What is Mr. Yamashita's definition of "oldness," as he finds romance in old things?

Shibata: Yamashita-san is very curious and her interests change frequently, but she actually likes Japan, doesn't she?

Yamashita: I love old things. Even when I go to London, I'm searching for things just like I would in Jimbocho or the camera shops in Ginza, so what I do is the same no matter where I go (laughs). Whether I'm overseas or in Japan, the things I look for are the same, and I really feel like I'm digging up the past.

I've loved old things since I was in elementary school, and I enjoyed reading history books and biographies. I like retro things, and when I was in fourth grade, I read a special feature on Shigeo Nagashima (*retired in 1974) in the sports magazine "Sports Graphic Number" and thought, "Recent baseball players are boring" (laughs). I felt a sense of romance in old things, and I was consumed by that passion.

Shibata: I know it's a difficult question, but I'd really like to ask Yamashita-san for his definition of "old-fashioned."

In the latest issue of Men's Precious, the summer 2019 issue, Yamashita wrote a feature titled "Classico 80's is Here!", discussing how 80s Armani and DC (Designer Character) are now considered classics. I think that in the coming era of fashion, everything from the 70s onward will coexist, there will be no such thing as unfashionable, and anything that has passed through time will become a classic.

If we were to define "classic" in terms of manufacturing , I believe that "classic" refers to "manufacturing that is unique to a particular country, rather than focusing on the quality or price of the product." It's not simply a matter of quality, but since the 1990s, with the globalization of the world, manufacturing bases have spread globally, and manufacturing itself has changed.
If a country's culture and local elements are considered "classic," then as manufacturing becomes more global, I think the concept of "classic" becomes less relevant.

Listening to Ms. Shibata and Ms. Yamashita's stories made me realize that you never know what might be your starting point in getting into fashion.
Being able to freely "travel" through different eras, as Mr. Yamashita does, is a great way to enjoy fashion, and I would like to propose this at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building as well. Thank you very much.

■Amver Fashion Director Eisuke Yamashita (@eisuke_yamashita)
Born in Saitama Prefecture in 1976. After graduating from university and working for several publishing companies, I have been working as a freelance fashion editor since 2008. My main work involves editing catalogs and writing articles, primarily for "MEN'S Precious (Shogakukan) / https://precious.jp/list/mensprecious/ ", in which I have been involved since its inception as a fashion director. I live in a 50-year-old apartment building, and my usual haunts are Jimbocho, Asakusa, and Yanaka, Nezu, and Sendagi. I love old things, and in fashion, I'm drawn to bespoke tailoring, traditional, mode, American casual... I have a bad habit of jumping at anything that has a classic cultural background. To further enhance my hobby of strolling around town, I recently acquired a Leica M and am engrossed in taking photographs while traveling. My dream is to share the little-known masterpieces and fashion culture that still remain in the world.

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Text: ISETAN MEN'S net
Photo: Amvai ( https://amvai.com/ )

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