Black Label [EN]: Chapter 231

Black Label Episode 231. Invitation Bomb

The employee lounge inside Wall Flower’s headquarters was buzzing.

Nearly thirty employees were chatting with the group that had come into the lounge with them.

An hour after the scheduled lunch break was designated as ‘nap time,’ a period of free rest.

Everyone in the room was taking advantage of nap time to enjoy themselves in the lounge.

“No matter how I think about it, the lounge is really amazing.”

At the words of a design team employee, the designers sitting next to her nodded in agreement.

“I heard that the furniture in the lounge alone costs hundreds of millions of won?”

“Ah, I saw that post too.”

A post related to Wall Flower had recently become a hot topic online.

A person who identified themselves as an employee of Wall Flower had posted detailed information about the company’s internal facilities and benefits, along with photos.

1. The lounge is equipped with top-of-the-line furniture for the convenience of employees, and beverages and snacks, including coffee, are available free of charge.

2. Employees are provided with free vouchers for affiliated errand services.

Wall Flower employees can entrust trivial tasks such as ironing shirts, assembling purchased furniture, or preparing dinner to affiliated companies.

It was a small consideration to allow them to focus solely on their work.

3. The ’employee gym’ on the same floor as the lounge is available for use during work hours.

This was a consideration to ensure that employees could take care of their health without being pressed for time, and to allow them to exercise and refresh themselves when their work was blocked.

4. Wall Flower products, regardless of type, can be purchased at a discounted price.

5. If a Wall Flower employee dies, half of the deceased employee’s annual salary will be paid to their family every year for the next 10 years.

There were so many other extraordinary welfare benefits, such as a movie room, shower room, and full support for the purchase of work-related supplies, that the online community was in an uproar.

– Wow, Wall Flower. Well, it’s a name I keep hearing. They must be making a lot of money to give so much to their employees.

– They’re managing well. It seems much better than most domestic conglomerates.

– Can’t you tell just by looking? It’s probably overseas consignment management. The welfare benefits feel like a foreign conglomerate.

– Whatever it is, isn’t it amazing that they can do that? Why are you so twisted?

– Isn’t that a real dream job? If I’m born again, I’ll work hard to build up my specs [qualifications] and get a job at Wall Flower….

– If I were a Wall Flower employee, I’d spend all my salary on clothes and never save anything.

– I heard from a friend who works at Wall Flower that they spent over 8 million won [approximately $6,000 USD] just decorating their office space. All the latest equipment, and receipt processing….

Just as the designers from the design team were talking about the extraordinary in-house welfare policies,

Choo Ji-hoon, who was practically a founding member, nodded a few times and said in a serious tone.

“After watching from the time we were making and selling street products in a ten-pyeong office [approximately 330 square feet], I think there’s a reason why successful people are successful. Their work speed alone is on a different level, right?”

Soon, the other designers, with serious faces, began to chime in.

“How can he draw dozens of diagrams in just two weeks? Even though he’s not in a situation where he can only draw diagrams all day like us….”

“Moreover, the diagram ‘*quality*’ is perfect. When I see things like this, I really think talent exists.”

“People who have been with the brand since the beginning say that it’s always been like this? When the season’s wood board [mood board] is created, the president alone would draw 70-80% of the diagrams in a flash….”

Why were they talking about Jae-seung’s work speed with pale faces?

It was simple.

Only about two weeks had passed since the season’s wood board was completed and the concept was decided.

However, just before the end of the design team’s weekly meeting today, Jae-seung threw dozens of diagrams he had drawn at the design team employees.

With a smiling face, he asked, ‘These are the diagrams I drew, is it okay to release them as products?’

Ordinary designers belonging to the design team come to work every day and spend all day thinking, but they only draw two or three diagrams per season. At most, about ten.

However, Jae-seung completed more than half of the product lineup to be released this season in just two weeks. Moreover, he did it alone.

It was a point where everyone had no choice but to be amazed.

* * *

“This is the draft of the watch line lookbook. What do you think, do you like it?”

Soon, Jae-seung began to carefully examine the documents that Director Song had handed him.

Wasn’t it the same as the image that would represent the watch products that were about to be released and sold?

He had no choice but to concentrate and look closely at every detail.

Soon.

“Yes, it’s good. I think we can proceed as is.”

To target all age groups, two male and female models in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s were hired and photographed separately.

Among them, the photos taken by the German models in their 50s were the most impressive.

Dressed in custom tailors, they were sitting in a magnificent brown wooden chair, showing off their mature beauty, and it felt like they matched the watch products so well.

Just as Jae-seung was busy looking at the lookbook photos.

Director Song clicked his tongue and continued to speak.

“By the way, you’ve almost finished all the diagrams for this S/S [Spring/Summer] season already, right?”

“Ah, yes. Sample production will start from tonight.”

“Anyway, you’re really amazing….”

“This season is particularly going well.”

“This season is particularly? What are you talking about? It’s been like this every season.”

At Director Song’s words, Jae-seung responded with a faint smile.

The reason why Jae-seung expressed that this season was particularly going well was quite simple.

Unlike the previous seasons, this season did not borrow the power of the Wall Flower pencil [Wall Flower’s design influence].

Of course, he couldn’t tell her all the details.

“Anyway, now that the S/S season preparation is almost finished, I plan to focus only on launching the watch line as soon as the sample production is completed.”

“Yes, you thought well. After all, it’s most important to lay a good foundation….”

