Black Label [EN]: Chapter 182

Black Label 181

182. Janel’s Heaven (4)

The show had just begun.

Jaesung stood in the dimly lit corridor on the second floor of the banquet hall, his eyes fixed on the scene.

After gaining fame, he had to live a precarious life where even his gait had to be carefully considered, but it was never quite like this.

He wasn’t standing ramrod straight, nor was he straining to keep his eyes wide open.

He simply looked down at the audience with a serene expression, as if he were sitting on the sofa on a weekend morning, watching a movie on TV.

He was merely observing the expressions of the audience members, occasionally illuminated by the subtle lighting.

Clink, clink-

Jaesung lightly shook the glass in his hand, and the ice inside collided, creating a refreshing sound.

Jaesung took a light sip of the whiskey in the glass and hummed a tune. The strong scent of alcohol filled his lungs, but Jaesung’s expression remained calm.

The corners of his lips were slightly curled upwards, and his eyes held a hint of amusement. He could feel the hot liquid flowing down his esophagus.

For a moment, the worry, ‘What if my tongue gets twisted when I give my impressions after the show?’ crossed his mind, but it was just a fleeting thought.

“Hoo-”

Jaesung took a long breath, exhaling the lingering taste of alcohol, then rested his chin on his hand and began to observe the scene below again.

The audience was engrossed in analyzing the models on stage and everything they were wearing.

They were so focused that they didn’t even realize that they were perched on the edge of their seats, barely breathing.

Soon, Jaesung closed his eyes and began to listen to the ambient noise in the hall.

Beneath the background music flowing from the speakers, various sounds mingled.

From exclamations and gasps to positive reviews exchanged in hushed voices.

Although he couldn’t distinguish the exact meaning and content, he could easily sense that many people were enthusiastic.

“Karl, look at the empire you’ve built. And look at the people who are admiring it. It’s truly fantastic.”

It wasn’t a collection from another brand, but from ‘Janel’.

Founded in 1913 as a ‘Boutique’ [a small, stylish shop], it has launched a series of clothing that combines functionality and aesthetics, and it is no exaggeration to say that it has now established itself as a brand representing Paris.

So, who were those privileged enough to occupy those seats? They were the ones who were qualified to be associated with the premium brand Janel.

They possessed tremendous fame, or wealth, or both.

Such people were gathered here at the Ritz Hotel banquet hall. Drawn by the allure of Janel, they had gathered here, spending time that money couldn’t buy.

“Ah…….”

The middle-aged women who were sitting together in one section, exclaimed in unison, as if on cue.

All of them had to spend tens of thousands of dollars a year, just for tax deductions [likely referring to charitable donations or business expenses].

They didn’t analyze what the designer wanted to convey through the design. They made consumption decisions based on primal desires.

Did they want to have it, or did they not want to have it?

They were simply staring at the model with captivated eyes.

And their expressions revealed the decisions they would make.

In the early 1900s, when the Janel brand was first born? No, even further back to the Middle Ages when the collection culture first emerged?

Noble ladies would have been sitting in those seats. However, they would have been sitting there with the same look of desire as the middle-aged women sitting there now.

Soon, Jaesung chuckled softly.

Jaesung’s expression was like that of a child who derives pleasure from tearing off the limbs of a captured insect.

“I can’t help but respect you. You’ve lived in a world like this for decades. And you’ve remained at the pinnacle all the while…….”

Jaesung muttered to himself and took a few more sips of whiskey.

The fashion world.

A place where you are quickly forgotten if you cannot keep up with the ever-changing trends.

A place where you have to walk a tightrope so high that a fall with every season means certain death.

Once again.

Alexander King’s advice, which he had given with a slurred tongue, came to mind.

‘Lee, the fashion world is like a mirage. Everything you saw before you entered this world was just an illusion.’

If you create something that people reject, you lose everything you’ve built up. Yesterday’s friend becomes today’s enemy and attacks you.

Soon, Jaesung looked at one side of the audience where critics and columnists were sitting, his expression rather detached.

Their expressions were glimpsed whenever the light caught them. What were they doing? They were struggling to find a series of ‘meanings’ and ‘intentions’ that the designer had imbued in the design.

Yes.

They were desperately trying to find a meaning that may or may not exist.

“From the presentation of the first model, Janel’s identity is clearly felt. It’s a radical yet perfect harmony. I think I can see Karl Lagerfeld’s [iconic fashion designer] efforts to break away from his own established ideas.”

“It feels similar to a collaboration with a famous orchestra. The maestro is Karl Lagerfeld, his assistant is the genius ‘Lee’ with a youthful sensibility, and the members who play the instruments are the masters of the atelier [a workshop or studio, especially one used by an artist or designer]…….”

