Black Label [EN]: Chapter 54

Black Label 53

54. Preparation Period

The fortnight passed in a flash. Jaeseung once again realized the relativity of time.

Isn’t it true that when you’re doing something you don’t want to do, time only moves exactly as much as it’s told to, no matter how much you rush or nag?

On the other hand, the past two weeks had passed him by in the blink of an eye, ‘whoosh-‘.

In the meantime, another page was turned on the calendar. Before they knew it, it was March.

Having passed ‘Gyeongchip (驚蟄) [the day when hibernating insects and animals awaken]’, the coats of everyone walking down the street became thinner.

It’s spring.

Spring has truly arrived.

Spring.

He thought it might be the warmest-feeling word among words consisting of just one syllable.

A season when buds sprout and grass begins to grow. A time filled with hope, when it feels like something is about to begin.

“Hoo-”

Jaeseung, having taken a breath, picked up the smartphone he had pushed to one side of his desk.

AM 12:43

A very late hour, well past midnight. A time when the roads become deserted and darkness settles in every corner of the city.

Nevertheless, the design team employees were all sitting at their desks, engrossed in drawing diagrams.

Swish, swish, swish-.

A pleasant sound echoed each time the lead of the pencils in the hands of the employees met the desk.

It was a sound filled with the desire and passion of the design team employees to join this 2011 F/W (Fall/Winter) season.

‘Everyone’s working so hard.’

Everyone on the team.

Since starting preparations for the last S/S (Spring/Summer) season, there hadn’t been a single day when they had left work on time.

When preparing for product releases, they were busy preparing for releases, and after the products were released, they were swamped with unmanageable sales volumes….

Just as the soaring sales graph began to slowly decline, Jaeseung once again dropped a bomb in the shape of ‘work’.

A design contest for the F/W season. And even with the unfamiliar theme of ‘Minimalism’.

Jaeseung was well aware of the employees’ hard work. He wanted to give them at least a short break, but he couldn’t help it.

No matter how late it was, they had to officially release the F/W season products by July.

‘I have to proceed tightly….’

He has to take the ‘TOEFL’ [Test of English as a Foreign Language] test in August and also take the high school graduation qualification exam.

Then, from September, he has to start preparing for university entrance in earnest.

He has to start working on his portfolio, write related documents, and prepare for interviews.

“Kkeueueueu-”

Jaeseung, having stretched once, picked up the pencil he had put down again.

Looking at the blank drawing paper, his heart feels heavy.

What should I draw on this?

What kind of clothes will the public be enthusiastic about?

What kind of design do I want to draw?

Various questions chase each other’s tails and begin to float around in his head. The more he does, the more restless his heart becomes.

Many artists call inspiration ‘Genius’.

You can’t have Genius just because you want it. It doesn’t come when you call it, and it’s the same even if you desperately want it or wait endlessly.

It just comes unexpectedly on its own.

While taking a shower, while taking care of business, while holding the steering wheel. It sometimes comes on its own and makes things difficult.

There is a famous saying left by Chuck Close, a painter and photographer who overcame disabilities.

‘Amateurs wait for inspiration, professionals go to work.’

Jaeseung, having given a faint smile, began to move the pencil in his hand again.

Swish, swish, swish-.

A ‘dot’ turns into a ‘line’. Maybe it’s a collection of small dots.

Thin and thick, rough and delicate, all of them come together and slowly begin to take shape.

A quiet night.

The sound of pencils scratching echoed throughout the office.

A harmonious concerto that makes your heart feel at peace.

The sound is dual.

Beautiful. But unstable.

As challenge always is.

* * *

Another week had passed, and Monday morning dawned.

“Good.”

Jaeseung, with his glasses perched on his forehead, said as he examined the clothes fitted on the mannequin for a long time. Thanks to that, Lee Kangjun’s face began to brighten.

“Thank you!”

The clothes fitted on the mannequin were design samples devised by Lee Kangjun in preparation for this F/W season.

A women’s black blazer jacket and a white skirt with vertical pleats.

It was no exaggeration to say that it was the epitome of minimalism, with restrained beauty.

First of all, the blazer jacket had a very simple feel, and it seemed that a very versatile coordination would be possible depending on what clothes you wear inside.

‘It’s definitely good….’

The skirt, which could have been a bit bland thanks to its emphasis on the principles of minimalism, was the same.

The vertical pleats seemed to be breathing life into the details.

It was clothes that showed Lee Kangjun’s sensible side.

“Pass. These two pieces are confirmed for release.”

“Wow-! Thank you, thank you so much!”

As Lee Kangjun let out a cry of joy, the other employees stared at Lee Kangjun with envious eyes and opened their mouths.

“Congratulations, hyung [older brother or male friend].”

“Congratulations, Kangjun.”

Just as Lee Kangjun was bowing his head and saying, “Thank you,” Jaeseung clapped his hands once and began to continue speaking.

