Black Label [EN]: Chapter 27

Black Label 26

27. FTV Magazine Interview, The Meaning of the Name

Jaeseung stopped in his tracks, listening intently to the voice coming through the receiver.

The unique intonation, the familiar voice, even the habit of muttering “uh…” every now and then. It was President Song.

Truly, undeniably President Song.

– You know we don’t usually do small quantity orders, right? There’s no profit in selling small amounts. I’m only doing this because the owner of that fabric store begged me.

“Ah, yes. I understand.”

– But why luxury fabrics? Are you planning to make *replicas* or something? Do you have a route secured?

“No, nothing like that. I just want to try using them.”

While President Song rambled on, Jaeseung was busy trying to compose himself. A part of his heart kept throbbing.

*He would never know. What I’m feeling right now. How much I missed him, how glad I am, and how grateful I feel.*

After a long time of rambling, he finally started to get to the point.

– First, what brand of fabric are you looking for?

“Do you have a variety?”

– Yes. Don’t worry about that.

After a moment of muttering, “Let’s see…” President Song began to explain the transaction method.

– If you tell me the brand our president wants, I’ll send you sample photos. Once you choose, I’ll leave the goods at the fabric store. You can pick them up there, and pay there too.

After a moment of silence, Jaeseung spoke in a firm tone.

“No, I’ll go in person.”

– Huh?

“I’ll go see them myself.”

He had to go in person, no matter what.

Both the fabrics and President Song himself.

* * *

Two days later, Jaeseung headed straight to his office as soon as his *sueop* [class] was over.

‘Let’s see…’

There was a mountain of work to do.

First, Jaeseung sorted out the orders that had been delayed due to the insufficient quantity of goods, as well as the additional orders that had come in.

Looking at the piles of *taekbae* [delivery] boxes, Jaeseung smiled contentedly.

‘At this rate, I’ll be able to cover my tuition and then some.’

Sales were rising rapidly. Even after deducting the cost of fabrics, *bujajae* [subsidiary materials], and various labor costs required for production, it seemed that he could easily record a net profit of more than 5 million won per month.

And this was even before joining the Coubacouba store.

Once the *ipjeom* [store opening] process was completed and he received support from the Coubacouba store?

At least during his studies abroad, he wouldn’t have to struggle with financial problems at all.

‘Good…’

Jaeseung glanced at the clock on the wall.

PM 5:30

The reporter from FTV Magazine was scheduled to visit the office around 8 PM.

It was for an interview for a feature article that would be published this time.

After staring at the clock for a moment, Jaeseung took out paper and a pen.

He had about two and a half hours to spare. He was going to use the spare time to draw diagrams for the new products he would be making this time, and for his mother’s bag.

Swish-!

Each time Jaeseung moved the pencil in his hand, rough lines began to take shape on the white paper.

It wasn’t the ‘Wallflower Pencil’ that had returned with him to the past, but an ordinary pencil.

Nevertheless, the shape of the drawing that Jaeseung was drawing was becoming clearer at a very fast pace.

First of all, the types of new products were ‘jeans’ and ‘cotton t-shirts’.

Currently, Jaeseung had not only decided on the type of new product, but also the concept.

Yesterday, while he and Yeongguk were painting the office wall, an idea suddenly came to him.

‘Paint…’

Swish-

While looking at the t-shirts and jeans that had become dirty from the paint splattering, he suddenly had an inspiration.

He had once seen a photo of the ‘Rockefeller Center’ under construction.

It was a black and white photo of workers sitting side by side on a crane, eating lunch.

The emotions and vintage feel that he felt from the workers in the photo.

That was the emotion Jaeseung wanted to capture in the clothes he was going to make this time.

* * *

Not long after, the reporter from FTV Magazine arrived at Jaeseung’s office. She was a young female reporter in her mid to late 20s.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Lee Ji-hye, a reporter from FTV Magazine.”

“Ah, yes. Nice to meet you. I’m Lee Jaeseung.”

“Wow, your office is really pretty.”

Was it because of her job? She seemed to be quite sociable.

While Lee Ji-hye smiled brightly and looked around the office, Jaeseung prepared some simple refreshments and answered quietly.

“I just moved in last week.”

“Really? Did you decorate the office yourself?”

“Yes. With a friend.”

After answering briefly, Jaeseung tilted his head slightly and asked quietly.

“But you’re a little early, aren’t you?”

“Ah, yes. Did I come too early?”

“Not at all.”

Lee Ji-hye immediately took out her DSLR camera and began taking pictures of the office interior.

After the cheerful shutter sound rang out a few times.

“It’s good from the start, isn’t it? An 18-year-old designer’s personal office and workspace that he decorated himself.”

“Is that so? I’m glad.”

“Yes. Then shall we get started? Did you check the email I sent you in advance?”

She was referring to the list of expected questions that FTV Magazine had sent him via email.

Jaeseung nodded slightly and replied.

“Ah, yes. I checked it.”

“Then let’s start right away.”

In a fairly free atmosphere, his first interview began.

First of all, a brief self-introduction.

“I’m Lee Jaeseung, an eighteen-year-old who is currently running a new brand called ‘Wallflower’. Nice to meet you.”

Lee Ji-hye then used her DSLR camera to capture Jaeseung sitting upright.

He wasn’t used to this kind of *chwalyoung* [shooting], but he wasn’t particularly nervous either.

Then, Lee Ji-hye began to ask the questions listed on the question list in order.

“Um, first of all, I’m curious about the beginning. How did you come to have the dream of becoming a designer?”

“Actually, there’s no grand reason. I liked dressing up and I liked shopping. I wondered if this could be a job, and then I found out about the job of ‘designer’.”

Another question.

“Where did you learn the working methods and practices of making clothes, such as *ripeom* [reform] or sewing? At an academy?”

“No. I haven’t been to an academy.”

“Then did you study on your own?”

Lee Ji-hye asked with wide eyes.

She had also looked at Jaeseung’s Wallflower for *sajeonjosa* [background research] and naturally thought that he was a young designer who had taken an elite course.

Otherwise, she couldn’t easily accept the skills he possessed.

Jaeseung then began to give the answers he had prepared in advance, fluently and without hesitation.

“Yes. I studied design on my own. I started by looking at books distributed in bookstores, but it seemed like there was a limit. So I went around to used bookstores.”

“Yes? Used bookstores?”

“I wanted to buy textbooks used by *paesyeon dijain* [fashion design] students in class. I think I learned most of the practical parts through textbooks.”

Various conversations went on for a long time, and Lee Ji-hye was busy writing down Jaeseung’s words in her notebook.

The most surprising thing for Lee Ji-hye was when she brought up the story about signing an *ipjeom* [store opening] contract with ‘Coubacouba Store’.

“Wow… so you signed an *ipjeom* [store opening] contract through a snapshot you happened to take?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“The contract isn’t perfectly signed yet, but is it okay if this content is registered?”

“Ah, yes. It’s content that has been agreed upon with Coubacouba Store, so you don’t have to worry.”

Then, Lee Ji-hye nodded a few times and spoke in a clear tone.

“Wow, it feels like we just started, but it’s already the last question.”

“Is that so?”

Lee Ji-hye answered with a bright voice, tilted her head slightly, and spoke again.

“Then I’ll ask the last question. This is also the part I was most personally curious about, but is there a reason why you named the brand ‘Wallflower’? When I looked it up briefly, it means ‘*damjaengineongkul* [ivy]’. I want to hear the inside story of what meaning is contained in the name.”

Jaeseung was also waiting for this question the most. Jaeseung smiled faintly and carefully began to continue speaking.