Black Label [EN]: Chapter 141

141. Hanbok?

After leaving the banquet hall, Erica began to speak, her tone excited.

“Lee! I think that was a brilliant response. Not only the group’s board of directors, but Chairman Arnault himself will be very pleased.”

Erica was extremely satisfied with Jae Seung’s handling of the situation.

The moment Jae Seung delivered his rational yet sharp reply, she had unconsciously clenched her fists.

Even if he didn’t get angry at the reporter who asked the rude question on the spot, it was clear that the group would take action anyway.

Once the events of today’s press conference became known, the reporter who asked the question would immediately be blacklisted.

Then, at the very least, they would certainly not be able to set foot in any related events or conferences of all brands under the LVMH Group.

And depending on the judgment of the board of directors and Chairman Arnault, not only the reporter who asked the question but also the affiliated media company itself might be expelled.

Whether the young designer ‘Lee’ foresaw this situation and responded calmly, or not, was unknown.

But one thing was certain: unlike other designers who were like rugby balls, unpredictable in where they might bounce, he gave an extremely stable feeling.

“It was nothing.”

Jae Seung replied briefly in a nonchalant tone and began to walk out of the hotel lobby.

Erica, who had been silently watching Jae Seung’s back, gave a deep smile.

‘Hmm, haute couture designed with a loved one in mind…’

Expectations for Lee’s haute couture began to grow.

Perhaps it was wishful thinking, but she had a feeling that his designs, like his personality, would be calm and organized.

* * *

Soon after, the limousine carrying Jae Seung stopped in front of a building on Avenue Montaigne in Paris.

“Lee, we’ve arrived.”

Erica said briefly, adjusting her rimless glasses.

“This is the Dior flagship store on Avenue Montaigne.”

Jae Seung slightly opened the car window and looked outside.

Through the heavily tinted window, a large sign could be seen dimly.

– Christian Dior

Jae Seung seemed nervous and took a deep breath, and reporter Tommy cautiously asked.

“Lee, are you nervous?”

“Of course.”

Jae Seung nodded once and immediately continued.

“I don’t know if you know, but when Christian Dior was alive, the hem lengths of women all over the world changed with his every word. Sometimes they got longer, and sometimes they got shorter.”

Was he emotional? With eyes full of melancholy, Jae Seung paused and continued.

“For me, this Dior flagship store on Avenue Montaigne is one of the existing sanctuaries of fashion.”

“A sanctuary…?”

“Although it has undergone several remodeling and expansion projects, so it doesn’t maintain the same appearance as it did when it was built in 1947, Dior’s will continues to be passed down. I am sure that his will remains in that classic building.”

Erica smiled at Jae Seung’s words.

She could feel Jae Seung’s affection for the premium brand, Christian Dior.

Jae Seung then spoke his last words in a slightly trembling voice.

“The ‘time’ I will spend here, the ‘anguish’, the ‘agony’, will all be recorded in Dior’s history. I can only think that it’s going to be an incredibly thrilling life.”

With those words, Jae Seung got out of the limousine first, followed by Lee Kang Jun, Tommy, and Erica in turn.

As soon as the group got out of the car, an old gentleman who had been waiting in front of the main entrance began to approach.

Erica looked at the old gentleman and added an explanation in a low voice.

“That’s Albert. He is currently the CEO of Dior.”

In a short time, Jae Seung scanned ‘Albert’ up and down.

He was a somewhat plump old man with pure white hair and a very kind impression.

His tailored suit, adhering to the standard, was perfectly neat, and his eyes, though set deep in his face, seemed full of spirit.

Soon.

“Monsieur Lee! I’ve been waiting for you. My name is Albert, and I am currently the CEO of Christian Dior.”

He greeted him happily and reached out his hand for a handshake.

Jae Seung firmly grasped his hand and replied, “I look forward to working with you.”

Albert smiled brightly and looked at Lee Kang Jun, who was standing behind Jae Seung, and asked cautiously.

“Lee, who is the gentleman behind you…?”

“He’s my sub-designer, Kang Jun.”

“Ah, I see.”

Albert repeatedly said, “Kang Jun, Kang Jun…” several times, and then approached Lee Kang Jun and greeted him in a very polite tone.

While Lee Kang Jun and Albert were exchanging greetings, Jae Seung whispered a question to Erica.

“Erica, I thought I heard Albert call me ‘Monsieur Lee’. Do you know what that means?”

“Hmm, to put it simply, it’s a form of address, like ‘Mr.,’ but it carries a slightly stronger sense of respect. At least here at Dior.”

