Black Label [EN]: Chapter 119

119. The First Sample

Why hadn’t I thought of that?

Forgetting that I had jumped up from my seat, I began to list the thoughts that were sequentially blooming in my mind.

“As Seung-ho said, it could be solved by using ‘nylon’ or ‘polyester’ and blended materials as the main materials. We could reduce costs and incorporate various convenient functions, including waterproofing.”

Ryoo Seung-ho’s passion shone once again. I had thought many times that he would do well if given the opportunity, but I didn’t expect him to be such a great help even before the framework was properly set up.

The haziness in my mind seemed to clear up as if it had never been there. The collaboration product, which had only been vaguely outlined, was becoming clearer and clearer.

Soon, various conversations began again regarding the specific design concept of this collaboration product.

The meat on the grill was cold and dried out, but the atmosphere was so lively that it was no exaggeration to say it was burning.

* * *

Was it because of the aftermath of the dinner that ended around the time when the dim dawn light spread across the sky?

The morning after a short nap didn’t feel very refreshing. My stomach was constantly churning, and my head was throbbing.

“Hoo….”

I took a deep breath and got up from my seat.

My condition wasn’t great, but my heart was simply excited.

It was thanks to the fact that I was able to finalize all the drafts of the collaboration product to be released this season at the drinking party that lasted all night.

Starting with the main theme of the product, we finished the release and marketing methods, and even the material selection.

Once the final review process is over, it’s ready to start preparing for the season right away.

I can feel the preparation coming to an end. The thought of standing in front of the starting line once again made my passion burn.

First, I quickly finished getting ready and headed straight to Wall Flower’s office.

Despite returning home quite late, the design team employees were focusing on their work without showing any signs of fatigue.

“Good morning.”

Soon, Director Song, looking extremely haggard, spoke in a low voice with no strength.

“Is your stomach okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“I feel like I’m dying.”

Well, he would feel like he was dying. In my past life, whenever he had a drinking party, he would nod off like a sick chicken from around two in the morning.

After saying, “When I see things like this, I can definitely tell that youth is good,” Director Song brought up the main topic.

“I have something important to report to the president, so can you spare some time?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Okay, take a break in the president’s office for a while. I’ll grab a few documents and be right there.”

After a brief conversation, I headed straight to the president’s office.

I stood there for a while, looking at the scenery of Madu Station through the glass wall.

After shaking my head a few times to clear my mind, I picked up a piece of A4 paper that was on the desk.

“Let’s see….”

It was a neatly organized A4 paper listing the media outlets that had requested interviews this time.

No matter how late it gets, I have to finish selecting the media outlets to respond to and those not to respond to by this evening.

I stroked my chin and carefully looked through the media outlets listed when a knock sounded softly in the quiet president’s office.

Soon, the door to the president’s office opened, and Director Song reappeared.

He was holding a black plastic bag in one hand and a thick file in the other.

“What? Why are you standing there looking so pathetic?”

Director Song said bluntly, “Let’s sit down first,” and then sat down on a seat on the sofa in the center of the president’s office.

“What’s that?”

At the question I asked, pointing to the plastic bag with a chin gesture, Director Song smiled and replied.

“Honey water. Drink a glass.”

“Thank you.”

Director Song, who quickly emptied a bottle of honey water with Jae-seung, opened the thick file he had brought. Tiny letters were densely written on the paper inside.

Even if I don’t know it well, there was one thing I could be sure of. It was time to be sucked back into the vortex of work again.

“Did you take a look at the list of requesting media outlets?”

“Yes. I took a quick look.”

Starting with public broadcasting stations, there were a total of 60 media outlets requesting interviews, including comprehensive programming cable channels with considerable influence, various news agencies, and fashion magazines.

Most of them were simple interview requests, but some of them included requests to appear on TV programs on public and cable channels.

I tapped the side table with my finger for a while, lost in thought.

“First of all, it seems like the right order to start by cutting out the shameless ones.”

Director Song smiled and replied, “Yes, that’s right.”

It was a jab at the news agencies and magazines that had poured out unverified false reports every few hours when they were in conflict with the ‘Korea Fashion Designer Association’ before.

Although it may have been an unavoidable choice from their point of view, that cannot be a reason for forgiveness.

“First of all, I’ll combine the news agency interviews and conduct them in a conference style. I hope you can prevent reporters from news agencies that previously published false reports from even setting foot in the conference hall.”

“Tsk, those guys must be feeling bad. I’ll coordinate with Ryoo Seung-ho to set the date of the conference.”

Originally, it had been agreed to appear with Ryoo Seung-ho for interviews with some famous news agencies with valuable content. The decision to combine them into one and proceed in a conference format was also to consider Ryoo Seung-ho.

“The news agency side is neatly organized with this, so what about the other media outlets?”

