Black Label [EN]: Chapter 20

Black Label 19

20. The Theme Can Always Be Changed

Team Leader Kwon Hyung-mok handed the jacket he received to Assistant Manager Min and said quietly,

“Assistant Manager Min, listen carefully and unfold it.”

“Yes!”

Assistant Manager Min, who was standing nearby, grabbed both shoulders of the jacket and spread it out nicely.

The first thing that caught Team Leader Kwon Hyung-mok’s eye was none other than the ‘material’ of the jacket.

‘Hmm, coated denim fabric.’

Team Leader Kwon Hyung-mok stroked his chin for a while, then began to examine the more detailed parts.

First of all, the seam allowance was perfect. The cut was excellent, and the finishing was solid.

Especially when checking the curved stitching, he almost let out a sigh without realizing it.

‘The quality is much better than most fashion design students or fledgling designer brands make.’

Apart from the ability to come up with emotional and creative designs, it could be said that the designer’s basics were thoroughly revealed.

From the ‘composition’ of the jacket itself, Jae-seung’s solid foundation seemed evident.

“Hmm. Assistant Manager Min. Spread it out a little wider.”

“Yes.”

Only then did Team Leader Kwon Hyung-mok begin to examine the overall design of the jacket.

First of all, the overall silhouette of the jacket seemed to be a bulk silhouette that made the wearer look a little bigger than their actual size.

Like the muscle fit type of clothing that has been popular recently, it is a type of clothing that makes the wearer look sturdy. It seemed to be a suitable strategy to win the hearts of many male customers.

‘Okay, the silhouette passes.’

This time, he began to look at the more detailed designs.

It was a jacket that could have looked plain if he wasn’t careful, but the ends, including the sleeves, were treated with threads sticking out.

Also, the point was that iron buttons that looked slightly rusty were hung on it.

‘There’s nothing to criticize about the design either.’

Although it wasn’t enough to immediately catch the eye, it seemed to be a well-made piece of clothing that could be sold right away.

Soon, Team Leader Kwon Hyung-mok fell into a train of thought.

What if that jacket was released with a ‘SPA’ [Specialty store retailer of Private Label Apparel] brand label? If the price range was well formed, it would definitely record quite high sales.

At least it was clear that it was a much higher quality piece of clothing than the clothes that were pouring out of SPA brands.

As his thoughts became somewhat organized, Team Leader Kwon Hyung-mok’s gaze naturally turned to Jae-seung.

‘A second-year high school student….’

If it was really a self-made piece of clothing.

And if it was really made by his own efforts.

It is a talent that can be said to be truly amazing.

“Okay. Give it back.”

When Team Leader Kwon Hyung-mok said a word quietly, Assistant Manager Min carefully handed the clothes back to Jae-seung.

“Thank you for your time.”

“Ah, yes.”

Soon, Team Leader Kwon clasped his hands together and opened his mouth again in a very serious tone.

“Jae-seung. Could you possibly stand up for a moment? I want to take a look at your pants too.”

“Of course. Take your time.”

Jae-seung, who readily replied, stood up and made sure that the front of his pants was clearly visible.

Soon, Team Leader Kwon Hyung-mok, with a much sharper look in his eyes than before, slowly began to scan the pants.

‘The coating is already slightly peeled off. Was there a lack of funds to use good fabric?’

Like the jacket, the pants seemed to be made of coated denim fabric, but the coating on the thighs and knees was already slightly peeled off, leaving a subtle sheen.

Unlike when he was looking at the jacket, Team Leader Kwon Hyung-mok immediately began to look at the design.

This was because the basic parts such as seam allowance, cut, and finishing had already been verified.

First of all, the silhouette is a typical slim fit.

It’s a pretty safe choice.

‘Hmm? Added a unique washing?’

The washing that seemed to have been arbitrarily added to both pockets of the pants caught Team Leader Kwon Hyung-mok’s attention.

