Black Label [EN]: Chapter 179

179. Janel’s Heaven

This Janel F/W [Fall/Winter] season show was truly a spectacle, a feast that lived up to all the hype.

From the moment the director lineup was announced, it generated significant buzz both online and offline, didn’t it?

The news that the legendary Karl Lagerfeld, who had successfully earned the title of a legend, and Lee, a genius new designer from Parsons [a prestigious design school in New York City], would be working together was enough to shock many in the public.

Squeak-

Luxury sedans worth hundreds of millions of won [South Korean currency, roughly equivalent to hundreds of thousands of US dollars], along with sharply designed vehicles known as supercars, lined up in front of the Ritz Hotel.

Everyone stepping out of the driver’s seat or the back seat of these smoothly and elegantly stopping cars held an ‘invitation’ produced at great expense by the Janel Group.

The professions of the VIPs who had earned the right to attend today’s show were, to say the least, diverse.

Famous designers leading the trends and fashions of the global fashion industry, and their partners, the famous models. Sports stars who earn tens of years’ worth of an average worker’s salary in a single week and work hard.

Major capitalists and investors who could be said to be influencing Hollywood, and the stars who faithfully play their roles, achieving win-win situations.

Famous singers who easily get their digital singles into the top of the Billboard charts, and artists active in various fields, and so on…….

Of course, there were not only those whose faces and names were known to the public, but also countless others who were hidden backstage, increasing their value.

“The seemingly ordinary middle-aged white people are the key guests. They are usually specialist buyers who will give wings to the brand’s sales, or investors who have accumulated unbelievable wealth.”

This was what Chairman Wertheimer whispered to Jae-seung, who was leaning against the railing on the second floor, blankly looking down at the VIPs entering the hotel lobby one by one.

Soon, Jae-seung cut through the incessant shutter sounds of “Click. Click” and asked quietly.

“By the way, it’s surprising. The collection is still a few hours away from starting…….”

“All of them are qualified enough to be invited by Janel. They are smart people who understand the providence of the fashion world.”

“The providence of the fashion world… May I ask what providence you are talking about?”

“The cruel but obvious truth that if you are late to the banquet of beasts, you will not be able to do anything but stare blankly at the remaining bones.”

Soon, Jae-seung exclaimed, “Ah…….” Only after hearing his additional explanation could he fully understand the meaning of those words.

A premium brand’s collection is like a ‘gambling game’ with an astonishing amount of money at stake.

Of course, as with all gambling, the conditions for victory are simple.

Who can calculate profits and losses more quickly and move faster?

If you succeed in reading the ‘Money Code’ contained in this season’s products through the lookbook or model walking?

From then on, the game is decided by courage. Depending on who can offer more daring contract terms, the dividends that can be taken change rapidly.

“Of course, it’s not just about buyers or investors with huge capital. No matter how wisely famous celebrities can use their time, it is not as practical as promoting friendship with other VIPs at the Janel collection.”

Soon, Jae-seung nodded his head a few times as if he agreed.

From the beginning, everyone who has appeared in the venue now has a brilliant career that they can easily sell more than the basic number of copies even if they pick up a pen and write an autobiography right away, right?

It is not just an event where the brand’s new product lineup is revealed.

Losses and profits are so intertwined like gears in a clock that they are tangled together.

Soon, Jae-seung nodded once, swept his hair up, and opened his mouth quietly.

“This must have been an everyday sight for Karl, right? So many people must have come every season…….”

“Well? It would have been a very natural sight for the past twenty years, but if you go back a long time, well? At the 1974 collection, Karl cried for hours after the show.”

“Karl cried……?”

“Yes. If the fact that I brought up this story to Lee gets into Karl’s ears, he will definitely swear non-stop…….”

Chairman Wertheimer, who was continuing his words, added with a bitter smile.

“Lee, there’s no need to try to hide your feelings. Fear is a very natural emotion. I brought up Karl’s weaknesses to tell you this fact. Even Karl, who has now become a legend in modern fashion, was once a beginner who constantly doubted his abilities.”

Soon, Jae-seung nodded once and replied.

“It was a very comforting word, but I think I’m more excited than afraid.”

Chairman Wertheimer, who muttered “Oh ho?” quietly, rubbed his chin and asked again.

“I’d like to hear what kind of expectation it is.”

“This season will remain Janel’s ‘difficult problem’.”

“Difficult problem? It’s difficult to understand.”

As Chairman Wertheimer stared at Jae-seung as if urging him to answer, Jae-seung continued, looking only at the hotel’s main gate in the distance.

“Tonight, after the show is over, Janel will have a very heavy burden to bear. It’s a very simple logic. Today’s show will be called ‘past’ from tomorrow.”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“And they will struggle to overcome that past. The position of the key figure who has been building the brand’s sensibility for more than ten years is vacant. For at least a few years, no matter how promising and talented the director is, they will not be able to plan a better season than this one. Even if ‘Lagerfeld’s children’, including me, stick together to plan the season.”