“First of all, I think I’ll have to go out on business today. I’m going to look around the ‘Gallery’ from today.”

They had not yet decided on a place to put on the show.

There were only about three months left.

The deadline was quite generous, but he intended to take care of things that required legwork as early as possible.

He didn’t want to go through any hardships unnecessarily at the final stage of preparation, which was sure to be very busy.

Soon, Jaeseung looked at Nam Gwangmin and asked quietly.

“Gwangmin, you know how to drive, right?”

“I was a driver in the military.”

“Grab your coat. Let’s go together.”

“Yes!”

Nam Gwangmin, who answered energetically, immediately grabbed his coat.

The reason for pointing out Nam Gwangmin was simple.

Unlike Lee Kangjun and Chu Jihun, who were working without any problems, it seemed too clear that he was going through great difficulties.

He had also gone on almost all business trips with Lee Kangjun.

‘I should talk to him a bit.’

* * *

Jaeseung and Nam Gwangmin were driving towards ‘Cheongdam-dong’ [a wealthy district in Seoul known for its fashion and galleries] in a rented car.

When they approached the gallery, Jaeseung turned down the radio volume and carefully opened his mouth.

“Gwangmin. How’s it going these days?”

“No, it’s a bit difficult.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I don’t know if it’s because the field of minimalism is so unfamiliar, but I can’t seem to get a feel for it.”

Nam Gwangmin, who spoke in a bitter tone, gave an awkward smile as if he was embarrassed.

Unlike Lee Kangjun and Chu Jihun, who had received formal education in fashion design, Nam Gwangmin studied fashion on his own.

Naturally, he had no choice but to go through much greater difficulties than them.

Perhaps he thought his position was precarious.

Lee Kangjun, who was younger than him, was promoted to a formal designer and was also participating in the F/W season.

Similarly, Chu Jihun, who was much younger than him, seemed to be adapting quite well despite the unfamiliar theme of ‘Minimalism’.

“Gwangmin.”

“Yes?”

“Do you think our handwriting is the same?”

“Maybe it’s different?”

“Yes. It must be different. I think design is the same.”

At Jaeseung’s words, which he took out in a serious tone, Nam Gwangmin glanced at Jaeseung’s face once.

Soon.

“Maybe when we first learned how to write, our handwriting was similar. Both were crooked and unsightly. Originally, there’s no other way to create a ‘handwriting’ than to diligently copy it.”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Think of this as a process of creating Gwangmin’s own identity, and design without any pressure. If not now, when else would you try minimalism? Don’t you think?”

As soon as Jaeseung’s words were finished, Nam Gwangmin muttered in a small voice, ‘Identity….’ Jaeseung, who had been quietly watching the scene, smiled faintly and opened his mouth again.

“And I’ll cover any expenses for things that could be a means of inspiration, so feel free to buy them.”

“Things that could be a means of inspiration?”

“Yes. Lookbooks from other brands that have minimalism as their motto, fashion magazines, or even exhibition tickets regardless of genre.”

There is nothing more helpful in broadening the ‘Spectrum’ than seeing and feeling a lot. He could support that level of welfare as much as possible.

“Thank you for your concern.”

Soon, Jaeseung took out the words he wanted to say the most.

“Personally, I think the key is to make it without pressure and with a comfortable mind. It’s your first time, right? It’s natural that you’re not good at it. It’s not like the words ‘correction’ or ‘supplement’ exist for no reason. Try all the attempts you wanted to try, and buy and use all the fabrics you wanted to use.”

“…….”

“No one expects perfection from Gwangmin. But you have to show at least the minimum results. You have to show the results first, so we can give you feedback, right?”

“Yes, I will keep that in mind.”

Jaeseung, having nodded his head once, turned his head and began to look out the car window.

It’s such a day that the expression ‘a sunny spring day’ couldn’t be more fitting.

So much so that he wanted to run to Lake Park right away, spread out a mat, and enjoy the spring breeze.

“It’s spring.”

Jaeseung, having said quietly, gave a hearty smile.

Nam Gwangmin was also holding the steering wheel with a much brighter expression.

* * *

The first place they visited was a gallery called ‘Time Travel’.

It was the place he liked the most when he looked it up on the internet.

As soon as he stepped inside, the interior scenery with a classic feel came into view.

It was an antique feel, as if the Vatican had been copied exactly.

Soon, a woman in her 40s in semi-formal attire greeted Jaeseung and Nam Gwangmin.

“How can I help you?”

“I wanted to look around the gallery.”

“Because of the lease?”

“Yes.”

Soon, the woman in her 40s, who had scanned the two people’s appearance up and down, said in a rather prickly tone.

“Yes. Please follow me.”

After finishing speaking, she turned around and slowly began to move her steps.

Was it a delusion? Even the sound of her heels clicking, ‘clack, clack,’ felt cold.