Jun'ya Kawakami moved to the United States at the age of 19 and spent his impressionable years in San Francisco, where he cultivated an appreciation for " freedom " and " the joy of sticking to one's own style. "
"Needless to say, San Francisco is a mecca for jeans, American casual wear, and vintage clothing. I was influenced by that culture to a certain extent, but I think what's important is to understand what lies beneath the surface, rather than just looking at the superficial aspects."
"It could be humor, a kind of rebellious spirit, or just plain jokey; it's something complex that's hard to put into words, but that's essentially what SEVEN BY SEVEN is trying to express. Rather than tracing and reediting existing cultures and categories, I think the key to shaping a brand is how well we can express the important things that lie deeper within them."
SEVEN BY SEVEN will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2024. Coincidentally, this will be the timing when they will have the opportunity to present their collection on the runway.
"The truth is that it was a series of coincidences, so I wasn't particularly nervous about presenting it on the runway. I proceeded with the creation of the collection in the usual way, and as a result, I ended up with something that I felt was more satisfying than usual. I felt that what I have been doing consistently from the beginning until now had finally reached a higher level of quality."
Travel to India
A trip to India is an essential element of this collection.
"I had been in business with a factory in India for some time, but I had never been there. The quality of their products is high, so I thought I'd go and see for myself. I'm the type of person who gets inspiration on the spot, so I had a vague hope that I might encounter something interesting."
"Traditional techniques, unfamiliar but amazing materials, unique techniques - all of them were inspiring. Pieces inspired by these things, such as macramé leather, madras checked fabric and patchwork, form the core of this collection."
Unexpected encounters. Flexible thinking to give form to them. This sort of irregularity may be what gives SEVEN BY SEVEN 's clothes their unique value.
It all started with cut-off boots
"I take in a variety of information, chew it over, ruminate on it, and wait for it to become my own. I wait until the information I've acquired is no longer just second-hand, and this takes me a long time (laughs). On the other hand, once the first piece is complete, it's quick."
The first piece to be created this time was a remade piece made by cutting up long boots and adding woven leather.
"To be honest, I've been doing this kind of remake since the early days of the brand, but this is the first time I've put it forward as a proper piece. I collected used boots and asked Matsuzaki-san of Rooster King & Co. to add some hand-knitted decorations. I think it turned out to be a very special piece."
The completion of this " special piece " gives the entire collection a unified thread.
"When presenting my collection on the runway, I thought that feet were a very important element. I felt that they supported all the looks. When I was able to see this, all the scattered points came together at once, and I was finally able to put it all together as a collection. It was the moment when the vague vision became clear."
Quality as clothing
"For the 10 years since the brand started, we have continued to make experimental attempts for the selfish reason of ' because it seems interesting ' (laughs), but with this latest collection, I feel that we have added a certain level of quality to it. Not only are the designs and ideas more interesting, but the quality of the clothes has definitely improved. I hope that people will pay attention to this point as well."
"Not American casual, not vintage, but liberal. Questioning existing methods and seeking newness. Picking up value that no one has noticed yet. From the beginning to now, we haven't changed at all. Please look forward to the new season."
