A collaboration collection between MYTHINKS and SEVEN BY SEVEN will be released exclusively at the flagship store in Yoyogi-Uehara, the Isetan Shinjuku store, and the online store. To commemorate this, we had a conversation between the two. We had a valuable conversation about how they met, anecdotes from their time in America, their opinions of each other, and this collaboration collection.
MYTHINKS
The brand was launched in 2017 by Nobu Yoshimitsu, who served as a buyer for many years at a select shop that built the foundations of Japanese fashion culture. Utilizing his experience of collecting vintage items in the 1980s, Yoshimitsu reconstructs memorable items, materials, colors and unique details. After meticulous updating, Yoshimitsu offers a wardrobe that is worthy of being the first piece in your closet.
In an era when Japanese fashion was not as prosperous as it is today, there was a select shop that contributed greatly to the development of the culture. Yoshimitsu Nobu has supported the shop for many years, working there for 30 years. He is someone who has witnessed the changes in Japanese fashion.
Yoshimitsu met Junya Kawakami before SEVEN BY SEVEN was even established. The story of the two began when Yoshimitsu, who was a buyer at the time, visited the showroom where Kawakami was working.
Yoshimitsu: I first became aware of Kawakami-kun when he was working at a certain showroom. When I visited, I remember he was painting the exterior walls or something. He was wearing overalls.
Kawakami: I was just working there as an assistant. I was just serving customers.
Yoshimitsu: That was the extent of it at first.
Kawakami: But I knew about Yoshimitsu-san from when I was in America. When I went back to Japan, I usually went to the shop where Yoshimitsu-san worked, and even though the store was packed with people, there was always one empty spot. That was around Yoshimitsu-san, who looked sharp in his white robes. His presence at that time was incredible. It was an atmosphere that no one could approach (laughs).
Yoshimitsu: At the time, I used to ride the Toyoko Line dressed like that, barefoot, with my lunch box hung on a driftwood. I was the only one on the train with no one around me (laughs). That was a time when that was still acceptable.
Kawakami: Of course, they had a great presence in America. At the time, Japanese people were not yet a high priority in the American vintage clothing market, so they were in a class of their own. When Yoshimitsu's team was coming, everyone was excited and in awe.
Yoshimitsu: That's a bit of an exaggeration. But we were doing business properly, so we might have been on par with each other.
Kawakami: Yes, he really was a special person.
On the other hand, Yoshimitsu first became aware of Kawakami Jun'ya when Kawakami was directing a shop selling second-hand clothes.
Yoshimitsu: I heard that Kawakami-kun, who I knew from the showroom, had started a shop, so I started visiting the store, and that's how our relationship began.
Kawakami: You came right away.
Yoshimitsu: Whenever I picked out a piece of vintage clothing from the line up and said, "This is nice," he would always say, "I'll pick something salty." (laughs) He really did say "salty" a lot.
Kawakami: Because I choose the salty ones (laughs).
Yoshimitsu: No, but I thought the selection was excellent. That's why I used to go there often, and whenever I had overseas customers, I always took them there.
The word "salty" seems to be a common language between the two of them. We asked Yoshimitsu what it actually means and what kind of nuances he thinks it conveys.
Yoshimitsu: For example, when you look at the products in the large secondhand clothing market from the 80s or 90s, you may find something that people made with great effort at the time. It was not accepted at all at the time, but now you may find it nostalgic or interesting. For me, "shoppai" is something that tells a story.
Although Kawakami and I are from different generations, we have seen and experienced similar things. Furthermore, in the large used clothing market, I'm not very interested in so-called vintage items that already have added value. Of course, I have knowledge about them.
It's the same with big brands. It's not something you see at the beginning of a catalog, but something that appears briefly on the last page, but something that looks interesting. I'm drawn to that.
Kawakami: It doesn't fit the times at all, but it seems to have something special about it.