Team Leader Kwon Hyung-mok narrowed his brow slightly and carefully asked, looking at the washing marks left on the pockets.

“Is there a special intention for the washing on both pockets?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

On the left pocket of the pants. There was a small rectangular washing mark as if a ‘cigarette pack’ had been placed in it.

Also, on the opposite right pocket, the shape of a round circle remained clearly inside the small square-shaped washing mark, as if a ‘condom’ had been placed in it.

Soon, Jae-seung added an explanation.

“As you may have already noticed, the washing was made by putting a cigarette pack in the left pocket and a condom in the right pocket.”

At Jae-seung’s words, Team Leader Kwon Hyung-mok nodded a few times.

“I was half-guessing, but I guessed both correctly.”

It wasn’t for any other reason, but he couldn’t be sure because of Jae-seung’s age.

Both of the items used to create the washing marks were accessories that did not suit Jae-seung’s status as a ‘student’.

“As the team leader may already know, both cigarettes and condoms are washing accessories that have been popular overseas recently.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Overseas, if you search for *’cigarette pack washing’* and *’condom washing’*, you can find hundreds or thousands of posts. Do you know what these washings mean?”

At Jae-seung’s question, Team Leader Kwon Hyung-mok raised his eyebrows once and answered quietly.

“No. I don’t know. I’m curious.”

“To put it simply, it’s ‘masculinity’ and ‘rebelliousness’.”

Soon, Team Leader Kwon Hyung-mok let out a chuckle and asked back.

“It seems like there’s a hidden story?”

“Yes, that’s right. First of all, both washing methods started among black people in slums.”

Team Leader Kwon Hyung-mok added an interjection, ‘Oh? Is that so?’ as if he was interested, and Jae-seung began to continue speaking in a brighter voice as if he was even more excited.

“Actually, the origin itself wasn’t anything special. They were trying to show off each other’s masculinity through the washing of jeans. ‘I always carry cigarettes and condoms with me, so there are marks on my pants pockets!’ Well, you can see that there was roughly this kind of meaning hidden.”

“Haha, there was such a hidden story.”

“Yes. That’s why I added these two washings.”

Only then did the puzzles floating in his head seem to fit together one by one.

Why did he choose the bulk silhouette, which maximizes masculinity, for the jacket’s silhouette?

Why did he arbitrarily add these types of washings?

“It was a design with a story. Now that I know that even this intention was hidden, the fabric is even more disappointing.”

“The fabric?”

“It seems that the quality of the coated denim fabric is not very good. If it was a slightly better fabric….”

“Are you perhaps saying that because the coating is slightly peeled off?”

At Jae-seung’s question, Team Leader Kwon Hyung-mok nodded once and answered.

“Yes. There’s already a sheen on the parts that wear out a lot….”

“That part was also intentional.”

“Yes…? It sounds like you’re saying that you intended for the coating to peel off, am I understanding correctly?”

Was it a difficult word to understand? Team Leader Kwon Hyung-mok frowned without realizing it.

That word sounded like an ‘excuse’. Soon, Jae-seung continued his explanation as if he had been waiting.

“The product samples are already out, but the reason why I haven’t been able to post a product arrival notice yet is because of that. The goal is to intentionally peel off the coating of the pants and create a sheen, so that the material of the pants becomes confusing.”

“Hmm? I’m sorry, but could you possibly tell me a little more about that?”

“Starting with ordinary ‘black jeans’ at first, and then making them into pants and jackets that shine so much that they resemble ‘lizard’ material. A collaboration between the designer and the customer. That was the motto of this self-made product.”

“Ah-!”

Only then did Team Leader Kwon let out a sigh as if he had realized it.

He was using ‘rapidly forming vintage sensibility’ as his main weapon.

Clothes that cannot have a complete form unless the buyer’s sincerity is added.

But it seemed that he wanted to make clothes that didn’t require too much sincerity.