“I think you can just reject all the offers to appear on TV shows.”

As soon as I answered in a calm tone, Director Song frowned.

He didn’t seem to easily understand the appearance of threatening to reject all offers for show programs and entertainment programs that others were eager to appear on.

“Reject them all? Why? What’s the reason?”

“It’s annoying and tiring.”

After answering briefly, I added, “And I’m not a celebrity, I’m a designer.”

Although I answered vaguely, it was a meaningful statement.

Unless it was a talk show hosted by a famous celebrity like the ‘Oprah Winfrey Show’ or the ‘Conan Show,’ I had no desire to appear on domestic show programs and entertainment programs.

Even if I decide to appear, I’ll only play the role of a panelist filling one seat. To put it nicely, it’s a panelist, but in reality, it can be called a background.

I was sure that the time I could be in the spotlight, no matter how many hours of recording I did, would only be a few minutes out of the long runtime.

I didn’t think it was an attractive offer to respond to, even if I had to suffer the humiliation of putting powder on my face and constantly forcing a smile in front of the camera.

Therefore, requests to appear on TV shows are unconditionally rejected.

“Well, it’s a shame, but the president must have a deep meaning. Mysticism? Well, I guess that kind of concept is more attractive?”

“Unless my mind changes later, I don’t want to be reduced to a few minutes of firewood for a few hundred thousand won [a small amount of money]. Marketing is important, but do I have to throw away my pride to do it?”

Director Song nodded a few times as if agreeing and asked again.

“Okay, then now the last one. What about the ‘fashion magazine’ side?”

“Without thinking too hard, I think you can just select and proceed with the top five most influential ones?”

“Oh, that’s good? The magazine interviews are conducted individually, right?”

“Yes. That’s right. It would be great if we could get a reduction in advertising costs for this season or include product lookbooks during the negotiation process.”

Director Song raised an eyebrow and continued in a very sly tone.

“Don’t worry about that part at all. If there was General Seo-hee of Gangdong 6 in Goryeo [a famous historical figure known for his negotiation skills], then Wall Flower has me.”

“Wow, that’s incredibly reliable? By the way, didn’t you say you had something to report?”

Only then did Director Song answer briefly, “Ah, that’s right,” and began to speak fluently.

“I had a brief conversation with the investors you asked about. Everyone’s reaction was friendly, so what did you do? Anyway, I think I need to complete a plausible investment plan in the near future and then go to the United States.”

“Yes. Please take care of it. By the way, how is the status of commercial properties for store openings? Are there any good places?”

“Yes. There are a few places I’ve marked, but I’ll have to work harder to find them for the time being.”

“I hope we can open at least one place around the time of the collaboration product release.”

Director Song narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, “A soft opening?” and then continued.

“Well, it seems possible if we hurry as much as possible… Is there any other special reason?”

“If possible, I was wondering if we could only sell the collaboration products at the store.”

“What? Are you serious?”

I nodded and replied.

“Yes, we’re not trying to release a large quantity anyway, so I think one store will be enough to handle it.”

“Yes, that’s right. So what I’m saying is, is there a reason to proceed that way while pushing yourself too hard?”

Reason? It’s enough.

“It’s nothing special, I just want to see people lining up in front of the Wall Flower store.”

“When I look at you, you’re a strange person? You had that kind of fantasy? Then I have to satisfy it somehow.”

That’s how it is every time on the release date of new products from famous brands with thick fan bases, including ‘Supreme’.

Collectors and resellers who visit to purchase clothes not only wait for a long time, but even come the night before, set up tents, and camp out.

Wall Flower has also succeeded in eliciting an overflowing response every season, but haven’t I ever seen it with my own eyes?

I can’t be satisfied with just the number of site visitors and traffic, which are just mere numbers. Now, I keep wanting to see the reaction with my own eyes.

“Director, and most fans with maniac tendencies are masochists. I’m sure that proceeding this way will further heighten their immersion.”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“Which one would you care more about, a product that you can get with a few clicks, or a product that you barely get after waiting for a long time and even camping out?”

“Well, of course, the latter?”

“Manic fans enjoy the collection process more than the collection itself. They also have a tendency to want to show off their fandom through the words, ‘How long have I waited to get this product?’ or ‘What kind of hardships did I go through?'”

Director Song asked in a low voice, “That makes sense?”

It’s not just reasonable, it’s safe to say it’s the accepted theory. He’s also been immersed in that feeling many times.

Anyway, manic fans are people who want to be treated much more harshly. If they want it, I have no choice but to wield the whip to the fullest.

After a moment of silence in the president’s office, Director Song looked at the calendar on one side of the side table and opened his mouth.

“Hoo, if I come to my senses again, a few months will have passed in a flash.”

“That’s right.”

There were a lot of things to do for Director Song and for me.

