Black Label [EN]: Chapter 129

Black Label 128

129. A Promising Newcomer?

The meeting with CFDA [Council of Fashion Designers of America] Chairman Stephen Cove took place at a nearby restaurant.

“Finally, I get to meet the rookie everyone’s talking about. Lee, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m honored to meet you.”

Chairman Stephen Cove spoke in a polite tone, flashing a brief smile.

It was as if the previous boycott was nothing, a completely natural attitude. Or so it seemed.

Of course, whether he truly didn’t care would have to be seen over time.

For now, I firmly grasped the hand he extended, reciprocating the welcome.

“I’m grateful that you, Chairman, are welcoming me so warmly.”

No sooner had we finished our brief greetings and settled into our seats than Marc Jacobs raised his hand slightly, summoning a server.

“Are you ready to order?”

Marc Jacobs paused with an “Um…,” then picked up the menu and began fluently reciting his order, pointing to various dishes in turn.

Some of the names were familiar, but most of the dishes were quite foreign. For example, lamb Bolognese or beef steak with mashed potatoes….

After the server confirmed the order and left the table, I furrowed my brow slightly and cautiously asked Marc Jacobs,

“Marc, have you been to this restaurant before? Is it famous?”

“Hmm, I don’t know if it’s famous.”

Marc Jacobs shrugged, adding, “It’s my first time here.”

I stared blankly at Marc Jacobs for a moment before asking directly,

“You ordered so skillfully just now? Like someone who knows the signature dishes by heart from having been here many times….”

“No, no. I just picked the dishes with ‘Best’ next to them from the menu I saw for the first time.”

I couldn’t help but let out a soft “Huh…,” at which point Marc Jacobs raised an eyebrow and continued in a playful tone.

“Hey, Lee. If you only eat what you already know, you won’t have tried a hundred different dishes before you die.”

Stephen Cove nodded and added in a gentle tone,

“Oh, that’s quite a thought. Anyway, thanks to Marc, I get to experience new food tonight.”

“Exactly. I knew Stephen would appreciate it. Should we order a bottle of wine while we’re at it?”

In a relatively amicable atmosphere, we began to exchange small talk.

Starting with the various gossip items currently heating up the New York fashion scene, to predictions about the future moves of several famous designers.

Perhaps because both of them had a fairly solid foothold in the New York fashion world?

A flood of incredibly stimulating topics that ordinary people would never know about poured out, making my ears perk up.

Thanks to that, I could only nod along, listening intently to the conversation between Chairman Stephen Cove and Marc.

Of course, given the content, there was never a dull moment.

Not long after, as appetizers to whet our appetites arrived on the table,

The conversation between the two had paused for a moment, so I naturally brought up the main topic.

“By the way, I heard you wanted to see me, Chairman.”

Stephen Cove replied briefly, “Yes, that’s right,” and added with a faint smile,

“I was really curious to see what kind of person the rumored rookie was.”

“I’m curious about your impressions.”

“Well, I think I need more time.”

Stephen Cove tilted his head slightly and asked softly,

“Lee, you seem to have a strong attachment to your brand ‘Wall Flower’ and its designers?”

“Yes, as you can see.”

Stephen Cove nodded a few times, seemingly satisfied, and continued with a slight upturn of his lips.

“I want to clarify that I have no intention of criticizing Lee’s boycott. In fact, boycotts by award nominees feel like an annual event.”

Marc Jacobs dusted breadcrumbs off his hands and added in a playful tone, “Well, it’s about time we became immune.”

Stephen Cove smiled and continued,

“Some of them contain reasonable demands, but most of them raise issues based on minor complaints. Thanks to that, we at the CFDA have become somewhat immune. I don’t know if you know, but there was even a designer who boycotted over the ‘dress code’ before. Well… compared to that, Lee’s demands could be considered quite reasonable.”

