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2016.09.05 update

[Interview] Mitsukoshi Isetan and Adidas collaborate to develop a "suit"—Taiki, the top Asian model who has conquered the world's four major fashion weeks, wears Adidas.（1/2）

Gentlemen are always busy. They have to be on the move, between work and play. Many gentlemen have lived a lifestyle that embodies this even before the term "athleisure" came into existence. Currently, military and sporty styles are the two major trends driving the fashion market. This is likely a result of the growing recognition that "functionality" is also "cool."


This fall/winter season, Mitsukoshi Isetan and Adidas have teamed up to develop a suit befitting such gentlemen. It's not a "jersey" in the sense of being made from cotton or knit, but a "serious" suit made from polyester nylon, the kind used in athletes' warm-up gear. It boasts excellent elasticity, sweat absorption, and quick-drying properties, providing comfortable support for city life.
This time, we bring you a three-way conversation between Shun Watanabe, buyer at Mitsukoshi Isetan who was involved in the development, Tsuyoshi Isobe, Director of the Adidas Group Training Athletics Business Unit, and Taiki, the model who participated in the special photo shoot.


From left to right: Shun Watanabe, buyer at Mitsukoshi Isetan; Taiki, model; and Tsuyoshi Isobe, Director of the Adidas Group Training Athletics Business Unit.


How did the idea of making a tailored suit out of jersey fabric even come about in the first place?

Watanabe : Since around last year, high-tech running shoes, led by Adidas' Ultraboost, have been gaining popularity, and Isetan has been carrying them extensively. It all started with a casual conversation; while talking with Mr. Isobe from Adidas, we realized that there really aren't any suits that go well with high-tech sneakers.
Isobe : If you go to Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building , you'll find a mountain of suits, which are sometimes called "a man's power suit." For Adidas, tracksuits are "an athlete's power suit." I thought it would be interesting to see what kind of chemical reaction would occur if these two things were combined.
Watanabe : Of course, I'd like ordinary office workers to wear it, but I especially recommend it to people who travel a lot, such as those on business trips. It's comfortable to wear, lightweight, and wrinkle-resistant.

NEXT≫Model Taiki's photoshoot takes place in Shinjuku

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