Black Label [EN]: Chapter 72

Black Label 71

72. Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V

Not long after, the main event began. Various videos started playing on the screen installed behind the front stage.

The videos showcased not only Paris Pouge but also the journey of the magazine itself, Pouge.

Clap clap clap clap-

Polite applause filled the banquet hall.

Everyone in the hall was focused on watching the video being played on the screen, except for one person: Jaeseung.

‘Hoo.’

How could he focus on the event when he was about to undertake the most important task of his life?

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that his ‘fate’ depended on the one bag he was about to create.

What if he succeeded in creating a bag of such high quality that everyone would recognize it?

He might join the production of premium brand ‘Alexander King’s’ next S/S [Spring/Summer] season products, even in the attractive position of ‘Creative Director’.

It was a truly incredible opportunity to make his name known in the design world in a groundbreaking way.

A huge opportunity to make a striking debut by borrowing the power of the ‘Alexander King’ brand.

‘Has there ever been a designer who debuted like this…?’

There might have been designers who made unconventional debuts, but probably none had debuted with such intense spotlight.

Jaeseung clenched his hands, which had become soaked with sweat.

He didn’t want to miss this opportunity, no, he couldn’t miss it.

His heart was pounding incessantly, not just from nervousness.

His anticipation was even greater.

* * *

Around ten o’clock at night, Jaeseung slumped into an empty chair and sighed.

“Hoo.”

Ashlyn tilted her head slightly and asked cautiously.

“Jaeseung, are you okay? You look very tired….”

“Ah, I’m fine.”

Jaeseung replied briefly, then picked up a glass of water from the round table to quench his thirst.

After the official event prepared by Paris Pouge, there was time for the designers attending the banquet to have various conversations.

As this was a rare opportunity, he had to go around the banquet hall and talk to various designers until his voice was hoarse.

As Jaeseung was taking a few sips of water, Alexander King approached and spoke with concern.

“Lee, are you sure you’re okay today? If you’re not in good condition, we can postpone it until tomorrow morning….”

“No, I’m fine. I’d like to proceed as planned.”

“Is that so? I’ve already rented an atelier nearby.”

“And then?”

“Actually, there’s one important problem that has arisen.”

“A problem? What problem?”

Alexander King shrugged his shoulders and began to explain smoothly.

“The product you have to copy is the most popular product from the last F/W [Fall/Winter] collection.”

“Don’t tell me… ?”

“Yes. It’s sold out, so we won’t be able to get it today.”

Alexander King began to explain the situation in a very gentle tone.

“I think we’ll have to postpone the date. If we can get it quickly, it will be tomorrow, and at the latest, it will be by tomorrow morning.”

Jaeseung nodded, listening to his explanation, then raised an eyebrow and asked.

“What about the fabric? Can you prepare the same material right away?”

“Yes. The fabric is no problem, but….”

“That’s enough.”

“Yes?”

Alexander King asked back, looking puzzled, staring at Jaeseung as if to say, “What’s enough?”

Silence hung in the air for a moment.

“Wait a minute, Lee. I think it’s better to proceed leisurely. How can you copy something without the ‘original’? Don’t you think?”

At those words, Jaeseung smiled faintly.

It was an amusing thing to say. How could you copy something without the original?

Surprisingly, in Dongdaemun [a famous fashion district in Seoul], there were plenty of talented people who could do that.

Jaeseung from his past life was also among them.

‘They don’t know the power of Dongdaemun….’

Most of them started making imitations without even seeing the original.

Of course, a separate data collection process was required.

They would spend several days carefully reviewing the ‘lookbooks’ released by the brand, analyzing the fine details of the seams, buttons, zippers, subsidiary materials, and finishing lines.

Even those few days were based on the standards of ordinary people.

In Jaeseung’s case, the story was quite different.

‘…How much thread have I eaten so far? An hour is enough for analysis.’

If he was going to use the same material and subsidiary materials as the original, he thought an hour would be enough.

Jaeseung snapped his fingers and said in an indifferent tone.

“I think it would be better to do this. Please prepare plenty of fabric and subsidiary materials of the same quality as the original. And a ‘lookbook’ with detailed photos of the product to be copied.”

Ashlyn, who was listening to the conversation, whispered a word of dissuasion in Jaeseung’s ear.

“Lee, do we need to rush? It might be better to postpone the date. We could prepare in advance….”

“Ashlyn, this is a really important opportunity that could change my life. I mean, I’m being as careful as possible right now.”

“But….”

“It’s okay.”

Jaeseung replied briefly, looking at Alexander King instead of Ashlyn, and added.

“I’m really confident.”