Marc Jacobs frowned deeply and retorted in a grumpy tone,

“Stephen, I’m only asking this just in case, but you’re not going to bring that up even after I die, are you? Like caressing my grave and sobbing, ‘Marc, do you remember when you boycotted over the dress code?’….”

Stephen Cove shrugged in response and continued,

“Anyway, I hope that from the next awards ceremony, everyone can participate in a much more reasonable way.”

“Excuse me? What do you mean…?”

“If a brand led by a renowned designer like ‘Lee’ formally applies to participate in New York Fashion Week, we at the CFDA will consider it in a positive light.”

The biggest project organized by the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) is managing and supervising New York Fashion Week, one of the world’s four major fashion weeks.

Also, brands and designers who formally participate in New York Fashion Week are eligible to attend the CFDA Awards.

Stephen Cove spoke indirectly and vaguely, but simply put, he meant to ask me to formally apply to participate in next year’s New York Fashion Week.

Marc Jacobs, who had been quietly listening to Stephen Cove’s words, quietly smiled.

‘What a sly old fox.’

New York Fashion Week is a dream stage that any designer would hope to ascend someday.

But what if Lee successfully completes Christian Diom’s haute couture [high fashion] next year?

It was clear that he would receive love calls from the organizers of the world’s four major fashion weeks.

Originally, the rise and fall of famous fashion weeks depends on which fashion week attracts more shows from famous designers.

Thanks to that, Marc Jacobs, including himself, and several other famous designers were receiving love calls every year from the organizers of each fashion week, along with all sorts of gifts.

Stephen Cove was subtly appealing to the boycott situation and seemed to be trying to easily acquire a guaranteed hit designer named ‘Lee’ as if he were doing a favor.

Soon, Jae Seung, who had been lost in thought, conveyed his intention to postpone with a faint smile.

“Thank you for the offer, but I don’t think I can give you a definite answer at this time. It’s still too far in the future.”

No sooner had Jae Seung finished speaking than Marc Jacobs let out a silent sigh of relief.

‘I was worried he might take the bait, but it was an unnecessary concern.’

At least, it’s not a light matter to be discussed over a restaurant table.

It was even less of a problem to be easily decided by being swept away by some trivial emotions or atmosphere.

When the application deadline for Fashion Week approaches, it will be a very important card.

Participation can be used as a condition to receive a much better date, and it can also influence the order.

It was more advantageous in many ways to save it until the very end.

Soon, Chairman Stephen Cove replied softly with a hint of disappointment.

“Haha, I understand. I hope to hear good news.”

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s okay. Shall we have dinner first?”

Not long after, the main dishes began to be served on the table one after another.

Even while eating and exchanging light conversation, Jae Seung was constantly glancing at Chairman Stephen Cove.

Was he good at dealing with eccentrics? Or was he a great negotiator?

He was an intriguing figure in many ways. As the atmosphere was heating up, Chairman Stephen Cove put down the knife he was holding and opened his mouth in a meaningful tone.

“Lee, you’ll have good news soon.”

“Good news?”

Stephen Cove replied, “Yes, good news,” and began to exchange various conversations with Marc Jacobs again without further explanation.

Well, anyway….

Seeing that Chairman Stephen Cove had made such a favorable offer, it seemed that I didn’t have to worry too much about the ‘future penalties’ that the person in charge of the association had mentioned before.

Thanks to that, I was able to enjoy dinner and conversation with a much lighter heart.

* * *

A rare, leisurely daily life. A few days passed in an instant.

I visited an exhibition in the nearby area with my employees, and I sat on a park bench, watching the sunset and having trivial conversations.

It was clear that not only myself, but also the employees were exhausted from the recent forced march.

In New York, with each passing day, the expressions of the employees seemed to be getting brighter.

And today.

“It feels awkward….”

Lee Kang-joon, dressed in a neat suit, said, rubbing his nose shyly.

“Hmm? It looks good on you.”

“Thank you. You too, boss.”

“I always look good.”

