Black Label [EN]: Chapter 292

Black Label Extra Story 43

As F/W Fashion Week approached, interview requests from various media outlets poured in.

“Lee.”

The personal secretary placed a thick stack of documents on Jaeseung’s bedside table and said,

“You’re going to be very busy this year, aren’t you?”

“Is this all work?”

“Yes, it’s all Wallflower-related interviews.”

At those words, Jaeseung hesitated.

“Wait, Wallflower-related?”

Realizing that she had drawn a line by specifically saying ‘Wallflower-related interviews,’ a sense of unease suddenly began to rise like smoke.

“It seems there’s other work separately?”

The secretary smiled and replied,

“Yes, about twice as much work is waiting for you. Fashion magazine interviews, of course, TV show invitations, radio, and other things….”

Jaeseung shook his head and muttered quietly.

“Oh my….”

On the other hand, the secretary continued to explain the demanding schedule without paying any attention.

“Perhaps it’s the aftermath of the documentary; everyone seems curious about your aspirations for Cardo.”

She turned a page in her notebook.

“Especially, do you remember the TV show conducted by Télévision, the exclusive broadcaster of the documentary?”

“Ah, yes.”

“I’ve sent the interview script from the TV show you appeared on last time to your email, so it would be good if you could review it.”

Considering that most of the schedules were related to Cardo, it was evident how much attention the world was paying.

Cardo.

The launch of a brand that would remain in the history of fashion and be talked about for a very long time was just around the corner.

“Okay, I understand.”

Jaeseung, who answered in a low and soft tone, looked at the schedule board on the bedside table and gently covered his throbbing forehead.

‘I’ll be working overtime for a while.’

A busy day was expected.

* * *

“Lee, it’s been a while.”

The host’s voice echoed loudly inside the Télévision TV show studio, which was being broadcast live.

“Yes, it’s been a while.”

He was a veteran actor who had efficiently branded his image in the French entertainment industry for a long time, even hosting his own show.

He sparkled his blue eyes and began to ask questions written on the cue card one by one.

“Did you hear that the recently released ‘The Great Fusion’ recorded the highest viewership since the establishment of Télévision?”

“Of course.”

“I also watched the broadcast at the time, and even though I’m completely ignorant about fashion, I really enjoyed watching it without realizing how time was passing.”

Jaeseung bowed his head and replied,

“I’m honored that you say so.”

Then he added,

“I don’t believe you’re ignorant about fashion at all. The custom tailor [bespoke suit] you’re wearing now also feels like it follows the rules exactly.”

“Even if I don’t know much about fashion, I know how to buy and wear expensive things.”

“If you wish, would you like to visit a Wallflower offline store anytime? It doesn’t matter which branch; I’ll gift you any product you want.”

At those words, the host laughed heartily and replied,

“Yes, I won’t refuse. I’ll have to stop by and pick it up soon.”

Now the main topic began.

“What do you think is the reason why the last documentary was so popular?”

“I think it’s thanks to the many people who are curious about my daily life.”

Jaeseung paused and added,

“Also, I think those who are interested in the launch of the innovative brand Cardo contributed to the viewership.”

He nodded and asked in a low voice,

“Many people predict that the launch of Cardo will negatively impact the overall sales of the group. What do you think about this?”

It was a question he had received many times.

“Cardo is clearly a brand that inherits and develops all the unique values of individual brands within the LVMH Group [a French multinational luxury goods conglomerate], but….”

Jaeseung continued to explain fluently and added in a serious tone,

“Cardo’s goal is a high-end brand. The brands within the group are also premium brands, but there is a clear difference in the level of value they pursue.”

“Then….”

“To put it simply, it’s a brand with completely different goals and nature from the various brands within the group, so I want to say that I’m not worried about that at all.”

Jaeseung added again.

“Also, Cardo is like an event brand that may or may not be shown again after this Fashion Week.”

“Could this be the last time?”

“Yes, I should say it might be, or it might not be. If it really affects the overall sales of the group, wouldn’t its existence be impossible?”

The host asked again,

“Then it will be different from Wallflower?”

