After 2021’s North America Roadshow GORE-TEX Studio has visited 13 like-minded individuals in different cities across Japan to talk about their personal backgrounds, local climates, favorite spots, and GORE-TEX. As a visual component, each host picked her/his favorite GORE-TEX outfit to be portrayed in. The result is a showcase of diverse styles and subcultures, captured for the GORE-TEX STUDIO JAPAN ROADSHOW.
GORE-TEX Studio: How would you describe yourself in one sentence? Chatty.
GORE-TEX Studio: Tell us a bit about your city’s climate. What are your three favorite outdoor spots in the summer and the winter? What is your favorite method of transportation and why? How do you prepare for bad weather if you spend time outside? I live in a city with distinct spring, summer, autumn, and winter seasons. My favorite spots are Mount Kinpu, Mount Jinba, and the Music & Coffee Shop Misaki. I recommend Mount Kinpu and Mount Jinba in autumn and winter, and the Music & Coffee Shop Misaki in spring and summer. My favorite mode of transport is by motorbike in spring and summer. I drive a car in autumn and winter. I always have GORE-TEX on hand if I'm spending time outdoors or in inclement weather.
GORE-TEX Studio: What are you wearing today? Why are you wearing it, and did you have a particular weather scenario in mind when choosing this piece? What do you love most about your GORE-TEX product? Today I am wearing faux-suede trousers and a shirt. They’re very easy to wear [laughs]. My footwear often depends on the weather, basically because I don't want to get my shoes dirty. Also, as my main mode of transport is by motorbike, I tend to choose windproof shoes. To me, GORE-TEX is the best material for riding a motorcycle in all weather conditions.
GORE-TEX Studio: Where and when did you get this? Do you have any special memories connected to this item? If you could go anywhere, where would you like to take this piece? I bought this Arc’teryx LEAF jacket online one year ago. I don't have any memories of this one in particular, but I like the Arc'teryx LEAF series, and this year I bought a different design in black. It's great that Arc'teryx is in fashion right now, but I like LEAF because it doesn’t make a huge statement with logos. I would like to wear this jacket in London. I’m picturing myself walking in the streets of rainy London without an umbrella, like an English gentleman.
GORE-TEX Studio: Why do you think functional clothing has become more popular in recent years? During the pandemic, outdoor activities like mountaineering became more popular in Japan, so I think that's one factor.
GORE-TEX Studio: How do you define comfort when it comes to technical apparel? Comfortable clothing has to be light.
GORE-TEX Studio: What are you looking forward to in the next six months, and are there any upcoming challenges that you're excited about? I’ve been working on a new Samba collaboration with adidas and atmos, and they launched in November. Then I'm having a solo exhibition in Hong Kong next year. I'm also working on a zine with a photographer friend of mine, which has been a lot of fun to make. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product.
“I always have GORE-TEX on hand if I'm spending time outdoors or in inclement weather.“