Black Label [EN]: Chapter 244

244. Diamond Look VS Wallflower (3)

The Asian female model, having reached the edge of the runway, showcased a mechanically perfect walk and turn.

Those seated in the audience wore serious expressions, preoccupied with scrutinizing her attire.

“The bold fabric selection is remarkable,” commented one critic.

Phil Adore stroked his chin and replied, “Yes, truly astonishing.”

The Asian model wore jeans that accentuated her long, straight legs, paired with a white T-shirt emblazoned with the brand’s signature Diamond Look logo in the center.

Finally, she sported a thin ‘cotton rider jacket’.

Using cotton to create a rider jacket.

Of course, Lee Kang-jun’s Diamond Look wasn’t the first to attempt this.

Changing established fabrics and materials is a fundamental creative technique.

But, well? The key isn’t ‘Who was first?’ but ‘Who is the best?’

Phil Adore, lost in thought for a while, finally spoke softly.

“Because it uses cotton instead of leather as the main fabric, the rider jacket loses its unique weight and feel. But, how should I put it? The unique and fresh sensation seems several times, no, dozens of times more alive.”

The black cotton rider jacket had a waist strap to adjust the silhouette, and bold white stitching on the seam emphasized a youthful feel.

It was an undeniably clever and excellent choice.

It felt like they had humbly accepted the losses that came with changing the main fabric and thoroughly reaped all the benefits of that choice.

The Diamond Look runway show continued, and countless people began to alternate between looking at the pamphlets in their hands and the runway.

It was a phenomenon caused by the clash between the desire to not miss a single second of the runway show and the desire to obtain information about the owner-designer of the emerging brand.

“Kang-jun Lee…?”

The runway show continued, and exclamations and admiration echoed throughout the venue.

The designs Diamond Look presented all had a daring feel, aiming to break all existing stereotypes while maintaining a connection to trends and primal beauty.

“Diamond Look, how should I say it? Rather than feeling like a new brand, it feels more like ‘seasoned expertise’.”

“I agree. Perhaps it’s because ‘Lee’ has experience preparing large-scale stages as a sub-director?”

Several people sitting nearby nodded in agreement.

Wasn’t Lee Kang-jun called ‘*Little Lee*’ long before his debut stage, attracting the public’s attention?

The public’s view of Lee Kang-jun was divided into two distinct categories.

Expectation and doubt.

‘Expectation’ that he would deliver a good performance, having steadily built his skills under Lee, and ‘doubt’ that he was just a designer full of hot air, relying on Lee’s reputation.

The best way for an artist to dispel the doubts cast upon them is to unveil their meticulously crafted work to the world, isn’t it?

Now that the work has been revealed, how is it?

“This Paris Fashion Week is ‘a series of upheavals’ itself.”

At the words of a female critic who muttered softly, her companions all nodded in agreement.

Of course, the companions who expressed their agreement were all famous columnists and fashion editors.

It was the moment when the public’s ‘doubt’ towards Lee Kang-jun turned into ‘recognition’ in an instant.

* * *

“The reaction is unusual? I didn’t know Lee Kang-jun would hit a home run on his debut stage,” said Director Song.

Just as Director Song finished speaking and smacked his lips, Jae-seung looked down at his watch and replied.

“The collection runtime is almost over; I’m looking forward to the climax.”

Director Song, after asking, “Already?” once, began to look around at the staff and models who were busy preparing for the finale.

After Lee Kang-jun’s stage, there would be a 10-minute break, and then Wallflower’s collection would begin. He was starting to feel impatient.

On the other hand, Jae-seung maintained a very relaxed attitude.

“We’re almost done preparing anyway. Nothing will change even if we just stand here stamping our feet.”

“Hey, CEO. Still….”

“Besides, it’s Kang-jun’s debut stage, isn’t it? It’s only polite to watch the finale curtain call, right?”

Director Song shook his head a few times and said to an employee standing next to him in a blunt tone.

“Hey, get me a scalpel to dissect our CEO’s chest. I want to see if his heart is made of steel.”

Jae-seung chuckled once and then, with a serious expression again, began to watch Lee Kang-jun’s collection stage being broadcast on the monitor screen.

The structure of the collection, the designs of the clothes the models were wearing—no, even all the other elements—were close to perfect.

If I had to pick something lacking, it would be that the performance elements felt a little insufficient?

Several more minutes passed, and the background music that had been playing changed completely at the end of the last model’s walk. Signs of the finale curtain call began to appear.

Soon, dozens of models began to step onto the stage again one by one in sequence.

With just one short walk, it’s hard to see all the details of the design.

Jae-seung began to examine the finale stage with even more concentration, wondering if there was anything he had missed.

Finally, after all the models were on stage, Lee Kang-jun in a neat suit stepped onto the runway.