He couldn’t be sure whether he could draw the sympathy of many people, but it was clear that he would be able to draw a sensational response from the maniacs who treat clothes with an unusual mindset and attitude.

Soon, Jae-seung continued to speak.

“Once the coating on the samples peels off a little more and the shine comes to life, and it reaches a level that can be attached to the product photos… I plan to start selling them from then on.”

“Huh, that’s definitely a good idea. I can’t be sure about sales… but it’s clear that it will become a hot topic in several fashion communities. I guarantee it.”

Soon, Jae-seung smiled faintly and replied.

“Thank you so much for the good evaluation. Anyway, the concept of this self-made clothing is clear. It’s manly clothes.”

“Manly clothes….”

“What do you think is manliness, Team Leader?”

Team Leader Kwon Hyung-mok pondered for a moment at Jae-seung’s question, tilted his head slightly, and answered.

“Hmm, well? It’s too abstract a question… a reckless and rough image?”

“I think it’s not growing up.”

“Not growing up?”

“Yes. But one of the things I think is manliness is not getting older as time goes by, but getting cooler.”

At Jae-seung’s words, Team Leader Kwon Hyung-mok smiled.

He never thought that he would feel excited listening to a teenage boy talking about ‘manliness’.

‘Not getting older, but getting cooler….’

It’s clothes with a clear story, quality, and design.

He doesn’t know how much it will sell, but it’s clear that it’s clothes that clearly show the potential of the young designer in front of him.

At that time, one thought suddenly flashed through Team Leader Kwon Hyung-mok’s mind.

‘Did he intentionally prepare it?’

He handed over the clothes he made so naturally and let him examine them.

Even though he was going to refuse the interview, it was an idea and action that was not like a teenage boy to make a prior meeting date and come out in person.

He wondered if there was a series of purposes.

“Jae-seung. From here on out, you have to answer honestly.”

“Yes? Yes. Tell me.”

“You really made these clothes, right?”

“Yes.”

“It’s all your idea? You really have to answer honestly. There may be problems later.”

At Team Leader Kwon Hyung-mok’s words, Jae-seung nodded several times and answered.

“Yes, that’s right. If you really can’t believe it, I can show you the ‘work instructions’ written in my own handwriting and the ‘diagrams’ I drew myself.”

“Do you have them with you now?”

In fact, there was no doubt that Jae-seung made it himself.

He couldn’t have made clothes with such a firm philosophy and message without making them himself.

What Team Leader Kwon Hyung-mok wanted to confirm was something else.

‘If he even prepared the work instructions and diagrams, it would be extremely intentional.’

Soon.

“Yes. I have it with me now. Just a moment.”

Soon, Jae-seung took out a thick file folder from his backpack.

Then, he took out a few work instructions and a few diagrams, including the draft, and handed them to Team Leader Kwon Hyung-mok.

“You can check it out.”

Team Leader Kwon Hyung-mok bowed once and answered.

Team Leader Kwon Hyung-mok looked at the A4 papers he had received for a long time, and then said in a tone full of sincerity.

“Jae-seung.”

“Yes?”

“You will be successful.”

“Yes?”

“You will really be successful.”

Team Leader Kwon Hyung-mok said quietly and smiled with satisfaction.

He even prepared the work instructions and diagrams, materials that could prove that he made it himself?

It became clear that the young designer sitting in front of him had planned all of this situation before the meeting.

‘His skills are good, but he’s also smart… interesting. It’s really interesting.’

Soon, Team Leader Kwon Hyung-mok returned the bundle of A4 paper to Jae-seung again and said.

“Can we do an interview sometime next week?”

“Yes? But… as I said before, I don’t meet the planning intentions of the Reformer special that FTV is planning this time….”

“We can just change the theme of the special.”

Team Leader Kwon Hyung-mok, who had finished speaking, asked again with eyes full of different colors.

“Can we do an interview sometime next week?”