Black Label [EN]: Chapter 144

Black Label 143

144. Reduce the workload?

Life at Diom could be summed up in one simple word:

Work.

Work, work, and more work. Just when one task was barely finished, another would come crashing down, as if waiting in line.

There was so much work that even the huge contract fee, which had initially seemed like a fortune, now felt like just enough, or perhaps even a little short.

The accumulated fatigue, though it was more than just fatigue…

It was a different kind of pressure than when preparing for Wallflower’s new season in Korea.

Of course, the weight of the Diom name was by no means heavier than that of Wallflower.

Wallflower was, after all, his own brand.

Even if one season failed, he could always make up for it in the next.

But what about Diom?

It was by no means his brand alone.

Founded by Christian Diom, the original founder, it was one of the major pillars of modern fashion history, built by many people over a long period.

How should he describe his current feelings, having taken control of Diom?

Perhaps it was like a cultural heritage restoration expert taking on the restoration of an important cultural asset.

“…Lee?”

Jae-seung, lost in thought, startled at Albert’s cautious call and replied, “Yes, what is it?”

Only after looking at the nameplate on Albert’s desk did he realize that he was in Albert’s private office for a progress report.

“A progress report sounds a bit grand, but in reality, it’s nothing much. It’s just a formality following headquarters’ instructions, so think of it as a ‘tea time’ to exchange small updates.”

Jae-seung replied softly, “I see,” and gripped the mug in front of him tightly.

Perhaps it was because of the hot steam rising from the black coffee in the cup?

The warmth seemed to be transmitted directly to his palm.

Then, Chairman Albert suddenly offered Jae-seung a pack of cigarettes and asked in a low voice,

“Lee, would you like a cigarette?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Then, would you mind if I have one?”

“Of course, go ahead.”

Albert smiled, took out a cigarette, and put it in his mouth.

After a few ‘click, click’ sounds of the flint striking, Albert took a short breath and exhaled a cloud of acrid smoke.

Perhaps because of his thick, fleshy fingers?

The ordinary cigarette seemed so thin.

“Lee, how is life at Diom?”

“It seems much harder than I expected.”

Jae-seung replied in a nonchalant tone, shrugged, and added,

“To be honest, it’s really killing me.”

He said it in an exaggerated tone, conscious of the camera not far away and Tommy, the reporter from CNN STYLE, sitting in front of it.

Albert nodded a few times, as if it were the answer he had expected, and continued,

“All the directors who have worked at Diom have had the same reaction at first.”

“That’s quite interesting. Does it change later, perhaps?”

Albert replied, “Of course,” and continued in a gentle tone.

“Everyone struggles like that at first, but when the moment comes to leave Diom, they all regret it. Some directors even couldn’t control their emotions and shed tears on the day they left.”

Albert paused, took a breath, and asked softly,

“Lee, do you know when I first set foot in Diom House?”

“No, I don’t.”

“It was when I turned twenty-three. A very old story, almost fifty years ago.”

Albert said briefly, put out the cigarette in the ashtray, and began to speak with a melancholy look in his eyes.

“At that time, I was just a new employee in the accounting department of Christian Diom, and the owner of Diom House was Christian Diom himself, the founder of the brand. Now, looking at all the people working at Diom House, there are only a few left who served him during his lifetime.”

“I see….”

“Christian Diom was such a kind person that he remembered not only the names of the new employees but also details of their personal lives. In just a few years, I too will be leaving Diom House. In fact, I’m feeling my physical limits, but I’m somehow holding on.”

He smiled bitterly and continued,

“When that day comes, I will also shed tears. This place contains not only my youth but also my entire life.”

After a moment of silence in the spacious office, Albert opened a drawer in his desk and took out a thick, original book.

The words ‘Christian Diom’ were clearly engraved on the spine, giving it a vintage feel.

Jae-seung stared intently at the mysterious book for a moment, tilted his head in curiosity, and asked cautiously,

“Albert, what is this book?”

“It’s Christian Diom’s autobiography.”

He replied briefly, smiled gently, and added,

“It’s also a ‘first edition’ that you can’t get anywhere now.”

“Ah….”

“Take it, it will definitely be helpful.”

Jae-seung hesitated to take the autobiography immediately and began to look at Albert with a blank face.

It was because of the phrase ‘To my dear Albert’ written on one corner of the cover.

It was clear that it was handwritten by Christian Diom himself during his lifetime.

“Albert, I don’t know if I dare to accept this book….”

“It’s okay.”

He said firmly, pushed the book on the desk slightly towards Jae-seung, and added,

“You resemble Christian Diom during his lifetime. Diom also valued ‘cooperation’ above all else and wanted to live his life looking around at those around him, just like you.”

Jae-seung widened his eyes and waved his hands in a hurry.

“Albert, you’re overpraising me!”

Not only Jae-seung but also reporter Tommy seemed very surprised.

In a situation they hadn’t even expected, a stimulating line that the public would be enthusiastic about popped out.

Tommy was awkwardly sitting on the chair, unsure of what to do, just watching the two of them.

Albert raised his hand once and continued softly,

“Lee, I hope you will accept it. I’m sure Diom would understand. It will definitely be more helpful to Lee than to me.”

