Marc, is it possible to print this artwork exactly onto the fabric?’

It was just a passing thought.

But it had snowballed.

The next day, Marc Jacobs immediately flew to France.

Sterling Ruby’s paintings were being exhibited there at the time.

He gave a definitive answer only after seeing Sterling Ruby’s paintings in person, not just on a screen.

‘While challenging, it seems worthwhile. Let’s proceed as Lee wants.’

Both Jae Seung and Marc Jacobs were meticulously preparing for this competition with utmost seriousness.

At that moment, Marc Jacobs put his arm around Jae Seung’s shoulder and said gently.

“Lee, don’t worry too much. I’ll get the fabric that matches your level and the expectations of the customers who will buy your haute couture.”

And CNN STYLE cameras were capturing these scenes of the two doing their best to prepare for the competition.

Tomi, who had been observing the conversation, swallowed hard.

Gulp-.

Tomi, eyes shining, vowed to include this scene in the intro video before the competition.

* * *

D–14.

Time flew by. Only two weeks remained until the competition.

The ‘Lee & Marc’ team had already finished about ten haute couture outfits.

Haute couture is among the most challenging clothing to sew.

They had completed so many pieces thanks to a decision Jae Seung had made.

“Kyle, thank you so much for your help.”

‘Kyle,’ sitting at the sewing machine in a white gown, smiled brightly at Jae Seung’s quiet words.

“No problem, it’s what I’ve been doing every day for years, right?”

He had called Kyle, who was supposed to be back in Korea, to the Parsons School of Design’s making center.

As expected of someone from a premium brand atelier, Kyle was handling the workload of several ordinary tailors.

Not only Jae Seung and Marc Jacobs but also the CNN STYLE staff, practically stationed in the making center, praised Kyle’s sewing skills to no end.

And Kyle always gave the same answer to such praise.

‘My skills are nothing compared to Lee’s. Everyone just hasn’t seen Lee’s sewing skills.’

This only fueled curiosity about Jae Seung’s sewing skills.

Everyone eagerly awaited Jae Seung to finish the design work and start sewing.

* * *

D–9.

Again, a few days passed, and the competition venue was decided.

Traditionally, the competition alternated between schools each year.

Since the previous year’s competition was in the Parsons building, this year it should have been in the F.I.T building.

However, perhaps to accommodate a larger audience, this year’s competition would be held at the ‘HQ Center,’ the venue for ‘New York Fashion Week,’ one of the world’s four major fashion weeks.

The schools’ bold decision didn’t stop there.

For the first time since the competition began, they decided to sell tickets.

“Well, the ticket price is probably just kids’ allowance money, right? Just to cover the rental fee.”

“Hmm, I see.”

“Anyway, it’s definitely the biggest show in the competition’s history.”

Jae Seung nodded and looked at his wristwatch.

“Marc, the model audition is at four o’clock today, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Marc Jacobs, after answering, tilted his head in confusion and asked.

“Lee, why the glasses all of a sudden?”

“Well, just….”

When Jae Seung vaguely brushed it off, Marc Jacobs smiled and said.

“Glasses suit you quite well, too.”

“Thank you.”

The words ‘Wall Flower’ were neatly engraved on the side of Jae Seung’s eyeglass frame. (Wall Flower is likely a brand or style of glasses.)

* * *

D-2.

The Lee & Marc team completed all the haute couture outfits for the competition just two days before the event.

This was also thanks to Jae Seung’s participation. Without him, they wouldn’t have finished even on the day of the event.

Everyone who watched Jae Seung’s haute couture sewing process was amazed.

“That’s truly selfish talent.”

In response to Marc Jacobs’ quiet words, tailor Kyle nodded and said.

“Ordinary talent motivates others. It motivates them to work hard to become like that.”

“And?”

“Lee’s talent is more than that. It’s an overwhelming talent that makes others feel inadequate. It sometimes makes them think, ‘No matter how hard I try, I’ll never be able to become like that.'”

Tomi’s 6mm camera captured the sincere conversation.

At this point, reporter ‘Tomi,’ who had been through thick and thin with the Lee & Marc team during the preparation period, was sure of the documentary’s success.

This competition documentary would be the most successful fashion documentary CNN STYLE had ever aired.

Certainly.

* * *

D–Day.

The morning of the competition dawned.

Even two hours before the show, the area in front of the HQ Center was packed.

Numerous reporters were stationed, and celebrities could only enter the HQ Center after passing through the photo zone near the entrance.

Soon.

Screech-.

A black sedan stopped in front of the HQ Center.

Designer ‘Lee,’ who had expanded the scale of the competition, emerged.

Along with his partner, ‘Marc Jacobs.’

Reporters began snapping photos as soon as they appeared.

As the two moved toward the entrance, questions poured out.

“I heard the Lee & Marc team had conflicts in the beginning. Have those been resolved?”

“I heard you’re the only team preparing haute couture outfits. Why haute couture?”

“Most critics are picking the Lee & Marc team to win. Are you confident?”

The two moved forward silently.

Just as they reached the front gate of the HQ Center.

Marc Jacobs stopped and said quietly.

“I wish you’d stop asking such clichéd questions. I’ll answer everything indirectly through the show. And our team’s goal isn’t just to win.”

The shutter sounds intensified.

Questions poured out again, but Marc Jacobs continued with an arrogant expression.

“The Lee & Marc team’s victory is a natural step. Our ultimate goal is to insert the names of ‘two geniuses’ along with ‘Parsons’ into the history of modern haute couture.”

He finished, said, “Then goodbye,” and moved toward the HQ Center.

Perhaps because of their confidence, shouts erupted.

Jae Seung whispered to Marc Jacobs.

“Marc, I’ve been waiting. Now it’s finally….”

After hesitating.

“It’s time to take all the glory for ourselves.”

“I agree.”

The two stepped inside the HQ Center.

Their steps were light and confident.

Isn’t that how ‘evaluation’ usually is?

It’s a hardship for the unprepared, but an exciting thing for those who are prepared.

The two enjoyed a pleasant thrill and moved forward.