Black Label [EN]: Chapter 128

Black Label Chapter 127

128. Direction

After a long flight, we arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Perhaps because I was with the staff, the flight didn’t feel boring at all, unlike my previous trips.

After exiting the airport, we immediately split up into taxis. Our destination was Jae-seung’s personal apartment in Manhattan.

I figured staying in the Manhattan apartment would be much more liberating than staying in a hotel, so I hadn’t booked separate accommodation.

“Wouldn’t it be better to look for a hotel now? No matter how big the apartment is, it probably isn’t big enough for eight people to stay….”

That question came from Director Song, who slightly narrowed his brows while we were heading to the apartment in a taxi.

Of course, that question was completely resolved as soon as we stepped into the apartment.

Lee Kang-jun, who exclaimed “Wow…” once, turned his head and asked back in a very excited tone.

“CEO, have you been living alone in this big place all this time?”

The other employees reacted similarly. Everyone’s eyes were wide open, and their mouths were agape, as if they had made a pact, and they were busy looking around the inside of the apartment.

Feeling a little embarrassed, I waved my hand and replied.

“It’s just a monthly rental.”

Director Song immediately interjected, adding a sarcastic remark.

“Ah, yes. The CEO is right. It’s just a monthly rental, a monthly rental. But the monthly rent alone is millions of won in Korean currency [thousands of US dollars]. Moreover, the ‘Alexander King’ brand board prepaid several years’ worth of that huge monthly rent, right?”

After Director Song chuckled, he asked, “Isn’t that right?”

After a moment of surprised exclamations from various places, I clapped my hands and changed the subject.

“Anyway, I think it would be best to unpack first. We’re going to visit a *custom tailor* specialty store today. It’s a dinner with investors, so I think it’s better to dress formally.”

Director Song nodded as if he agreed, and then asked in a playful tone.

“What? Is the CEO going to get us each a suit?”

“I can do that.”

“Wow, you really are the king of employee benefits, aren’t you?”

After speaking, Director Song immediately started unpacking and added, “What are you all doing standing there? You have to move diligently before the CEO changes his mind!”

In the meantime, Jae-seung roughly threw his carrier into his bedroom and looked around the inside of the apartment again.

Even though the apartment had been empty for quite a while, it was maintained in a clean condition without a speck of dust.

It was thanks to the middle-aged maid ‘Julie’ who came to work every day and cleaned diligently.

‘I wonder how everyone is doing….’

After being immersed in those thoughts for a while, I picked up my cell phone and started sending messages to several people.

It was a message informing them that I had just arrived in New York.

* * *

After finishing unpacking, I headed to the ‘Bergdorf Goodman’ department store on 5th Avenue in New York with the design team staff.

It was also the place where I enjoyed a shopping spree worth tens of millions of won [tens of thousands of US dollars] with my younger sister, Seung-hee, after successfully finishing Alexander King’s season show.

The final destination was a famous handmade custom tailor brand store called ‘Gentleman’ located inside the men’s section.

Although it is currently franchised and located in luxury department stores everywhere, it firmly maintained the analog sensibility unique to custom tailors.

As soon as we arrived in front of the store, we could see the figures of white-haired *meisters* [master craftsmen] engrossed in tailoring beyond the glass wall.

Director Song, who was staring at them blankly, spoke in a slightly trembling voice.

“They say that men don’t get old, they get stylish….”

At least at that moment, I could agree with that statement wholeheartedly.

That’s because custom tailor meisters believe that their appearance is directly related to their ‘mindset’.

In other words, even maintaining a neat appearance is considered part of their craftsmanship.

Everyone was working with their gray hair neatly combed back in a clean pomade style, without a single strand out of place.

Not only their hairstyles but also their outfits were perfect.

From wrinkle-free shirts to vests made of luxurious material with a subtle sheen, to arm sleeves.

Some even had classic-looking eyeglass strings attached to the temples of their rimless glasses.

Soon, Jae-seung said, “Shall we go in first?” and took the lead in moving into the store.

As soon as we stepped into the store, a young manager approached with a thick chart in his hand and asked.

“Welcome. May I ask for your name?”

“I have a reservation under the name Lee.”

It was a place that operated strictly on a ‘reservation system’.

