Black Label [EN]: Chapter 11

Black Label 10

11. First Product Arrival, Business Opens

Refurbishing.

It was a much simpler task than creating entirely new clothes.

The first piece of clothing that Jaeseung started working on was ‘jeans.’

‘Let’s see….’

They were jeans directly produced by ‘Revite,’ a fairly well-known brand that specializes in producing and distributing jeans.

To put it nicely, they had a plain design; to put it harshly, they were bland.

The washing was also unremarkable, and there wasn’t a single striking feature to be seen.

Plainness.

A keyword that could be a strength or a fatal weakness.

Soon, Jaeseung picked up a piece of chalk and began drawing lines on the thigh area of the jeans.

Swish- swish-!

‘Let’s do the accent work first.’

One white line appeared on each thigh. Jaeseung had drawn the lines himself using chalk.

Next.

Jaeseung took out a ‘zipper’ from the accessories he had bought at Dongdaemun [a famous fashion district in Seoul] the other day.

The lines drawn on the thigh area were none other than ‘incision lines.’ Now, he was planning to cut along these incision lines and sew a zipper onto each one.

‘It’ll definitely be an accent.’

It would be possible to open and close the zipper, which is its primary function, but it couldn’t be used as storage space.

He had no intention of adding a cloth pocket to the lining, and even if he did attach a cloth pocket, it would be difficult to use it as a pocket since the part where the zipper was attached was on the front of the thigh.

Sewing meaningless zippers onto the thigh area of jeans.

It originated when biker riders who enjoyed wearing ‘Biker Fit’ jeans in Japan attached zippers to the front of their thighs purely for style.

The following year, an unexpected event occurred.

Perhaps they were inspired by the refurbished jeans?

The head designer of the famous premium brand ‘Balmung’ and the twin designers who were leading ‘Dsquared2’ presented similar pants in their next collection.

The combination of their brand’s name value and creative design was bound to be a sensation.

Despite the price range ranging from at least hundreds of thousands of won to millions of won [hundreds to thousands of US dollars], they sold like hotcakes.

‘Since it’s not very popular in Korea yet, I can expect a good response.’

With a smile of anticipation on his face, Jaeseung cut the jeans along the incision lines he had drawn with chalk.

Ziiiiiiing-!

Then he immediately started sewing the zipper onto it.

The zipper attachment was finished without even stepping on the pedal a few times. After attaching the zipper, the length of the pants naturally became shorter.

It was because of the seam width.

‘Now I just need to cut the hem a little more.’

Although the length was somewhat shortened due to the seam allowance, the original plan was to cut the hem of the pants to a length of about ’10 parts’ [a cropped length exposing the ankle].

So that the wearer’s ankles would be clearly visible when wearing the pants.

If the hem is cut to a length of about 10 parts, it can create an effect similar to ‘rolling up’ the hem of the pants.

In addition to the visual effect of making the wearer’s legs look a little longer, it also has the effect of highlighting the shoes they are wearing.

Soon, Jaeseung drew a line on the ankle area again with chalk and immediately started cutting along the line.

Rustle- rustle-

“Oh….”

He didn’t have enough money to buy sewing scissors, so he was cutting them with kitchen scissors that had lost their sharpness.

Perhaps that’s why it was very difficult to cut the hem straight and neatly.

The line was already slightly crooked. He felt a little disappointed that it didn’t go exactly as planned, but he didn’t really care.

It was a problem that could be solved neatly by attaching one more photo showing the hem in detail and adding a line explaining ‘Unbalanced hem.’

‘After all, fashion is what you make of it….’

Now, only the most difficult final task remained.

After taking a deep breath, he picked up the knitting needle.

It was time to unravel the hem of the pants one strand at a time with a knitting needle. A job to create a natural and rough feeling.

Soon, Jaeseung lowered his head and began to carefully unravel the hem of the pants.

It’s a very labor-intensive and cumbersome task. Nevertheless, Jaeseung’s expression was just bright.

It was because he felt so grateful and happy for this reality he was living in.

‘Thank you so much….’

For this moment when I can make clothes and do things related to clothes.

For this moment when I can continue working with my two clear eyes.

I felt so grateful.

* * *

The next day, as soon as school was over, he headed to Yeongguk’s house.