“It’s an expression of unwavering perfectionism. It feels like Janel. It’s a stubborn perfectionism that pays meticulous attention to every little accessory, including earrings and necklaces, as well as clothes!”

Many people nodded in agreement with the enthusiastic impressions of the famous critics.

To Jaesung, they are… No, to all designers, they are both the strongest allies and the most fearsome enemies.

He had seen countless times how their irresponsible reviews or a few casually uttered words ended the careers of artists.

The times are constantly changing.

Now? A generation that demands a definitive answer even in art is living in the present.

They are accustomed to instant gratification and want to quickly grasp the meaning of art.

They dislike having to process their feelings and are willing to pay money to buy other people’s plausible interpretations.

They put a price on critics and buy critics’ opinions at a premium.

They forget how to properly define the feelings they experience and nod in agreement with the conclusions they have been given.

Of course, he doesn’t harbor any ill feelings towards the critics or the public. Everyone is both an ally and an enemy. Everyone, including himself, is just a piece of the fashion world.

The market is eternal, but the players are not. Nothing can promise eternity here.

Only the continuation of the industry is eternal. The players are constantly being replaced, but the fashion world will forever endure.

Why?

Humans have desired and sought beauty since the beginning of time. In the first place, fashion itself was nothing more than entertainment and a hobby for the wealthy.

Jaesung smiled bitterly and looked at his feet.

Only darkness prevailed. Even though there were so many lights emitting such bright light just a few meters ahead, his feet remained shrouded in darkness.

Suddenly, he remembered the time when he desperately hoped that someone would notice his work in the shadows.

In the underground studio in Dongdaemun [a fashion district in Seoul, South Korea], in the place where asbestos dust filled the air, the days when he endured day after day, dreaming of a dream that seemed impossible to realize.

“Karl, you’ve worked hard.”

Jaesung muttered quietly and looked down at the banquet hall below again.

Before he knew it, the twelfth model was strutting on the runway.

This also meant that the time for the real ‘show’ was approaching.

He took a long breath and turned around. He finished the small amount of whiskey and the few melted ice cubes left in the glass at once, and then began to walk back towards the waiting room.

Thud. Thud.

Just as the sound of his footsteps began to echo along the desolate corridor.

Jaesung stopped for a moment, turned back to the banquet hall, and muttered to himself again.

“I’ll survive here until the end, just like you did.”

Soon, the background music that had been playing softly began to swell.

-If I ever meet you again, I’ll tell you everything I saw and experienced while you were gone.

-Can you see? There are so many people who want to experience the value we were pursuing.

-If I ever meet you again, let’s talk about today for a long time.

-Let’s share a thick cigar and drink the Clicquot [Veuve Clicquot, a brand of champagne] that we loved so much.

-If I ever meet you again, whether it’s heaven or not.

-Whether it’s heaven or not.

-If I can ever meet you again.

-It will be heaven.

“Someday, let’s meet again.”

* * *

The backstage, which was always noisy, seemed even busier than when the models were focused on preparing for the walk.

“Lee, did you drink alcohol?”

Chairman Bertheimer asked as soon as he saw Jaesung.

Jaesung nodded once and answered immediately.

“Yes. But you can rest assured. I only drank one glass of whiskey.”

“Damn it, you’re only taking after Karl’s bad habits.”

“Well…… how about we interpret it as me being inspired by him? I’ve probably adopted more of his good habits.”

When Jaesung replied in a sly tone, Chairman Bertheimer sighed and immediately retorted.

“Did you even inherit the slyness?”

He seemed relieved that Jaesung didn’t seem too drunk.

He glanced at the watch on his wrist and immediately added in a rather urgent tone.

“Lee, anyway, I think we should get moving. The time for the real show is just around the corner.”

Jaesung replied in a gentle tone, “I understand,” and then shifted his gaze to the wall clock.

* * *

As soon as the first background music ended, the next music began to play.

Soon, the hall became noisy again. All the lights were dimmed once more.

“Hmm? Blackout……?”

“The show can’t be over.”

“I guess the second act is about to begin.”

At that moment.

Clack-!

Along with a sound effect reminiscent of a gunshot, the second background music began to play.

The song corresponding to soundtrack number 2, ‘Legend’ was playing.

At the same time, the lights faded in again, and the appearance of the hall began to be revealed.

The background music that had begun to play was well past the intro, but it was impossible to distinguish the lyrics.

It was because an intense and fierce cheer was erupting, as if the hall would soon be swept away.