* * *

In the end, Jae-seung had to leave Albert’s office with Christian Diom’s first edition autobiography in his hand.

It was because Albert had no intention of changing his mind.

After Jae-seung left the office, Tommy, with the 6mm camera for broadcasting on his shoulder, asked softly.

“Albert, you said you saw Christian Diom’s *image* in ‘Lee’?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“May I ask why?”

Albert nodded once and immediately began to speak without any hesitation.

“I have been watching Lee carefully since he was selected as the director of the 2014 Christian Diom Haute Couture.”

“Long before Lee arrived at Diom House?”

Albert replied, “Yes,” and continued to speak.

“Starting with his acceptance speech when he received the ‘New Designer of the Year Award’ at the 2013 CFDA [Council of Fashion Designers of America] Fashion Awards, the *Time* magazine interview he had with his staff, and even the words he gave to the designers and atelier tailors at the first meeting he had at Diom House….”

He trailed off, stroked his chin, and added softly.

“No matter how strong the desire to grow taller is, a person cannot live their whole life standing on tiptoes. That’s why I decided to pass on the first and last gift I received from Diom to Lee.”

With those words, the short interview came to an end.

It was because Tommy, the reporter from CNN STYLE, decided that no further explanation was needed.

After Tommy retrieved the filming equipment and left the office, Albert, left alone, began to look at the black and white photo in the frame hanging on one wall of the office.

It was a photo of Christian Diom, the eternal object of respect.

“Diom….”

It was the name of the person he had devoted his life to, and the name of the place where his life was contained.

Albert repeated the sacred name several times and smiled bitterly.

Christian Diom’s first edition autobiography is in its raw, almost unprocessed state.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Diom’s life and way of thinking are most clearly written in it.

He was convinced that the old, well-worn book would have a positive impact not only on the 2014 Diom Haute Couture but also on ‘Lee’s life as a designer itself.

“I’m sorry.”

Albert muttered softly and began to deal with the backlog of work again.

It was because he knew too well that after his eventual retirement, he would miss the work that now seemed so tedious.

* * *

Several more days passed since then.

Now, the deadline for this year’s Haute Couture show was only about two months away.

As time went by, Diom House was only getting busier and busier.

“Sir, if you want a complete transformation, how about emphasizing the ‘see-through’ *feel* even more?”

At Lee Kang-joon’s cautious suggestion, Jae-seung tilted his head in curiosity and asked,

“For example, in what way?”

Lee Kang-joon frowned slightly and began to explain his thoughts.

“Even if we borrow the form of Hanbok [traditional Korean clothing], just changing the material of the Jeogori [Hanbok jacket] to ‘Organdy’ would bring that *feel* to life. Or ‘Georgette’ material wouldn’t be bad either. If we make the model’s skin transparently visible, wouldn’t we be able to break away from the existing conservative image?”

“That’s definitely a good idea. Let’s proceed with design number 17 according to Kang-joon’s suggestion.”

Not only Jae-seung but also Lee Kang-joon was passionately engaged in this Haute Couture work.

He was not only passionate but also achieved great results several times.

He suggested unconventional ideas that Jae-seung himself had not thought of, and sometimes he found errors hidden in the designs that Jae-seung had created.

“Sir. Then, I’ll check the material warehouse first to see if there is any Organdy or Georgette fabric.”

“If you can’t find it, could you please fill out a purchase request form for me?”

Lee Kang-joon replied seriously, “Yes, I understand,” and hurried out of the design room.

Inside the design room, several completed Haute Couture outfits were already hanging on the rack.

It was the result of the atelier’s tailors working tirelessly day and night.

Jae-seung, looking at the completed Hanbok-themed Haute Couture products hanging on the rack, fell into thought.

If they continued at the same pace, they would barely be able to fill the quota just before the deadline.

‘Everyone needs to move more diligently….’

Unfortunately, everyone was already burdened with a heavy workload, so he couldn’t ask for more.

He could only fret and pray that everything would be finished on time.

At that moment, a young designer who had just entered the design room spoke urgently.

“Lee, I’m sorry, but can I talk to you for a moment?”

“Go ahead.”

The young designer hesitated for a long time, licked his lower lip, and finally brought up the main point with difficulty.

“Actually, I just came back from the atelier, and I heard some tragic news.”

“Yes, what…?”

“They’re asking to reduce the workload.”

“What? Suddenly?”

“Yes. First of all, I think Lee needs to go to the atelier himself….”

“Why? Didn’t you hear the reason?”

At Jae-seung’s somewhat prickly question, the young designer began to read Jae-seung’s expression.

The reason why he couldn’t maintain his composure, unlike usual, was quite simple.

Reduce the workload?

Even if they proceeded with the work at the current pace, wasn’t it an urgent situation where it was impossible to predict whether they would be able to finish it on time?

There was no way that the atelier’s tailors wouldn’t know this fact.

Also, there was no way that all of the atelier’s tailors would be unreasonably asking to reduce the workload in the current situation without a valid reason.

Just as the young designer, who had been reading Jae-seung’s expression for a long time, was about to open his mouth again, Jae-seung said in a rather firm tone, “No. I’ll go and listen myself,” and immediately began to walk towards the exit of the design room.

Of course, the destination was the atelier.