Just as Jae Seung was nodding, Albert turned to Jae Seung and said.

“Let’s go inside first. Actually, the design team and the atelier’s [workshop] masters who will be assisting ‘Lee’ in the future are eagerly waiting.”

Jae Seung briefly replied, “Yes,” and stopped for a moment, looking into the window of the limousine.

It was to use the window as a mirror to tidy up his clothes and hair once again.

Then, he immediately followed Albert and began to walk briskly towards the main entrance of the Dior flagship store.

Was it because he was about to meet his colleagues, with whom he would be spending the next season?

His heart was pounding as if it were hitting a baseball.

Soon, the moment he took his first step into the Dior flagship store.

Lee Kang Jun and Jae Seung exclaimed, “Wow…” at the same time, as if they had made a promise.

What should I say? It seemed that they had put more effort into the interior than the exterior.

As soon as they opened the door and entered the flagship store, the information desk in front and the large electronic display installed above it came into view.

Albert then began to explain.

“This is an electronic display that plays videos promoting seasonal products throughout the opening hours. After Lee finishes the season, the products designed by Lee will occupy the display for the next six months.”

On both sides of the information desk, stairs leading to the second floor extended.

Albert did not head to the stairs but walked towards the desk.

Was it originally a restricted area?

A red ‘Guard Line’ was set up between the low iron pillars, but Albert skillfully untied the rope and continued to walk behind it.

Soon, he reached a door with a warning sign that only staff could enter.

Albert immediately grabbed the doorknob and explained.

“This is where the elevator leading to the upper floors is located. There are a few more besides this, but I think it’s better to use this elevator if possible. Everyone uses them occasionally, but they are all freight elevators.”

Ding.

At the same time as an alarm sounded, the elevator stopped.

It was the 4th floor, where the designers’ space was located.

Unlike the first floor, it was decorated in a very modern style.

About halfway down the long corridor, Albert stopped and said quietly.

“Lee, are you ready?”

Jae Seung took a deep breath and replied.

“Yes.”

Soon.

As the door slowly began to open, the figures of the designers and atelier members standing at intervals began to appear through the slightly opened door.

The moment the door opened wide, Jae Seung swallowed the saliva that had already filled his mouth.

Just by estimating with his eyes, there seemed to be at least fifty people.

Clap-!

Albert clapped his hands once and said with a pleased smile on his face.

“Everyone! Our ‘Maestro’, Monsieur Lee, has finally arrived!”

A round of applause erupted.

Everyone in the room seemed to be smiling and clapping.

As he silently watched them, his heart was filled with emotion.

Unlike the media and the public, who were quick to doubt his qualifications as the creative director of Dior Haute Couture, their eyes seemed to be full of trust.

Jae Seung took a step forward and greeted them politely.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you all. My name is Lee Jae Seung, and I will be the creative director of this Dior Haute Couture. Please feel free to call me ‘Lee’.”

Albert immediately asked back.

“Then can we call you ‘Monsieur Lee’?”

“No.”

Jae Seung replied briefly in a relaxed tone.

“Just call me ‘Lee’.”

According to Erica’s explanation, ‘Monsieur’ was a title with respect here at Dior.

He hadn’t shown anything yet, so he thought it was too early to be called ‘Monsieur’, and he felt embarrassed, so he said that.

As soon as he finished speaking, Jae Seung gestured to Lee Kang Jun, and this time Lee Kang Jun stepped forward.

“This is my sub-designer, Kang Jun. Please feel free to call him ‘Jun’. Jun is a talented designer and is also the head designer of my brand, Wall Flower.”

As soon as the introduction was finished, Lee Kang Jun bowed and greeted them, and then another round of applause began to pour out.

After actually meeting the team members who would be working together to prepare for Haute Couture, his conviction seemed to grow stronger.

He was sure that he could achieve good results with them.

As the applause began to subside, Jae Seung raised his palm as if to stop it, completely ending the sound, and continued.

“I have conceived an innovative Haute Couture. I believe that what is needed for innovation is a departure from the way of thinking and tireless effort. I am very sorry, but from now on, you will have to study a new culture. This applies to both designers and masters.”

Albert tilted his head slightly and asked back.

“Study a new culture?”

“Do you know about Hanbok [traditional Korean clothing]?”

As Jae Seung asked quietly, there was a stir in the room.

Only the sounds of repeating, “Hanbok? Hanbok…?” in clumsy pronunciation could be heard here and there.