Black Label [EN]: Chapter 8

Black Label 7

8. How to Survive in the Fabric Market

The next day, Jaeseung and Yeongguk boarded the bus to Dongdaemun once again.

“Today, I’m going to buy some subsidiary materials.”

“Subsidiary materials?”

“First, before going to the fabric market, there’s something you need to know.”

“What is it?”

Jaeseung took out two file folders from a leather clutch bag he had prepared.

They were file folders that you could buy at any stationery store. The title on the cover read, ‘List of Purchased Fabrics and Unit Prices.’

“Here. Take this.”

“What’s this again?”

“The place we’re going to today is a jungle. You need to carry this around so you don’t look like an easy target.”

Yeongguk tilted his head slightly, looking puzzled at Jaeseung’s meaningful words.

* * *

As soon as they arrived on the first floor of the fabric market, Jaeseung took out the sunglasses he had hung on the round neck of his T-shirt and put them on.

“Yeongguk, do you remember everything I told you on the bus?”

“Of course, I do. But do we really have to go this far?”

“Absolutely.”

The sunglasses were an item Jaeseung had prepared to subtly conceal his youthful appearance.

Yeongguk, when dressed in casual clothes, didn’t look much like a high school student, but Jaeseung was different.

He still looked every bit the high school student, so he had even prepared sunglasses.

“We have to look as much like ‘professional traders’ as possible. Yeongguk, you see those people over there, right?”

Yeongguk turned his gaze to the direction Jaeseung was pointing.

A group of young men and women, who looked like college students, had just stepped into the fabric market.

“Yeah. Why are they important?”

“They’re probably students majoring in fashion design.”

“Based on what?”

At Yeongguk’s question, Jaeseung shrugged his shoulders once and answered fluently.

“It would take too long to explain everything… but it’s definitely them. If you follow them around and see how they’re treated, you’ll understand why I made all these preparations.”

After speaking, Jaeseung took the lead and started walking, and Yeongguk followed him without complaint.

Throughout their walk.

Jaeseung’s gaze, hidden behind his sunglasses, was constantly following the group of college students.

The reason Jaeseung guessed that they were students majoring in fashion design was simple.

The only reason a group of young men and women in their early twenties would be dressed up and entering the fabric market was:

‘They’re college students who came to buy fabric for a project.’

There was a slight chance they could be young shopping mall owners and their associates, but that possibility was very slim.

They would already be short on manpower, so they wouldn’t go through the troublesome task of buying fabric in a large group.

If it was a shopping mall in good enough shape to hire people, that was even more so.

They could just dispatch the hired employee, so there was no need to handle it as if they were on a group field trip.

Soon, the group of college students who had been walking ahead stopped in front of a small shop.

“Excuse me, can we buy some cotton fabric?”

At the question from the student at the front, the market vendor didn’t even look at the student and asked back.

“Yes. How much?”

The college student, who was very nervous, hesitated as if flustered and answered with difficulty.

“Well, I think about one yard would be enough. In total…”

Just as the college student was about to continue speaking.

The market vendor waved his hand as if chasing away a fly and replied in a tone that was as cold as could be.

“We don’t sell small quantities.”

“Yes, I understand…”

Jaeseung, who had been watching the scene from a distance, smiled with satisfaction.

‘I knew it.’

This was the reason Jaeseung had tried so hard to look like a professional trader.

Being ignored was something they could roughly endure, but if they looked like tourists to the vendors, buying fabric itself would become extremely difficult.

Jaeseung tapped Yeongguk’s arm once and opened his mouth in a confident tone.

“I’ll take care of it, so you just stick close behind me and pretend to take notes.”

“Huh? Okay.”

“Watch and learn from your *hyung* [older brother or trusted male friend].”

After speaking briefly, Jaeseung confidently walked towards the shop that had just turned away the group of college students.

“Hello, sir?”

When Jaeseung spoke naturally, the market vendor glanced at Jaeseung.

The market vendor’s gaze first landed on the clutch bag in Jaeseung’s hand.

Then, it turned to Yeongguk standing behind him.

No, to be more precise, it turned to the file folder in Yeongguk’s hand.

The market vendor smiled brightly and asked in a very kind tone.

“Are you looking for something?”

“Yes. I was thinking of getting some cotton fabric today.”

“Some? How much?”

“Yes. I’m just going to try some fitting for now. I think 3-4 yards would be enough.”

The amount requested by the group of college students who had visited this shop earlier was one yard.

Since they were saying one yard per person, they could have sold a total of seven yards.

Nevertheless, the market vendor turned them away.