“Wallflower is also used as a material for Cardo.”

Silence flowed for a moment.

“This season.”

At Jaeseung’s addition, the host asked again,

“Then can we assume that the preparation period for this season was focused solely on preparing for Cardo?”

At those words, Jaeseung shrugged and replied,

“It would be a lie to say that I accurately distributed all the work and even divided the mental energy that goes into the work.”

“I see….”

“I believe that most of the active designers who participated in the Cardo project are in the same situation.”

Jaeseung added again.

“After all, the consumer base that can consume Cardo will be limited. That’s exactly what we wanted, and most products are produced in small quantities as an absolute principle.”

“Then….”

“Most active designers who roam the mainstream market have been fighting against sales rather than the pursuit of aesthetics for a very long time. The attempt to change that structure is Cardo.”

The atmosphere inside the studio changed.

“We have designed various things to intensify the bidding competition for Cardo products.”

“That’s interesting. Most owner-designers who lead brands would remain silent about this?”

“I just think it’s a difference between saying something obvious or not.”

Jaeseung said in a serious tone.

“For reference, the brand name Cardo was named after my teacher, Karl Lagerfeld [a German creative director, fashion designer, artist, photographer, and caricaturist], and Chairman Ardo, who transferred the group’s shares and management rights to me.”

Those who learned about the secret of the name Cardo nodded.

“My teacher, Karl Lagerfeld, said this during his lifetime. Lee, we live in a crazy world where if it’s cheap, it’s graffiti, and if it’s expensive, it’s art.”

The host narrowed his eyes.

“I’m going to sell art.”

Then he asked the camera,

“Everyone wants to do that, right?”

The host slightly pouted his lower lip and nodded a few times.

“Damn it, it seems like the viewership for this interview will be enormous.”

Then he pointed his finger at the camera and warned,

“It’s better not to create and distribute clips of our Télévision show’s videos without permission. There are so many past interview videos on YouTube!”

At those words, Jaeseung burst into laughter.

“Ah!”

The host hummed as if he had forgotten something important and asked again,

“So, when is the show?”

“The show?”

“Yes, the Fashion Week show.”

Jaeseung answered quietly,

“Ah, the show location is a secret, but I can tell you the schedule anytime.”

Originally, large-scale brand’s Fashion Week shows were similar to secret rituals where only those who invited and those who were invited gathered.

This was because the principle was not to invite those who were not influential, industry authorities, sports stars, etc.

In many cases, even the schedule was not disclosed, but revealing the schedule was also often part of marketing….

“I’ll reveal it.”

Jaeseung added,

“Cardo’s show will start after Fashion Week ends.”

“Yes? Why….”

“It’s a choice to show off that it’s different from other brands.”

Jaeseung raised his chin.

“How can we mingle together?”

If it were said by others, it could be dismissed as arrogance….

“I understand.”

The fact that those words came from Lee gave it credibility.

Because there were so many miraculous things he had shown so far.

“Cardo plans to proceed with its own Fashion Week schedule.”

Jaeseung asked,

“Well, it seems like it will be fun to watch which show will be hotter.”

* * *

Several days passed in the blink of an eye, and Jaeseung spent his time no differently than before.

Work, work, work, work, work….

He spent several days without even going home once, and after finishing the scheduled events, he spent his time preparing for the Cardo show.

“This place would be good.”

The location chosen as the stage for Cardo’s show was none other than an abandoned subway station.

“Hasn’t the subway also changed with the passage of time? It would be good to depict the passing years by painting pictures on the walls of the station.”

At those words, the secretary asked,

“Then…?”

Jaeseung snapped his fingers.

“We’re using the passing history of the fashion world as a background. We might as well buy an abandoned subway and use it as a moving seating area.”

At those words, one of the active designers who had been quietly following Jaeseung and listening to the story asked,

“That would cost an astronomical amount….”

Then Jaeseung stopped walking.

“I’ve made a lot of money to use at times like this.”

Everyone nodded at those words.

Forbes Fashion World Rich List No. 1.

That was why Jaeseung said that.

Like that….

The outline of the Cardo show was taking shape.