Amvai, a men's fashion media site that seeks out and promotes items that are "just right"—neither "safe" nor "irrelevant"—stands out for its members, the AMVARs, who are discerning and knowledgeable about everything. As part of a collaboration between Amvai and Isetan Men's Net, we conducted interviews with three designers from three brands carried at Men's Authentic on the 7th floor Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building .
The theme is "Exploring Fashion Masters Through Classic Books." We will unravel the present, past, and future of designers by exploring why certain books resonated with them.



During my middle and high school years, I would get copies of the magazine "Popeye" from my friend's older brother, getting a faint taste of the LA ocean breeze. After entering the Bunka era, I would have "Olive" and the French magazine "Glamour" in hand, while being exposed to world-renowned clothing brands, and half of my wardrobe consisted of secondhand clothes.
"When I went to Paris in '88, the French had lost interest in brands, and only the Japanese were buying branded goods," recalls AUBERGE designer Kobayashi. What books represent the two elements that shaped "young Kobayashi and young man"?

Kobayashi-san brings the most edgy vibe to the website "Amvai".

In March, Shibata held a limited-time pop-up event for Levi's® Authorized Vintage at the Authentic Wear section on the 7th floor Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building , to commemorate the 15th anniversary Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building . We released customized limited-edition items, and AUBERGE which is run by Kobayashi, participated in the event.

The reason I chose AUBERGE is because I have a strong image of "Mr. Kobayashi = Paris." There is always a "sense of fashion" at the core of Mr. Kobayashi's style, and while he is always keeping up with the trends of collection brands, he is also well-versed in the movements of Tokyo street fashion. I often get hints from his deep knowledge and observational skills.

I think Kobayashi is the most edgy member of the AMVAR group that participates in the site "Amvai." I'm very interested in the book that I believe "shaped Manabu Kobayashi."

Page 2: Two books that resonate with me right now are two contrasting books.