Although there is some fluctuation in price, the price of cotton fabric usually hovers around ₩2,000-₩3,000 per yard [approximately $1.50-$2.30 USD].

Selling seven yards would only leave them with ₩21,000 [about $16 USD], so they simply refused to sell it.

And now, Jaeseung was ordering only about three or four yards. Significantly less than the amount ordered by the group of college students.

If you calculate it arithmetically, it is only right that they should be rejected.

But.

“It’s ₩2,500 per yard, sir [roughly $1.90 USD]. Three yards is a bit much, so I’ll give you four yards first today. Is that okay?”

Jaeseung nodded slightly and replied.

“Yes. Then give me four yards.”

After answering, he even sat down on a chair in the shop with his legs crossed.

“Mr. Yeongguk. Don’t just stand there, come and sit down. We’re going to be walking around a lot today.”

“Ah, yes!”

The market vendor tilted his head slightly and asked.

“Sir. Where are you from?”

At that question, Jaeseung smiled without realizing it.

It was a question he had heard from a vendor in another shop when he first entered the market in his past life.

– Where are you from?

At the time, Jaeseung had unknowingly answered, ‘I came from home!’ He had answered so loudly that even the owners of the surrounding shops burst into laughter.

That was a happening that could only occur because he didn’t know the intention of the question at the time.

It’s obvious, but that question isn’t really asking where you came from.

It was a question asking whether they were wholesale, retail, department store, or designer brand.

Jaeseung answered naturally.

“I came from a new designer brand. I need a place to trade with from now on.”

“Can I ask what the brand name is?”

“Of course. It’s Wall Flower.”

“Wall Flower… I understand. I’ll go get the fabric from the warehouse first, so please have some coffee.”

The shop owner pointed to the water purifier with a nod. There were instant coffee packets piled up on the shelf next to the water purifier. Jaeseung answered smoothly.

“While you’re at it, I’ll make a cup of coffee for you, sir. Please go ahead.”

“You’re a very sociable young man. I’ll be right back, so please wait a moment.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll keep a good eye on the store, so please go with peace of mind.”

Even after the shop owner left to get the fabric, Yeongguk was just staring at Jaeseung with a blank face.

Jaeseung, who had a very relaxed smile, spoke to Yeongguk as if urging him.

“Mr. Yeongguk. What are you doing just sitting there blankly? Go get three cups of coffee quickly.”

“Yes? No, what-?!”

* * *

“Please take good care of us in the future.”

As soon as the fabric shop owner finished speaking, he handed the transaction slip to Jaeseung and the four yards of cotton fabric to Yeongguk.

Jaeseung began to look at the transaction slip he had received.

Company Name: Wall Flower

Sales Item: Four yards of cotton fabric

Unit Price: ₩2,500 [about $1.90 USD]

Total Amount: ₩10,000 [roughly $7.60 USD]

Seeing the company name Wall Flower written on the transaction slip, his heart began to pound.

‘This is really the beginning….’

Jaeseung smiled once and spoke quietly to the shop owner.

“Thank you, sir. Can I have a business card?”

“Yes. Just a moment….”

The shop owner handed over a business card and spoke again.

“If you purchase more than thirty yards, we will deliver it directly.”

“Yes. Thank you. I’ll see you again next time.”

* * *

Starting with the purchase of cotton fabric, the two began to diligently roam the fabric market.

“What do we need to buy now?”

“We just need to buy a few more subsidiary materials.”

There was not enough money to directly sew fabric and make clothes.

Out of the ₩40,000 he had received from his mother last time [about $30 USD], he had now spent ₩10,000 to buy cotton fabric, leaving him with only ₩30,000.

‘I have to use it carefully.’

Jaeseung carefully examined various subsidiary materials, thinking of the clothes in his closet that were subject to remodeling.

And then.

“Let’s go back now.”

“Did you buy everything?”

“Yes. I bought everything efficiently. Thank you for helping me today.”

As he had acted leisurely and relaxed like a professional trader, as he had done at the fabric handling shop earlier, he had succeeded in purchasing several types of subsidiary materials without much trouble.

‘The preparations are complete, all that’s left is to make them.’

Now, all that was left was to recreate the clothes in his closet and resell them through blogs and used goods cafes.

If the sales went smoothly, he would be able to achieve a literal ‘creative economy.’

At that time, Jaeseung exclaimed ‘Ah-!’ as if he had remembered an important fact he had forgotten.

“What’s wrong?”

“Yeongguk, do you happen to have….”

“Yeah.”

“Can you tap your transportation card for me? I was so busy buying things that I forgot to leave money for the fare.”