As previously detailed in our interview with the trio of minds behind London's new tradeshow, this time next week Jacket Required will take over the Rochelle School with a heady mix of established and emerging labels. Over the coming days, to help us countdown to the big event, we are previewing a few of the names off of its exciting brand list. Where better to start than Japan's very own Bedwin & The Heartbreakers?
Regular readers should recall that I first encountered Bedwin inside the retail wonder that was The Contemporary Fix. During my recent visit I was able to examine the vast offering of Tokyo's finest including Phenomenon, Visvim, Facetasm, SASQUATCHfabrix and of course Bedwin & The Heartbreakers to name but a few. I've since turned these moments into the Super-8 footage of memory. A few months on and having been enticed by Jacket Required to show in Europe for the very first time. Here we catch up with the mastermind behind the label, Masafumi Watanabe, to talk about the attractiveness of the tradeshow and how he has adapted his collection for the European audience...
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SS: What attracted you to take part in Jacket Required?
Masafumi Watanabe: We've been introduced to Jacket Required by our London partner Craig Ford of A Number Of Names and when the opportunity to be a part of the trade show for the first edition and for our first European presentation presented itself it really was a no brainer, we were IN. Because of the people behind it and the fact that it will be taking place in London it became a very attractive project for us.
Masafumi Watanabe: We've been introduced to Jacket Required by our London partner Craig Ford of A Number Of Names and when the opportunity to be a part of the trade show for the first edition and for our first European presentation presented itself it really was a no brainer, we were IN. Because of the people behind it and the fact that it will be taking place in London it became a very attractive project for us.
SS: What are your thoughts and hopes for the tradeshow?
Masafumi Watanabe: We would like to introduce Bedwin & The Heartbreakers for the first time in Europe and we believe that a well-curated trade show will be a great platform for us to be connected to the right people.
Masafumi Watanabe: We would like to introduce Bedwin & The Heartbreakers for the first time in Europe and we believe that a well-curated trade show will be a great platform for us to be connected to the right people.
SS: In terms of your SS12, what was the starting point?
Masafumi Watanabe: Due to the specificities of the Japanese Fashion Calendar we couldn't possibly design and present two distinct collections one for Japan and one for Europe at the same time. What we did for our European SS2012 collection is redesign a few Bedwin classic pieces from our past Spring/Summer collection and mix it with pieces designed especially and exclusively for Europe. We aim to introduce what Bedwin Bedwin & The Heartbreakers is about the best way possible by offering to our European followers a vision of our brand and philosophy.
Masafumi Watanabe: Due to the specificities of the Japanese Fashion Calendar we couldn't possibly design and present two distinct collections one for Japan and one for Europe at the same time. What we did for our European SS2012 collection is redesign a few Bedwin classic pieces from our past Spring/Summer collection and mix it with pieces designed especially and exclusively for Europe. We aim to introduce what Bedwin Bedwin & The Heartbreakers is about the best way possible by offering to our European followers a vision of our brand and philosophy.
DD: How would you describe the collection in your own words?
Masafumi Watanabe: Our SS2012 Collection is representative of what our brand does best, unique yet simple designed garments.
Masafumi Watanabe: Our SS2012 Collection is representative of what our brand does best, unique yet simple designed garments.
DD: What are you most excited to show?
Masafumi Watanabe: I'm personally very excited about our Chef Jacket. It's a very unique piece and what I love about it is that there's many different way to style it. In addition, the suit with cropped pants ensemble is always one of my favorite looks.
DD: What are your plans for the season ahead?
Masafumi Watanabe: We are looking for a very organic growth here in Europe. We want to take our time and present to a new audience our Tokyo lifestyle and our take on men's wear.
Masafumi Watanabe: We are looking for a very organic growth here in Europe. We want to take our time and present to a new audience our Tokyo lifestyle and our take on men's wear.
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Nearing a decade in production, Bedwin & The Heartbreakers have honed a signature house style that is built around practicality and wearability. The motto is simple. "Paramount Quality." It is this drive for the very best which is evident in each garment. The attention to detail and garment construction is second to none. Here's a sneak peek at SS12...
Look book images courtesy of Bedwin
Quality basics have fast become synonymous with Bedwin & The Heartbreakers. Masafumi Watanabe and his team strive to improve every day pieces season after season, pushing the idea that once a wearer likes a garment they want to wear it all the time. It is a label that revels in simplicity and in the real beauty of menswear, the detail...
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