Hi this is Shohei.
We have 2 news to share with you.
POP-UP STORE in ISETAN SHINJUKU MEN'S
First, a pop-up store will be held from October 25 to November 7 on the 2nd floor of Isetan Shinjuku Men's Building.
In addition to the latest FW23 collection, we have prepared special items for this POP-UP STORE.
And the second is about the special items that will be the highlight of the event.
THE INOUE BROTHERS... × KUON
Upcycled Alpaca Cardigan
Color: White, Dark Navy, Dark Brown
Upcycled Alpaca Scarf
Color: Blue Multi, Multi, Lilac, Charcoal, Dark Gray, Black
As part of the upcycling project that THE INOUE BROTHERS... and KUON are mutually involved in, KUON has upcycled THE INOUE BROTHERS... alpaca sweaters into special one-of-a-kind cardigan jackets and scarves. The theme is "Upcycling to Increase Value".
*The alpaca knitwear used in this project is a stock item of THE INOUE BROTHERS... that has been held up for various reasons, so the quality is second-to-none.
Let's take a look at the special items.
Upcycled Alpaca Cardigan
White with MON-SASHIKO lining
Dark Navy with Aizome Kasuri lining
Dark Brown with SASHIKO-ORI lining
Alpaca sweater + original fabrics used by KUON in previous collections. They are reversible, so you can wear them in KUON fabrics out. As you can see, everything is one-of-a-kind. It is truly a special and luxurious item.
It takes more than 8 sweaters to make one cardigan! We want you to feel the weight in the store.
Satoru from THE INOUE BROTHERS... in Dark Brown.
Upcycled Alpaca Scarf
Color: Black
Color: Blue Multi
Color: Multi
Color: Lilac
Color: Charcoal
Color: Dark Brown
Can be fastened with snap fasteners.
Satoru in Multi.
Excellent heat retention.
Unique design.
One-of-a-kind.
By the way, almost one sweater is used in a scarf.
Buttons with THE INOUE BROTHERS... iconic "fist" mark left over from the cardigans we upcycled are sewn on cuffs of the cardigans and scarves. This fist mark means "unity" in South America, where THE INOUE BROTHERS... alpacas come from.
Please take this opportunity to try this special item that was produced by various people working together.
Incidentally...the KUON team was also united in the production of this item!
Part of Production Process
1. Cutting alpaca sweaters (Arata, CEO and Kawano, sales assistant)
2. Placing pieces of sweaters on base fabric (Shohei)
3. Check the balance of placement (Ishibashi, Designer)
4. Fix the placed pieces of sweaters with pins (Special intern person and Shohei)
5. Fixed by sewing machine using water-soluble thread (Ishibashi and Taku, Director)
6. Removing pins with needle detector (Shohei)
7. Putting the fabric between water-soluble sheets and stitched down (Embroidery Factory)
8. Dissolving water-soluble sheets and thread and drying the fabric(Arata and Shohei)
9. Inspecting the dried fabric (Ishibashi)
10. Cutting and sewing by a sewing craftsman
11. Putting Hand Sashiko for reinforcement (Ishibashi)
12. Sewing buttons down (Ishibashi and Taku)
There are many more processes that can be broken down in detail, but I will omit them. The following are pictures of the production process. This is only a part of the process.
↑4. Pin the pieces of sweaters
↑Carrying temporarily fixed fabrics to a sewing machine
↑7. covered by water-soluble sheets
↑8. Dissolving the sheets
↑10. Inspection
11. Ishibashi Doing Sashiko (This work reminds him of the works as a tailor)
↑13. Sewing buttons down
I don't know how much I have conveyed to you since I am introducing it in a rush, but... as you can see, although a sewing machine is used, most of the work is done by hand. And the entire sewing process is done by a single craftsman.
The KUON team's passion have been added to the passion of THE INOUE BROTHERS... on the products, so you will feel more than the physical weight and the warmth of the alpaca.
Last but not least, an important note: Satoru Inoue, co-founder of THE INOUE BROTHERS... and Shinichiro Ishibashi, designer of KUON, will be at the Isetan POP UP Store on Thursday, October 26, from 4:30 to 6:30pm.
Don't miss this opportunity to chat with them!
<KUON POP-UP STORE in ISETAN SHINJUKU MEN'S>
Date: Oct. 25 - Nov. 7
Place: The second floor of ISETAN SHINJUKU MEN'S
*KUON Flagship Store will be temporarily closed for this POP-UP from Oct. 23 to Nov. 8.