Alexander King replied, “Okay,” and answered in a calm tone.

“If that’s what you want, we’ll have to proceed as planned. I’ll have everything prepared within an hour.”

“Thank you.”

Jaeseung replied briefly, took out his smartphone, and checked the time.

There was only about an hour left. Jaeseung got up from his seat and said, “First of all, I have to do my best to enjoy the banquet.”

Alexander King nodded in response, watching Jaeseung’s receding figure.

‘He’s a strange person in many ways.’

Was it arrogance stemming from childishness? Or confidence based on outstanding skills?

* * *

Jaeseung could be said to have successfully reaped quite a few gains through this banquet.

First of all, he exchanged business cards, SNS [Social Networking Service] accounts, and contact information with several designers.

Although it was difficult right now, he succeeded in forming a network of connections that was no different from assets that could develop into collaborative relationships at any time.

Anyway, the banquet ended successfully.

Also, the fact that the banquet was over meant that the long-awaited ‘time of challenge’ had dawned.

* * *

The atelier that Alexander King had rented in advance was located in a commercial building not far from the hotel where the banquet was held.

“Oh, it’s a nice atelier.”

Jaeseung said quietly, looking around the interior of the building he had just entered.

The pleasant environment, which seemed to have been carefully decorated, was eye-catching. It was clearly not an atelier equipped only for ‘function’.

Anyway, on the one hand, he felt a sense of wonder. To be able to rent an atelier of this level so quickly with just a few phone calls…

This was also part of the power his name possessed.

Not only Jaeseung, but also Ashlyn and Geraldine Saglio, who accompanied him, were busy looking around the atelier with curious eyes.

Jaeseung pointed to the fabric piled up on the workbench and asked cautiously.

“Is this the fabric we’re going to use to make it?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Jaeseung nodded and touched the fabric with his hand. As soon as he felt the texture on his fingertips, there was one thing he could tell.

‘It’s definitely a very good fabric.’

‘Alexander King’ was a brand famous for using good fabrics among many premium brands.

On the other hand, the price was relatively low, making it a brand with unparalleled value for money.

Jaeseung, who had been examining the fabric for a while, carefully asked a question.

“Hmm, is it ‘Saffiano’ material?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“It seems like an excellent choice. It’s a really good fabric.”

“Oh my gosh. Lee, do you know Saffiano fabric?”

“Of course. It has a luxurious feel, but it’s also durable and resistant to contamination.”

Alexander King frowned slightly and asked back.

“That’s unexpected. I didn’t think you’d have such great knowledge of leather fabrics. I thought Wallflower was just a street brand that had just tried new things. Was I wrong?”

“No. That’s right. I’m just very interested.”

Jaeseung smiled contentedly. As he smelled the unique scent of the familiar leather fabric, his heart seemed to flutter.

Alexander King felt the same way. Seeing this aspect, his trust in Jaeseung’s words seemed to double.

Alexander King nodded and asked quietly.

“Lee, do you need any other supplies separately?”

“I think I just need a pen and paper.”

Jaeseung said firmly, picked up the lookbook on the workbench, and added quietly.

“And I think I need some time to look at the lookbook. Would that be okay? I think an hour would be enough.”

“You can take a little more time to look at it.”

“No, an hour is enough.”

Jaeseung began to look at the product to be copied in the lookbook.

‘It’s a tote bag.’

While Jaeseung was carefully reviewing the lookbook and meticulously noting down a few things,

the others were sitting on the sofa in one corner of the atelier, chatting.

How much more time had passed? About an hour had passed.

Swish swish-.

Jaeseung finally picked up a pen and began to draw a diagram.

Alexander King stood behind Jaeseung and began to peek over his shoulder at the diagram Jaeseung was drawing.

Points gather to become lines. Also, lines gather and gradually begin to take shape.

Jaeseung’s hand began to move more and more busily, and the more it did, the more Alexander King’s expression began to distort.

Finally.

“First of all, the diagram is complete.”

At Jaeseung’s words, Alexander King unknowingly exclaimed, “Huh….”

His eyes were trembling like an aspen in the winter wind.

‘Oh my gosh….’

Surprisingly, the diagram Jaeseung had drawn was perfectly identical to the diagram he had drawn before releasing the product.

It was as if he had put it on a lightbox and copied it as it was.

No, it was as if he had copied and pasted it using the computer’s copy and paste (Ctrl+C/V) function.

Alexander King shook his head to calm himself.

‘No, I can’t know for sure until I see the finished product.’

While he was in awe, Jaeseung was just continuing his preparations to start sewing.

Even humming a tune with a very relaxed expression.