Chairman Wertheimer, who was listening to Jae-seung’s words with a serious expression, continued in a calm tone.

“It doesn’t matter. If today’s show goes well, if it’s a tribute that Karl will be satisfied with…….”

“Yes?”

“Although Karl and my relationship was derived from money, at some point it wasn’t anymore. That’s why they say time and affection are scary.”

Chairman Wertheimer, who finished speaking, shrugged his shoulders once and continued.

“An old friend has left my side. Thanks to that, I came to my senses. Maybe I don’t have many days left either…….”

“…….”

“I will also start the handover after selling this season’s products. I’ve already made so much money that I can’t even spend it all before I die. I have no more greed now. I’m going to give up all work related to the group and go to the island I bought as a private property. I’m going to watch the movies I’ve been putting off. I think I’ll have to go back slowly from around 1960, one by one. If I don’t watch diligently, I won’t be able to see even half of the movies I wanted to see before I die. I’m going to listen to classic LPs and taste delicious food.”

When Jae-seung showed a faint smile, Chairman Wertheimer replied, “I’ll invite you often,” and left the place.

Jae-seung, who was left alone, fell into contemplation again.

Karl Lagerfeld’s absence is constantly presenting big and small changes to so many people.

Jae-seung coughed a few times for no reason and started walking towards his private waiting room. He suddenly craved a cigarette.

* * *

A show by a large premium brand like Janel is generally produced jointly by hundreds, or even thousands, of people.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that more than a hundred people were mobilized just to display the venue.

“Wow…….”

The VIPs who entered the banquet hall were all speechless and busy exclaiming.

The installation artist ‘Aren’, who created the statue of Coco Janel, the statue of Karl Lagerfeld, and the statue modeled after the hands of a legendary artist, which were located in the center of the banquet hall, was also the same.

“Damn it, it’s really amazing……?”

Aren, who muttered quietly, couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

Because he was so focused on the perfection of the work, the working period was much longer than expected. It was hard work, but the result seemed quite satisfactory.

A solid work was created to the point where he couldn’t help but think that he had invested a lot of time.

However, what about the statue that is now standing in this banquet hall? It only seemed to be a work that was worth dozens of times more than when it was standing alone in the corner of the workshop.

While Aren was busy examining his work with trembling eyes, the assistants who were standing by his side each added various comments.

“Since the client is ‘Janel’, I expected it, but I didn’t know it would be this much…….”

“As expected, works of art must be in a suitable location. It looks so beautiful that it can’t even be compared to when it was standing in our workshop…….”

Soon, Aren, who rubbed his eyes roughly with his wrinkled hands, spoke quietly to the youngest assistant.

“Would you like to run right now and tell the VMD [Visual Merchandising Director] who planned this show that I want to meet him?”

He wanted to meet the VMD who planned this show. He wanted to share his views on art over a glass of wine or a meal.

Or he wanted to hold his hand tightly and thank him for ‘making his work shine even more’.

The young assistant, who replied in a loud voice, “Yes, I understand-!” left his side in a hurry. After Aren shook his head a few times to regain his mind, he slowly began to look around the inside of the banquet hall again.

First of all, the interior was generally white. Walls, floors, even carpets, and all kinds of sculptures including light bulbs. It was a ‘white zone’ that felt like a lot of effort had been put into it.

What should I say?

It was beyond the neatness that you could feel from white, and it even felt sacred and holy.

Also, an arched staircase was installed at the very end of the banquet hall. The stairs, as well as the railings, were painted in white. Aren was convinced that this staircase would be the runway stage for this show.

Then I looked at the ceiling. The chandelier was shining even more brilliantly with bright light.

He thought that the VMD who planned this show was someone who knew ‘beauty’ that stimulates emotions.

While Aren was looking at the ceiling with half-loosened, dreamy eyes.

“Ah……!”

He suddenly exclaimed. The light that had been pouring down as soon as he consciously frowned slightly was blocked, and the ceiling behind the chandelier finally began to be seen properly.

Michelangelo’s work ‘The Creation of Adam’ was painted on the ceiling behind the intense light.

Soon, Aren muttered again in a slightly trembling tone.

“Heaven…….”

When one of the assistants standing next to him asked, “Yes?” he replied quietly again.

“The theme of this show is definitely the image of heaven that Janel imagines…….”

He believed that he could guess the success or failure of the season, even if only by looking at the display of the show.

Janel’s shows have boasted the best displays and performances every year, and he thought that this year’s show boasted the best quality ever.

What does the image of heaven that Janel imagines feel like? Naturally, his expectations for the show seemed to rise even further.