“Is the house nice?”

“What’s so nice about it? And what good is it if it’s nice? It’s not my house, it’s my dad’s house.”

Yeongguk’s family was also a typical middle class, but it seemed that he was living in a much better environment than Jaeseung’s living environment.

A house in the 30-pyeong range [approximately 1,067 square feet]. There was a large TV installed in the living room, and a comfortable-looking sofa was placed in front of it.

Expensive liquors that he had collected for a long time were lined up in the storage cabinet, and the refrigerator was full of various foods.

While Jaeseung was lying on the sofa, scanning every corner of the living room.

“Found it.”

Yeongguk came out of his father’s bedroom with a rather chubby-looking camera.

“Wow, that camera looks really good?”

“I guess so? I don’t know exactly, but it must be quite expensive since my dad cherishes it so much.”

The logo of ‘Nikon’ was clearly engraved on the body. Just selling the lens attached to the front would be enough to buy several of Jaeseung’s old digital cameras.

Soon, Yeongguk continued, without taking his eyes off the camera.

“Let’s take pictures quickly. If I get caught touching the camera, I’m really dead.”

“Thanks, Yeongguk.”

Jaeseung replied briefly and began to take out the clothes he had prepared from his bag.

Two pairs of jeans and a hoodie that he had refurbished yesterday.

‘That guy Yeongguk….’

After taking out all the clothes and laying them on the floor. He glanced at Yeongguk, who was still busy touching the camera.

As soon as Yeongguk heard about the blog, he brought up the story of the camera in his house.

‘Hey, why are you telling me that now? We have my dad’s camera at home? It’s a pretty good DSLR camera. For now, let’s take pictures with that and upload them before we buy a decent camera.’

Jaeseung knew about Yeongguk’s father’s temper, so he asked him several times if it was okay. However, the answer that came back was always the same.

‘What does it matter? It’s okay if I don’t get caught. And what’s the point of having a friend?’

He pretended to reluctantly accept, but he was secretly happy. It was clear that taking pictures with a high-end DSLR camera would be several times better than taking pictures with an old digital camera.

“Is it okay to take pictures of just these three pieces?”

“Yeah, for today.”

Soon, Yeongguk began to slowly examine Jaeseung’s clothes.

“Hey, what is this? You made this yourself-?”

“I didn’t make it myself. I refurbished it, remember?”

“Wow, anyway, that’s amazing….”

Yeongguk trailed off and picked up a hoodie with patches all over it.

It was a plain black hoodie with no patterns or designs until Jaeseung attached the patches. It was even a no-brand product.

“The hoodie is amazing. The stuff on the clothes, didn’t we buy it together when we went to Dongdaemun last time?”

“The patches? That’s right. I bought it then.”

Originally, it was a product that cost 9,900 won [approximately $7.50 USD]. The atmosphere changed just by attaching a lot of patches.

Whether it’s a T-shirt, a dress shirt, or a hoodie, the easiest way to refurbish a top is to attach patches.

First of all, the difficulty is low and the process is simple.

All you have to do is figure out how to attach the patches and then sew them on. It takes about 20 minutes at most.

Also, the effect you can get is great compared to the simplicity.

“This hoodie is really pretty.”

Soon, Jaeseung shrugged his shoulders once and replied quietly.

“I’ll make you one next time.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. With much higher quality than this.”

Seeing how much he liked it, he wanted to give it to him as a gift right away, but it was too early.

The quality was too low to give as a gift to the people around him, especially Yeongguk, who wanted to help him so much.

“Do you think the clothes are okay?”

“Yeah. It’s really awesome? I think it’ll sell well.”

It was a rough expression typical of Yeongguk, but he was very satisfied. Soon, Yeongguk put down the hoodie and started looking at the jeans.

It was the Revite jeans that he had worked on first yesterday, with zippers sewn on both thighs and cut to 10 parts.

“Hey, where are these jeans originally from?”

“Look at the label.”

Jaeseung smiled and replied, and Yeongguk immediately checked the label attached to the inside of the waist.

“What? These pants are really ‘Revite’ jeans…?”

“Yeah.”

“These look like real designer jeans….”

Revite.

It was once a brand that enjoyed sensational popularity, but at this point, it had fallen into a jeans brand that was not very popular.