Once I’ve breathlessly digested the packed interview schedule, I’ll have to start preparing for the new season’s products right away.

While preparing for the collaboration product with Ryoo Seung-ho, I have to prepare for Wall Flower’s new season products at the same time.

And that’s not all? Whenever I have time, I have to search for commercial properties where the Yeonnam-dong store will be located. At this point, I feel like I’m in the dark.

While I was lost in thought, Director Song’s voice penetrated my ears again.

“Well, if we take it one step at a time this time, it’ll all be over before we know it.”

Yes, that’s right.

Like I always have.

* * *

After that, fifteen days passed in an instant.

A few commercial buildings where Wall Flower’s store would be located were confirmed, and Director Song had to board a plane to the United States with an interpreter for the first meeting with investors.

Also, in the meantime, Jae-seung was able to successfully conclude the official conference with Ryoo Seung-ho.

[Christian Dior’s choice, designer Lee Jae-seung. Fashionista Ryoo Seung-ho confirmed to work on collaboration]

[Wall Flower owner designer Lee Jae-seung says, “The collaboration product will be released in limited quantities as a limited edition, and unless there is a major change, we plan to sell it only in offline stores.”]

[Ryoo Seung-ho says, “My goal is not to harm designer Lee Jae-seung, who helped me realize my long-held dream.”]

As expected, it seemed to have succeeded in attracting great attention.

Related reports were pouring out every day, and fashion-related web community sites were also in an uproar.

However, the public’s reaction seemed to be quite mixed.

– Yul&Sul: No, think about it. If you were them, would you be able to concentrate with Christian Dior in front of you? If it were me, I wouldn’t be able to sleep well because I’d be so burdened.

└ TerryJung: 222. I agree with the above. Honestly, I think this season is just for show. Designer Lee Jae-seung is probably busy worrying about haute couture [high fashion] designs right now? The new designers are burning their eyes and getting excited.

– Horang: Christian Dior may be a burden, but considering designer Lee Jae-seung’s past career… Well? He finished Alexander King and the last Parsons competition well, so I don’t think he’ll be crushed by the burden and show off a bad work.

└ Minvely: I agree, I agree. And honestly, the skills of Wall Flower’s official designers are stable, so even if designer Lee Jae-seung is busy, I don’t think clothes below the level will come out? Just look at last season or the season before last.

└ Lovely muscle: I packed my bags in advance. If you keep this collaboration product, the price will definitely jump five times within a year. Everyone, have a sweet clothes tech [good luck with buying clothes]. ^^

└ Pinkpong12: I agree. I’ve already finished preparing for the camp. I’m planning to sit there all night from the night before. I’m sure they’ll set a limit on the amount that can be purchased per person, right? If not, I’ll go all-in with all my assets….

Anyway, even in the midst of that, the work was progressing smoothly.

Ryoo Seung-ho was working hard on this collaboration product, as if he was going to work at the Wall Flower office, and designer team employees, including Jae-seung, were focusing on creating diagrams with Ryoo Seung-ho.

And today, the first fruit of everyone’s efforts has come to fruition.

“President! I got a call from TaeYangsa saying that they completed the first design sample and will send it by quick service right now.”

As soon as I returned to the office after finishing the interview with the magazine, Lee Kang-joon said in a very excited tone.

The first sample that was just completed was the ‘Florence Jacket’, which had its diagram completed two days ago.

It was a thin spring jacket with a windbreaker feel that printed the night view of Florence as it is, so there was no need to pay much attention to the print pattern as it was a format that transferred the night view of Florence as it is.

Thanks to this, I was able to focus only on refining the appearance and designing the internal details with a focus on convenience, and thanks to this, I was able to complete the diagram in a much earlier time than I thought.

When I stepped into the design room, everyone was sitting with faces full of anxiety and anticipation.

Ryoo Seung-ho, who is enthusiastically working on the collaboration while canceling the scheduled schedule, is the same.

He was biting his lower lip and even biting his nails, waiting for the first sample to arrive.

He even closed his eyes tightly and prayed with his hands clasped together.

Soon, the door to the design room opened, and a female employee from the CS [Customer Service] department appeared.

The moment she appeared, everyone in the design room turned their heads all at once like meerkats and began to stare at the female employee.

“…A package arrived from TaeYangsa, can I leave it here?”

A brown box with a very rough appearance was held in the female employee’s arms. The first result is in that box.

Soon, Choo Ji-hoon strode up and replied, “Thank you,” and received the parcel box.

Soon, Choo Ji-hoon cut the taped area with a cutter knife, opened the box, and immediately took out the jacket inside.

A moment of silence flowed into the design room.

Suddenly, Ryoo Seung-ho, who let out a groan, carefully spoke in a trembling voice.

“Um, Jae-seung.”

“Yes?”

“Is this jacket really the clothes I made…?”