Black Label [EN]: Chapter 73

Black Label 72

73. Photocopier

Having completed all the preparations, Jaesung glanced at the clock on the wall.

‘Hmm, I wonder how many hours it will take…?’

The type of bag he had to make was a ‘Tote Bag.’

Even while analyzing the photos in the lookbook, he sensed it, but now that he had redrawn it as a diagram, it seemed to be one of the most difficult to produce.

Jaesung had his foot lightly on the sewing machine pedal, carefully examining the diagram, when—

Clunk.

Alexander King set down a mug on the workbench and said,

“Lee, have some coffee.”

“Thank you, I’ll enjoy it.”

With caffeine ready to be absorbed during breaks, all preparations were truly complete.

Jaesung took a sip of the coffee he had just received.

‘The aroma is quite nice.’

He gently placed his foot on the sewing machine pedal. As he began to feel the familiar sensation at his toes, his heart began to pound.

“Well, I’m nervous.”

At Jaesung’s sincere words, Alexander King smiled and asked back.

“The moment before sewing is always nerve-wracking. But, well, you seem more excited than nervous, don’t you think?”

“Yes, you’re right. I’m excited.”

Jaesung replied briefly, then added in a soft tone, “Sewing is a sacred task of breathing life into dead leather.”

Then, with eyes subtly gleaming with an unusual light, he began to look at the fabric neatly laid out on the workbench.

The high-quality Saffiano fabric, slightly absorbing the fluorescent light and boasting a subtle sheen.

But, that’s all it is for now.

No matter how good the quality, they are just pieces of leather that have been disassembled.

The same goes for the subsidiary materials. Whether they are gold or silver, they have yet to exceed that level of value.

Inevitably, they must pass through his hands. He will go through the time of ‘surgery’ using a sewing machine, not a scalpel.

Not on a surgical table, but on a workbench. He will personally bring about change and breathe life into them.

He was certain that the impact would not be small at all.

After the work is finished, everything, including the monetary value, will be quite different.

Jaesung thought that sewing was a concept similar to ‘alchemy’ in someone’s imagination.

Although it cannot create something from nothing, it can combine and recreate them, and even transform their value.

“Hoo….”

Finally, one deep breath.

And….

Ziiiiiiiiing-.

As soon as Jaesung lightly stepped on the sewing machine pedal, the roar emanating from the sewing machine began to fill the atelier.

Could it have been just a few seconds? A smile full of satisfaction appeared on Jaesung’s lips.

‘Wow, the power is amazing…?’

It was clear that not only was the quality of the fabric high, but the sewing machine also seemed to belong to the luxury class.

It was so good that he felt like he was holding the reins of a spirited ‘thoroughbred horse.’

The sewing line began to be stitched endlessly onto the sturdy Saffiano leather.

Thud, thud, thud, thud-.

To others, it might not be much, but to Jaesung, this environment was definitely the ‘best environment.’

Jaesung had created so-called mirror-quality imitations even in much harsher environments.

Jaesung muttered, “Nice….” and continued sewing with an endlessly serious expression.

Although he couldn’t be sure, he had a good feeling.

A good feeling that he would be able to complete a quite satisfactory piece.

Just as Jaesung was engrossed in his work, Ashlynn carefully spoke.

“Um, Geraldine. Do you know how long it will take to complete the bag?”

“Well?”

Geraldine asked quietly, staring intently at Alexander King. She passed Ashlynn’s question directly to him.

Soon, Alexander King pulled up a chair from one side of the atelier and sat down, beginning to share his thoughts in a soft tone.

“I probably won’t be able to finish it today. The tote bag that Jaesung has to copy is the most difficult product to make among the last F/W [Fall/Winter] items.”

“Ah, I see….”

Even when he was making the ‘original sample’ of the tote bag, it took him two full days just to sew. Since there were no set formats or standards, that was all it took.

Perfectly copying an existing product might be a bit more difficult.

Moreover, he couldn’t work with the ‘original’ next to him, comparing it from time to time.

Alexander King glanced at his wristwatch and continued in a nonchalant tone.

“First, I plan to watch until dawn today. I think it will take at least two more days to see the completed tote bag.”

After speaking briefly, Alexander King took out a magazine from the bookshelf on the wall of the atelier and began to read it slowly.

He desperately wanted to watch Jaesung’s sewing process, but he made the decision because he thought it might be a burden.

* * *

How much time had passed? About five hours had passed since he started working.

Jaesung, who had been focusing on his work with his eyes wide open, began to rub his dry eyes with his hands.

Finally.

Jaesung, who hadn’t said a word since starting work, opened his tightly closed mouth.

“It’s done.”

On the workbench was the completed tote bag, neatly placed.

Alexander King, who was sitting on a chair far away, leisurely reading a magazine, was startled and asked back.

“Yes? You, you’ve already finished it…?”

“Yes. Would you like to check it out?”

As soon as Jaesung replied briefly, Alexander King closed the magazine he was reading and glanced at his wristwatch.