That’s because there were so many brands with similar prices but much more sophisticated designs.

From ‘Rookie Jean,’ which became famous thanks to American actor Zac Efron, to ‘Flap Jean,’ a domestic jeans brand….

Anyway, Revite was now in a state where the perception of it as ‘an outdated jeans brand’ was solidified.

“It looks like a completely different brand product? Should I say it looks much more luxurious? How did you refurbish this?”

“All I did was attach a zipper to the thigh area and cut the hem.”

“Wow. So that’s what refurbishing is like….”

Yeongguk stared blankly for a moment, then opened his mouth again.

“Then let’s take pictures first.”

“Okay.”

* * *

Thanks to having a lot of experience taking product photos on his own, and thanks to having seen professional photographers taking product photos over their shoulders, he was able to finish the shoot without much difficulty.

After transferring all the photographed files to the computer, he immediately started posting them on the blog.

Typing- typing-!

While Jaeseung was writing the post, Yeongguk was still fiddling with the camera.

He seemed to be deleting the remaining photos in order to plot a perfect crime.

“Is it going well?”

In response to Yeongguk’s question, Jaeseung nodded slightly and replied.

“I think so?”

First of all, the price of the no-brand hoodie with patches attached was set at 45,000 won [approximately $34 USD].

It was the price set in consideration of the cost of the hoodie and the attached patches. Labor costs were all taken into account.

The price of the jeans was set at 80,000 won each [approximately $60 USD].

The used price of jeans made by ‘Revite’ was taken as the base price, and the labor cost and the cost of the attached zipper were added to that amount.

There was one more criterion.

‘The reform clothes I make must be cheaper than the imitation products of premium brands.’

The core motto of Wall Flower Reform Shop was to transform no-brand clothes or low- to mid-priced clothes into clothes that exuded a luxurious feel.

In order to increase competitiveness and achieve great results in a short period of time. Also, in order to instill in consumers the perception that ‘it’s better to buy reform clothes from Wall Flower Reform Shop than to buy imitation clothes,’ he judged that maintaining this price range would be appropriate.

‘Let’s keep the reform clothes at this price range, unless they are self-made clothes that we will make in the future.’

After posting a sales-related article on his personal blog, Jaeseung continued to type on the keyboard.

This was to post articles on fashion-related web communities that had a large number of members or where used transactions were active.

When posting sales-related articles on web communities, he did not forget to include a phrase promoting his blog at the end.

*If you would like to receive information about more products a little faster, please click on the link below. If you click on the link, you will be taken directly to the ‘Wall Flower Reform Shop’ blog.

After completing all the posts.

“It’s all done.”

Jaeseung stretched and got up from his seat. Soon, Yeongguk smiled faintly and replied.

“Already? Wait a minute, I’ll delete all the pictures and take a look.”

“Take your time. Thanks in many ways, Yeongguk.”

“What’s with the cheesy stuff….”

“Thanks anyway.”

Jaeseung replied briefly and began to stare blankly at the monitor screen.

Now, all that was left was to watch the reaction. It was unlikely that they would be sold within a day or two, but it was unlikely that inquiries about purchases would pour in. Maybe there will be almost no reaction.

‘Even if that’s the case, don’t be disappointed.’

Days must come together to become ‘history.’

Although it would be difficult to achieve great success right away, he thought it was much more important to move forward slowly and steadily.

“Hoo….”

After taking a deep breath, he asked Yeongguk a question.

“Hey, can I lie down for a minute? What is this, I’m all worn out.”

“Why are you asking that?”

With a subtle expectation and anxiety at the same time. He lay down on Yeongguk’s bed.

Anyway, it could be said that he had succeeded in taking the first step.

‘Now it’s really starting….’

Was he tired? Or was it because the tension was relieved? Jaeseung, who was lying down with a faint smile on his face, fell asleep without even realizing it.

Immediately after Jaeseung fell asleep.

Ziiing-!

Ziiiiing-!

Ziiiiing-!

Jaeseung’s cell phone, which was placed on his bedside, began to vibrate continuously.

Yeongguk, who was still fiddling with the camera, tilted his head slightly and picked up Jaeseung’s cell phone.

‘Huh? Did someone call…?’

Soon.

Yeongguk’s eyes widened.