Director Song, who had trailed off for a moment, snapped his fingers and added.

“Ah, that’s right. I heard some news from a Paris Fashion Week official.”

“What is it?”

“It’s news that you’ll like very much. Lee Kang-jun’s ‘Diamond Look’ has obtained the qualification to participate in Paris Fashion Week.”

“Yes? Really…?”

“Yes. I was very surprised at first, but when I thought about it again, it didn’t seem like a big surprise.”

After finishing speaking, Director Song tapped the side table with his finger and continued to speak softly.

“First of all, there’s a precedent, right? Several French-born brands went on the Paris Fashion Week stage in their first year of launch.”

“But Diamond Look’s owner designer is Kang-jun, right?”

“The company’s nationality is French. In the first place, more than 70% of the investment capital is from France.”

The remaining 30% of the investment was the amount Jae-seung invested under a borrowed name.

Jae-seung was also one of the major shareholders who owned the brand ‘Diamond Look’.

Just as Jae-seung was humming, “Ah….” as if he had just realized it.

Director Song smiled and continued to speak.

“That doesn’t mean that he was able to grab a spot at Paris Fashion Week due to external factors; he got a passing score after a fair review. Of course, Lee Kang-jun’s career also helped. Heh heh.”

“Mr. Kang-jun’s career?”

“Yes. In fact, when you think about it strictly, we were able to easily get involved in Paris Fashion Week thanks to your career, right? If you think about it, Lee Kang-jun’s career is also not bad. How many hit products did he make when he was at Wall Flower? If you dig a little, you can find out what products Lee Kang-jun made, right? Furthermore, he has a history of sticking to you as your sub-designer.”

“Hmm, well. I don’t know. I wonder if those factors really added any points.”

After finishing speaking, Director Song added in a meaningful tone.

“The president has become one of the best. Then the people around the president are naturally recognized as people close to the best. Isn’t that obvious?”

He tried his best not to show it, but it was quite embarrassing and pleasant to hear.

If I become the best, the people around me will also be recognized as people close to the best.

It was a word that made the originally clear sense of purpose even clearer.

Soon, Director Song got up first and said in a sarcastic tone.

“Anyway, it’s best to do your best this season, right? If you think about it carefully, Lee Kang-jun is actually a designer you raised, right? If you get pushed back at this Paris Fashion Week, how humiliating would that be? Heh heh. I’m leaving. Suffer a little more.”

“Yes, yes. I won’t see you off. I’ll take your advice to heart.”

Jae-seung, who retorted in the same sarcastic tone, sat down again at his desk.

Then he looked out the window.

The cold wind, desperately squeezing through the tightly closed window, was announcing that autumn was coming.

Suddenly, autumn of several years ago came to mind.

Lee Kang-jun, who has now grown into a Paris Fashion Week-class designer, and the autumn of several years ago when he was working together in a ten-pyeong office [small office] and running around with fire on his feet [working intensely].

Was it just his imagination?

This autumn was particularly welcome and felt new.

* * *

Was it because the factory line system was established and he succeeded in recruiting a lot of talented masters?

The time from when the diagrams were handed over to when the sample production was completed was greatly reduced.

It was to the point where he could receive the completed sample in just a day and a half.

As soon as the sample arrived, all the designers belonging to the design team began to gather in the ‘Sample Room’ located in the headquarters. It was to examine the arrived sample.

But, what should he say?

It was as if it resembled a store of a famous brand that was enjoying a boom.

The sight of dozens of employees examining the clothes neatly arranged by item number on a long display stand one by one reminded him of that sight.

The sound of commotion in the room never stopped.

It was because the employees were looking at the sample products and exchanging various comments among themselves.

Soon.

Jae-seung, who was mixed in with the employees and looking at the sample, opened his mouth with a bright smile.

“All pass, I think we can produce it as is.”

Perhaps the employees were thinking similarly, they each began to list various positive opinions.

This season will definitely be a hit again. It will be a historic season in which the brand’s identity is established. The Paris Fashion Week is already looking forward to, even though the sample has just come out.

And so on….

It was a moment when he could relieve a worry about the closest big task, the S/S season.

Soon, just as Jae-seung was about to leave the sample room for work related to the watch line launch and move towards his office.

The door of the sample room opened wide, and Director Song entered with an excited face.

“Everyone’s here at the right time. Now! Everyone, give a round of applause to our great president!”

“Why the applause all of a sudden? And what’s so great about it? This isn’t North Korea….”

Just as the employees were sending applause without knowing why, Director Song stopped them by raising his palm and continued to speak.

“Employees, just now, a whopping four invitations to overseas design association awards ceremonies have arrived for the president. One is an invitation to the American Fashion Designers Association Awards Ceremony, another is an invitation to the French Fashion Designers Association Awards Ceremony, another is an invitation to the Spanish Fashion Designers Association Awards Ceremony, and the last is an invitation to the British Fashion Designers Association Awards Ceremony!”

Before Director Song’s words could finish, a great commotion and cheers began to mix in the room.

The fact that he received an invitation to the Fashion Designers Association Awards Ceremony meant that he was nominated for an award in some category.

Just as Jae-seung was standing still with a blank face.

“President, have a safe trip! And when you come, bring Melona [Korean popsicle brand], no, not that….”

Director Song, who had trailed off for a moment, grabbed Jae-seung’s shoulder tightly and said.

“Trophies and plaques! As many as possible! Got it?”