‘B-But it’s already done? It seems like only five hours have passed since I started working…?’

He had guessed that it would take at least two or three days to complete. He even thought that might not be enough.

But, the total time Jaesung spent working was five hours.

Even if he paid attention to all the detailed parts, it was clear that it was not enough time to make a bag.

For a moment, he wondered, ‘Did he give up…?’ but he quickly shook his head.

Looking at ‘Lee’ who was stretching with a proud face, he thought that he definitely didn’t give up.

‘I’ll have to check it out first.’

Alexander King, who had already reached the workbench, picked up the tote bag Jaesung had completed and smiled contentedly.

‘Anyway, he seems really confident.’

Even though he picked up the tote bag, Jaesung was still busy stretching.

Alexander King thought that Jaesung’s reaction was due to his confidence in the quality of the product.

If the work was not satisfactory, or if there was even a small regret, he would have been busy looking at his expressions and reactions.

Soon, just as Alexander King was about to start examining the bag in earnest.

Jaesung spoke in a soft tone.

“Oh, Ashlynn is fast asleep.”

Jaesung said quietly, covering her knees with a blanket as she slept curled up on the sofa.

Through her slightly parted lips, cute breaths were coming out, ‘huff, huff.’

Jaesung was watching her with a pleased smile, when—

Alexander King suddenly exclaimed, “Ah,” and continued.

“By the way, Geraldine went back about two hours ago. She has work to do tomorrow.”

“Oh, I didn’t even know she left.”

Jaesung replied briefly and asked again.

“Am I too late?”

Jaesung had put in much more effort than when he was making imitations in his past life.

That’s because this was the first time he was being judged by the ‘original creator.’ Jaesung continued to ramble.

“I couldn’t help it because I tried to pay a little more attention to the minor details. I didn’t want to show the original creator a terrible bag.”

On the other hand, Alexander King was just standing there with a dumbfounded expression.

‘What? Late…?’

Jaesung’s working speed was comparable to that of the ‘Meisters’ [Master Craftsmen] belonging to ateliers under other premium brands.

No, he even thought that he might be a little better.

Soon, Alexander King let out a hollow laugh and asked quietly.

“No, it’s okay. I’ll have to take a look first. Lee, would you like a glass of water? Or coffee?”

“No. I’m okay.”

“Then would you like to sit down and rest for a while?”

“Yes, don’t worry about me and take a close look.”

Just as Jaesung leaned comfortably against the back of the sofa and closed his eyes.

Alexander King began to carefully examine the tote bag on the workbench again.

First, he carefully examined the overall ‘silhouette’ of the tote bag, the ‘seam width,’ and the ‘finishing line.’

The most basic yet essential parts.

Before long, Alexander King’s expression became more serious.

‘Huh….’

At least the silhouette, seam processing, and finishing were perfectly reproduced in a form that was no different from the original product.

This time, he began to look at more detailed parts.

The attachment position of the zipper and buttons, and the internal lining, which are difficult to perfectly imitate with just the naked eye.

‘It’s perfect…?’

Everything was perfect without any flaws. Even if he showed it to the meisters [Master Craftsmen] belonging to his atelier, they wouldn’t feel any sense of difference.

However, there was one most important part left.

‘There are still studs left….’

The reason why Alexander King’s new products were well-received last F/W [Fall/Winter] season was simple.

It was thanks to the novel attempt that took risks.

He had studs in the shape of bullet casings attached to the bottom of the bag at regular intervals. It was just an idea that came to mind, but the result of that idea was so great that it could be said to be enormous.

Some critics praised it for capturing the point of the product and for establishing a new identity for the brand.

On the other hand, Jaesung went through the process manually. He even made it based only on the photos in the lookbook, without a sample to compare.

He even made it in just five hours.

So, he was sure that at least the arrangement and spacing of the studs attached to the bottom of the bag could never be perfect.

Soon.

“Oh my god….”

Alexander King, who checked the studs that were perfectly arranged at regular intervals as if measured with a ruler, let out a burst of laughter and muttered.

“The Photocopier….”

That is….

“Yes? A photocopier?”

A photocopier.

Soon, Alexander King smiled helplessly and continued.

“Yes. Lee, I’m talking about you.”

“Oh, you flatter me.”

“By the way, can I ask you a favor?”

“Yes? What…?”

“Could you copy some of the brands’ F/W [Fall/Winter] season products?”

“If you can get me the same material and subsidiary materials, I can make them for you as much as you want, but….”

Jaesung trailed off and tilted his head as if wondering.

“But why…?”

“I’m too sorry to experience this embarrassment alone.”

After finishing speaking, Alexander King added again.

“I want to give this experience to my friends too. And I want to show off our ‘Creative Director’s’ abilities.”

“Ah….”

Just as Jaesung was about to exclaim with an impressed expression, Alexander King held out his hand to Jaesung and shook it, adding again.

“Anyway… Lee, welcome and congratulations. You have become Alexander King’s Creative Director.”