Yoshimitsu: Whenever you meet people, there's usually at least one delinquent. You could even call them a total loser (laughs). But the things they make with all their heart and soul are often pretty interesting. Whether it's art, film, or music, I don't know where they're drawing from, but you can tell they're serious about it. I like that kind of thing.
Kawakami: Are you talking about me? (laughs)
Yoshimitsu: Yes, I do (laughs). Well, that's a joke, but I think that feeling is something only someone who actually lives in that place can have. Not someone who has been influenced by American culture, but a "local = someone who lives there" feeling. I think it's that close a feeling.
After some time had passed, a collaboration between the two brands was realized. We spoke to him again about how this came about.
Kawakami: I visited the exhibition and once again realized how cool MYTHINKS is. In addition, it was the timing when the SEVEN BY SEVEN flagship store was opening, and we were also planning a pop-up at Isetan, so I thought we had no choice but to collaborate. It was a gut feeling.
Yoshimitsu: So we decided to offer the items at MYTHINKS in black, instead of the blue denim that we currently only offer.
Kawakami: So we picked six items from the existing collection and asked them to express them in black denim.
MYTHINKS × SEVEN BY SEVEN
COLLABORATION COLLECTION
western shirt
When I used to wear western shirts a lot, I liked to buy the size "16.5 long". It has a long tail silhouette for tall people, but I thought it would be interesting to wear it with a modern feel, so I made this. The way the sides gather when you put your hands in your pockets is gorgeous, and the way it flutters behind you when you're riding a bike is lovely. Try wearing it and spending time with it and you'll understand how good it is.
soft denim work jacket
Soft denim coveralls made from organic cotton. SEVEN BY SEVEN also offers items made from undyed cotton, so we thought this would go well with the lineup. It is characterized by a thick thread that is woven gently, and its soft and fluffy texture is a new denim proposal. I think coveralls have something in common with the so-called trail jackets of the past, and this is an image of a rugged item with a more mature feel.
soft denim painter pants
These are painter pants made from the same material. They have a very basic silhouette that I like. That being said, I have of course balanced them in my own way so that they are suitable for everyone. When you see yourself reflected in a shop window, you might think, "Oh, that's kind of nice," and get a little excited. That feeling of about 3% that lifts your spirits is what I value, and this design incorporates that.
jeans
When looking at vintage jeans, everyone has their own preferences, such as "I like this fading" or "I like this aging." In that respect, I like Wrangler's blue jeans from around the 1960s, and I wanted to make a black version of them, so I made this. Nowadays, black jeans are available in-line, but Wrangler didn't have them at the time. In other words, there are hardly any vintage Wrangler black jeans. This is what I came up with, imagining what it would be like if they did exist. I paid a lot of attention to detail in order to reproduce them.
Oxford shirt
This shirt, inspired by the atelier wear (work clothes) of the good old days, is made of thick Oxford material called vintage oxford. The size is constructed to give an atmosphere to your movements. For example, the cuffs are narrow so as not to get in the way of your work, but there is a little room left at the sides and back. Try putting the sleeves on and pretending to release the shutter of your camera. Your back and posture will give you the feeling of a master craftsman (laughs).
Oxford pants
Pants made from the same material. They are closer to charcoal black than black, and it's interesting to wear pants made from this vintage Oxford fabric. I think this set will be suitable for a variety of occasions. I also think it will be interesting to see how they age as you wear them.
Yoshimitsu: I think Junya Kawakami is an artist, but what I do with MYTHINKS is not expression, but reconstruction. I think it's about proposing the right balance while repeating yes and no within myself, while understanding the "saltiness". In that sense, I expect this black special order series to be a very good proposal.
MYTHINKS
× SEVEN BY SEVEN
First collaboration item available in limited quantities!!
SEVEN BY SEVEN will release their first collaboration item with MYTHINKS. Six items selected from MYTHINKS' existing collection are presented in black denim. Available exclusively at SEVEN BY SEVEN directly managed stores and the online store from Friday, March 22nd. Don't miss it.