He was wearing a neat suit, but instead of a dress shirt, he was wearing a cotton T-shirt with a printed phrase.

Lee Kang-jun, who had reached the center of the runway, bowed politely to the VIPs in the audience.

* * *

“Haa….”

Lee Kang-jun took a long breath and, with his hand on the wall, began to walk slowly up the stairs.

Sweat was beading on his forehead, and his chest was still pounding as if it would burst.

The finale stage greeting at Paris Fashion Week.

Being showered with ‘*Snow Storm*’ [stage paper confetti] and thanking the VIPs in the audience with the models who had completed his show.

It was a moment he had imagined ever since he first dreamed of becoming a designer in his childhood, which was now so vague that he couldn’t even remember when.

If I were to describe how it felt to witness that moment firsthand….

It was a thrilling, ecstatic, and mysterious experience.

In just a short span of dozens of seconds, all sorts of emotions intersected, and countless memories flashed through his mind.

The audience was not clearly visible due to the lights pouring onto the stage. Was that why?

Even though he was clearly looking at the audience, it felt like memories of the past kept flickering.

I mean, memories of preparing for this Paris Fashion Week.

Starting with trivial scenes such as the coffee grounds at the bottom of the coffee cup that he had forcibly emptied to chase away sleep, the always messy scenery of the studio, the faces of the staff who worked on the project together, and the many hours that burned away with Marlboro cigarettes….

“Hoo-.”

Lee Kang-jun, who took a long breath, suddenly lowered his head.

An unknown emotion began to surge.

After leaving ‘Wallflower’, a workplace where success was guaranteed and he was treated with the best conditions, his life had entered a slump.

After futilely blowing the opportunity to be recruited as a sub-director for the premium brand Saint Laurent, he had to spend hellish days.

He had to wait for an opportunity that might never come, feeling the sharpness of the clock hands every moment, and living under the oppression of impatience.

There were such days from time to time.

Days when even a glass of water felt heavy.

On those days, he wanted to go see Jae-seung right away. Not to get help, not to complain.

It was just because of a vague expectation that if he went and exchanged a few words, his heart would feel a little lighter.

But, he couldn’t do that.

He couldn’t go in this state.

He wanted to meet him in a more dignified and confident manner, with the symbols of glory he had achieved in his hands.

‘It’s okay, it’s okay now.’

He felt as if someone had blocked his throat with water-soaked cotton, and then one side of his chest began to boil.

It felt as if he had swallowed handfuls of hot pebbles.

Tears began to flow down his cheeks.

When he suddenly stopped walking, grabbed his face, and began to sob, colleagues and models who had prepared the collection with him surrounded him and began to offer words of congratulations.

“It was really perfect. Thanks to you, I was able to do a really fun job. Your life will change now. You are the star of this Paris Fashion Week.”

At that moment.

A small commotion arose among the colleagues and models surrounding Lee Kang-jun for a moment.

Soon, some models began to move around as if trying to make way for someone, and a young man began to walk in between them.

Soon, the young man, who easily reached right in front of Lee Kang-jun, began to speak.

“Kang-jun.”

A very familiar voice. Lee Kang-jun slowly began to raise his head.

The person standing in front of him was none other than ‘Jae-seung’.

Jae-seung had a nonchalant expression, only slightly raising the corners of his lips.

Just as Lee Kang-jun was staring blankly at Jae-seung with red eyes.

“It was the best.”

Jae-seung smiled brightly and slightly raised his fist.

Soon, Lee Kang-jun also smiled and lightly bumped his fist against Jae-seung’s fist.

Soon, Jae-seung lightly patted Lee Kang-jun on the shoulder and began to walk towards the backstage passage connected to the stage.

Behind Jae-seung, models and staff who seemed fully prepared were following in a line.

One of the Diamond designers, who was blankly watching the scene, involuntarily exclaimed, “Wow….”

How should I put it? The owner designer of Wallflower and his models gave the impression of a seasoned commander and a well-trained army?

* * *

In front of the backstage area connected to the runway.

It was just 5 minutes before the start of Wallflower’s collection stage.

The models were standing in a circle around Jae-seung to hear the owner designer’s final words.

“There are no special instructions. If I could just ask one thing….”

Jae-seung trailed off and added with a grin.

“Soon our time will come, and that amazing runway will be completely our space. So, I hope you come down after having as much fun as possible without leaving any regrets. That’s all.”

Perhaps because it was a message that felt quite different from other owner designers?

The models all had faint smiles and began to say something in response.

Soon, Jae-seung checked the time again.

The last day of Fashion Week, the last order, didn’t seem so good after all. It was too hard to wait for his turn.

“Lee, are you ready?”

At the question from the host, Jae-seung nodded, and the prelude to the first background music of the collection stage began to play.

Now is the time for Wallflower, which he has been waiting and waiting for, and the time to become the star of this Paris Fashion Week.