If I hadn’t made a reservation in advance in Korea, I would have had to wait several days just to get my measurements taken.

Soon, the young manager, who narrowed his brows slightly and scanned the chart, let out a soft “Ah!” and continued to speak.

“Confirmed. A total of eight people, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Please come inside.”

Soon, the employees began to take measurements in turn, following the guidance of the store manager.

After taking measurements, I had to fill out a document containing various options.

Not only the material, color, and shape of the buttons, but also *boutonnieres* [flower pins] to be inserted into the lapel holes, ‘cuffs’, and ‘handkerchiefs’….

There were countless optional items that could be selected individually.

While Jae-seung was busy filling out his own documents, Director Song asked in a low voice.

“Hey, CEO. Isn’t the expenditure too high?”

“It’s okay. There’s no problem at all.”

“Really? I don’t think it’s at a level where there’s no problem….”

The total amount that Jae-seung had to pay was about 39 million won in Korean currency [approximately $30,000 USD]. I had to pay nearly 5 million won [about $3,750 USD] per custom suit.

Even this was the price because I chose a package with a relatively light configuration and adopted mid-to-high-grade materials themselves.

If I had selected the highest quality materials and produced them at the headquarters in Atlanta, it would have been several times higher.

Anyway, looking at the employees who were choosing options with shining eyes, I couldn’t help but feel proud.

If I were to pick one of the most positive changes that I have faced after earning a lot of money….

Perhaps it is that the hesitation has disappeared when purchasing the kind of happiness that money can buy.

* * *

On the first night of arriving in the United States, I had a small drinking party in the apartment.

I shared a few cans of beer purchased from a liquor market near the apartment and enjoyed a slightly restrained celebration.

The next morning, the employees finished preparing and started moving according to their respective schedules.

Since there were no special schedules planned until the awards ceremony to be held in 10 days, I gave the employees free time to freely explore the city.

Some were acting in pairs, and others were moving alone as their feet led them.

Anyway, travel is one of the activities that efficiently recharges inspiration.

I just hoped that the employees would gain a little more experience on this occasion.

‘Hmm, is this the place…?’

After all the employees left the apartment, I was the last to go outside.

The destination was a small coffee shop located on the outskirts of Manhattan.

As soon as I stepped into the store, a very familiar person greeted me in a very excited tone.

“Lee-!”

It was Marc Jacobs, who had competed with me in the 2013 Parsons·F.I.T competition and would be sitting at the same round table at this CFDA [Council of Fashion Designers of America] Awards ceremony.

After sharing a deep hug, I took a seat opposite him and started exchanging conversation.

“You look better, maybe because you finished the season well.”

“Marc, how have you been?”

“I’m always, always, always doing well.”

After Marc Jacobs smiled, he opened his mouth in a soft tone.

“By the way, the rumor is already spreading that you’ve given the CFDA a blow.”

“Pardon?”

“I heard a rumor that you refused to attend the awards ceremony?”

“Ah, that’s….”

Just as I was about to continue speaking, Marc Jacobs waved his hand and replied.

“The explanation is okay. I already know all the details. You were trying to bring designers from your brand to this awards ceremony, right?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“What if you get on the wrong side of the CFDA? If you make a mistake, you could end up in a situation where you can’t even win an award.”

After hesitating for a moment, I said, “If I really submit a good design, I think they will call me anytime. Even if they hate me, they won’t hate my design.”

Soon, Marc Jacobs burst into laughter and asked, “To put it a little differently, it seems like you are confident that you will be mentioned as an award nominee anytime, even if you ruin the relationship?”

“Well, that might not be a wrong interpretation either. In fact, to be honest, CFDA is not the only prestigious awards ceremony.”

After answering in a calm tone, I immediately asked, “By the way, how did you already know?”

“It’s strange not to know. This place is much smaller than you think.”

“Even so, in just a day or two….”

“I got a call from Steven Kolb, the chairman of the CFDA.”

After answering briefly, Marc Jacobs took a sip of his coffee and continued to speak.

“He said that the second Marc Jacobs had appeared and asked me a lot of questions. He asked if I had given you any tips.”

“Pardon…?”

“Well, it’s actually quite a common thing. If you’re a designer who’s known to some extent, it’s a happening that you have one or two of. I, Alexander, and other designers you know have had similar boycott experiences at least once, right?”