The custom-made suit ordered from Gentleman was delivered just barely on the morning of the awards ceremony, and we were heading to the ‘New York Lincoln Center,’ where the awards ceremony would be held, dressed in formal attire.

As we approached Lincoln Center, Chu Ji-hoon asked with a puzzled expression.

“Boss, by the way, where are we meeting the investors?”

“Lincoln Center.”

“Huh? Lincoln Center…?”

Chu Ji-hoon muttered softly and began to chant, “Lincoln Center, Lincoln Center…,” several times.

Soon, he widened his eyes and spoke again.

“Boss! Wait a minute. Isn’t Lincoln Center the venue for New York Fashion Week…?”

“That’s right.”

“Are we meeting the investors there?”

Nam Gwang-min shook his head and interjected.

“We’re probably meeting at a restaurant near Lincoln Center. You said ‘dinner’.”

Chu Ji-hoon nodded as if he understood, but then.

“No, we’re attending the CFDA Awards.”

All the employees stopped in their tracks and began to stare at Jae Seung.

Everyone seemed quite surprised by the sudden major announcement.

On the other hand, Jae Seung’s reaction was just calm.

“Shall we go in first?”

After speaking softly, I immediately took the lead and began to walk into Lincoln Center.

The employees followed closely behind.

I was guessing that winning an award would be difficult.

In the first place, it was a blessing that a design submitted to a mere university competition was selected as an award nominee.

Although I had no expectations of winning an award, I was convinced that it would be a good opportunity for the employees to indirectly experience the culture of top designers.

That’s why I brought the employees here, even making the extreme decision to boycott.

As we reached the entrance of the ‘banquet hall’ inside Lincoln Center, where the awards ceremony was being held,

I took a breath to calm myself and looked over the employees one by one.

Everyone was wearing suits made of slightly different colored fabrics, but the overall color scheme was unified in similar tones.

Also, the color of the *boutonnière* [a floral decoration worn in a buttonhole] attached to the flower hole of the suit jacket was unified in light purple.

Standing together like this, we looked quite stylish. At least, there was nothing to criticize about the attire for attending the awards ceremony.

“There were some minor adversities, but I’m really happy to be here with you all. Listen carefully. We are here at the CFDA Awards representing the brand Wall Flower. From now on, you have to think and act much more confidently. It would be appropriate to think of yourselves as members of the ‘Avengers’ who have just returned from saving the earth.”

The employees shouted in unison, “Yes!”

Soon, I opened the tightly closed door and stepped inside.

Inside the large hall, countless round tables were placed, and designers from famous brands were sitting at the tables.

Was it because every place I turned my eyes, there were people I had only seen through fashion magazines, TV, and the internet?

Everyone seemed to be trying to pretend to be calm, but they couldn’t hide the excitement in their eyes.

At that time.

“Lee, over here-!”

In the distance, Marc Jacobs, who was guarding a large round table alone, waved his hand happily.

On the table, a nameplate with the inscription ‘Mark Jacob, Wall Flower’ was neatly placed.

Soon, as Jae Seung naturally took a seat next to him, Marc Jacobs whispered,

“You brought a lot of cool friends. I want you to introduce them to me after the awards ceremony.”

“Of course.”

“Since they are designers chosen by Lee, they must all be special.”

Then he took a sip of water and spoke again.

“Well, it’s a bit much to say this before the awards ceremony starts… but it’s best not to expect to win the haute couture category.”

“It’s okay, Marc. I was expecting that too.”

“But there’s one thing you can look forward to.”

Unable to help but feel puzzled, I narrowed my brows slightly and asked, “Yes?”

“Yeah. The ‘New Designer of the Year Award’.”

“I’ve never been mentioned as a nominee?”

“Of course not.”

Marc Jacobs replied briefly, shrugged, and continued.

“The Designer of the Year Award and the New Designer Award don’t have pre-selected nominees. Everyone attending the awards ceremony is a nominee. You might want to look forward to that. As far as I remember, there hasn’t been a newcomer who debuted as spectacularly as Lee this year.”