It seemed quite unexpected that Alexander, who was of a very gentle nature, would have troubled the organizers, let alone Marc Jacobs, who was so fierce and eccentric.

“Alexander did?”

After answering “Yes” once, Marc Jacobs began to continue speaking fluently.

“Alexander demanded that a ‘columnist’ who made derogatory remarks about Asians not be allowed to enter the awards ceremony. At the time, he was a fairly well-known columnist, so the CFDA did not give a clear answer and maintained an ambiguous attitude. They probably thought that if they dragged on, Alexander, who was a rookie, would give in because of his desire to win an award.”

“So?”

“How could that be? As you know, Alexander is a Chinese American, right? Only after Alexander held a press conference and announced that he would give up the award if the columnist attended, did the CFDA revoke the columnist’s entry ticket. And Alexander eventually won the Women’s Wear trophy that year.”

After nodding several times, I asked, “Then what about Marc?” Soon, Marc Jacobs hesitated for a moment and began to continue speaking in a low voice.

“Well, actually, I boycotted for a trivial reason. So… it’s a little embarrassing to say this, but it was actually because of the ‘Dress Code’.”

Before I knew it, I couldn’t help but ask, “Pardon…?” Soon, Marc Jacobs frowned and continued to speak in a nervous tone.

“They forced me to wear a stiff suit. I said I’d rather give up the award than sit there like an idiot in that outfit.”

“Ha….”

“Anyway, it was a happy ending. In the end, I was the only one who participated in the awards ceremony in the ‘Grunge Look’ that I had shown that year. Everyone else except me was wearing a suit.”

After speaking, Marc Jacobs grinned like a mischievous adolescent boy who couldn’t control his playfulness, and added in his unique boastful tone, “It was a pretty cool experience. If you Google it, you can probably find a few pictures from that time, right?”

While I was sitting there blankly, unable to find anything to say, Marc Jacobs smiled gently and said.

“Lee, as you know, there are few sane people in this industry. That goes for me, you, and countless other eccentrics. Maybe you can’t survive unless you’re an eccentric.”

After speaking, he took a breath and continued to speak.

“Anyway… after hearing that story from CFDA Chairman Steven Kolb, I wanted to tell you that you did a good job.”

“Pardon? I don’t think it was an action worthy of praise….”

Soon, Marc answered “No” in a firm tone and continued to speak.

“Lee, listen carefully. What we have to protect is not a trophy or plaque that is just a lump of baggage. In fact, you can go to Walmart and buy a damn trophy right away for a few bucks, right? What’s much more important is to keep your ‘beliefs’ and move forward like now.”

Was it because it had been a long time since I had a conversation like this with Marc Jacobs?

I felt my heart pounding for no reason. Soon, he began to continue speaking.

“It was Alexander’s belief that he didn’t want to be in the same place as a columnist who denigrated Asians. The same goes for my belief that I would never wear a suit except on my wedding day. Although it may seem insignificant to others, it was a belief that I wanted to protect unconditionally. And the fact that you have to be with your Avengers members in glorious moments is your belief.”

After speaking, he patted me lightly on the shoulder and added.

“You don’t chase after money and fame, and you don’t try to please them to get them. It may be a way to do it, but it’s a terribly uncool attitude. If we protect our beliefs and do our art, those things will follow anyway. Have pride and maintain the same attitude as now. Then business will follow you around, and all the rules will change to suit your will. We just have to show that we have the skills to do that. It’s really hard, but it’s something we have to do.”

He paused for a moment and added, “It’s a beautiful place where you can get paid according to your skills. If you have reasonable skills, there is rationality in any choice and decision.”

“Thank you for the advice. I’ll keep it in mind.”

Marc Jacobs, who smiled, picked up his coat that he had hung on the empty chair and continued to speak.

“Okay. Then let’s stop this damn serious conversation and move the place first. There’s someone waiting.”

“Pardon? Where to? No, someone is waiting…?”

After a moment of silence, Marc said, “CFDA Chairman Steven Kolb.”

After answering briefly, Marc Jacobs smiled and added, “I’m sorry for making an appointment without permission, but he repeatedly asked me to meet you before the awards ceremony. Paradoxically, he loves those who don’t cling to authority.”