Unisex fashion street brand ACUOD by CHANU will be holding a pop-up shop at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 2F, Men's Creators from March 31st (Wed) to April 6th (Tue). In addition, on March 30th (Tue), just before the pop-up shop opens, the runway show for the 2021 Autumn/Winter collection, which will be held at Isetan, will be live-streamed on the brand's and Men's Creators' Instagram accounts.

Accordingly, we spoke extensively with designer CHANU (hereinafter referred to as Chanu) about her enthusiasm for the pop-up, what inspired her to become a designer, what she keeps in mind when making clothes, and her future prospects.

These are the only two times in my life I've ever studied so hard (lol).

—Chanwoo's interest in fashion began when he encountered breakdancing, which he was passionate about as a child.


I started breakdancing in fifth grade because some cool older kids were doing it, and I joined them. That influenced me to like other dance styles, hip hop, and fashion that goes well with dance. If I do say so myself, I was known at school for being good at dressing stylishly, and I was confident about that.

But then, suddenly, fashion trends changed. Streetwear had always been the mainstream, but then casual styles using polos and chinos became popular. I liked hip-hop style, so I stuck with it, but on the other hand, I didn't want to be seen as out of fashion, and I didn't know what to wear or how to wear it, so I was confused until I was in the third year of junior high school. It was around that time that I became interested in high-end overseas brands.

—After that, he said that he vaguely started thinking about making a living by designing clothes after he got injured while he was a student.

I started mixed martial arts in high school, and I wanted to make a living from it in the future. But I injured my shoulder during training and had to give up. After completing my military service, I thought about what I truly loved and could dedicate myself to, but I couldn't find an answer.

However, I had always been interested in fashion and Japan, so I decided to just go and see for myself. I had no basis for this, but I had a gut feeling that something good would happen if I went to Japan. I didn't know anyone there, and I couldn't speak any Japanese at all.


—The first thing I did in Japan was study languages.

I initially lived in Yamanashi Prefecture because I grew up in the countryside in Korea, and the environment was similar to my hometown. My hometown is also famous for its hot springs and rice, so there were similarities there as well. In Yamanashi, I attended a Japanese language school. I had never studied that hard in my life before, but I worked very hard at that time. As a result, I improved rapidly, skipped two levels by taking tests, and obtained the Japanese Language Proficiency Test Level 1 in 1 year and 2 months.

—At that time, my passion for fashion hadn't faded, so I enrolled in Tokyo Fashion College, riding the momentum of having just learned Japanese.

I enrolled in a four-year advanced specialist course. I entered with the intention of becoming a world-class designer, but since I had never even touched a sewing machine, I approached it with the same seriousness as I had at Japanese language school. I even begrudged school breaks, skipping meals and drinking only two liters of tea every day, cherishing every second and constantly working at full capacity.

Thanks to that effort, I challenged myself by entering various fashion contests one after another, and as a result, I received recognition in overseas contests, which gave me confidence that my talent could be appreciated on a global level.

We encourage you to try on the clothes at the pop-up store and experience the charm of ACUOD by CHANU firsthand.

— Driven by a desire to create only the clothes he loves as a designer, Chanu dropped out of vocational school.

While I was a student, I would force my way into exhibitions even without an invitation, and I would ask designers questions at the exhibition venues, all while studying without buying any clothes (laughs). After repeating those experiences, I couldn't suppress my desire to do it myself.

Then, around 2013-2015, Tokyo Collection was really booming, and I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to participate in it myself. So, around the end of my third year of university, I impulsively started working to launch my own brand, and presented my 16AW collection during my fourth year while still a student. In addition to that, I was also taking part in another major contest, and simultaneously preparing for the 17SS and 17FW Tokyo Collections. It was the most hectic time of my life, a hellish schedule where I couldn't waste a single second. I would also like to express my gratitude to everyone who helped me during that time through this interview. In the end, due to these circumstances, I didn't have enough attendance days and had to drop out of university.


I didn't have any money, so I borrowed from friends and somehow managed to make it work (laughs). After that, I was blessed with good people around me and good connections, and things started to go well. During that time, I happened to meet someone from YKK at an exhibition where I had a booth, and they showed a lot of interest, which was a big encounter for me.



During a group project in college, while searching for fabrics, I fell in love at first sight with a YKK Excella zipper. It wasn't that I particularly liked zippers in general, but I was captivated by the aesthetic beauty of the Excella zipper. My ideal design is one that possesses both functionality and aesthetic beauty, and the Excella zipper was exactly that.

Today, the brand's aspirations of "opening a new era" and "connecting different things" are expressed through the use of zippers, a design that has become synonymous with the brand.


--The theme of the Spring/Summer 2021 collection to be sold at this pop-up is "gratitude."



We are currently in a very difficult situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but I decided on this because I believe that "even in bad times, we must not forget to be grateful." When I first started the brand, I had no money and it was very tough, but I believe that I have been able to continue until now thanks to the help of the people around me. The illustrations featuring the Virgin Mary and Jesus are by Hiro Sugiyama.

—And we also asked about the theme for the Fall/Winter 2021 collection that will be unveiled at this show.

The theme is "freedom." Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, many restrictions have been put in place that didn't exist before, such as the requirement to carry masks and limitations on the time we can go out. While these things are now commonplace, I chose this theme because I wanted to convey the message that we should be freer, not only in fashion but also in our own feelings.

—The Fall/Winter 2021 collection also features the first-ever collaboration items with Lochcarron, a prestigious British company specializing in tartan fabrics. Renowned high-end brands such as Chanel, Burberry®, and THOM BROWNE have adopted Lochcarron's check patterns.

We had been discussing working with Mr. Lochcarron for two years, but I wanted to announce it at the best possible time, so I kept it under wraps (laughs). Of course, I knew that Isetan's shopping bags use Mr. Lochcarron's check pattern.

When Isetan approached us about opening a pop-up store, I thought, "If we're going to make this collaboration happen, now's the time!" So, while we're unveiling it here, I also wanted to go all out, and that's why I proposed a 2021 Autumn/Winter fashion show at Isetan Shinjuku, which has now been approved.


--We asked them to talk about the highlights of this pop-up, including the collaborative items with Lochcarron.

I've never made any items using tartan check before, so I want people to experience the unique designs, high-quality materials, and comfortable fit. When you do, I don't just want you to look at them on hangers; I want you to actually try them on. I'm sure you'll understand the quality of my clothes once you try them on.

When Chanu received the offer for a pop-up from Isetan, he jokingly said, "I thought, 'I've finally made it this far!' (laughs)." We asked him about his future aspirations as a designer.

I believe fashion is more than just something to wear; it's about passion. I want to create clothes that evoke feelings of excitement and joy when worn. While "clothing" in "clothing, food, and shelter" is simply about garments to wear, I don't want to just make clothes. I want to create clothes that uplift your spirits when you wear them—in other words, fashion itself.

Men's Creators / Men's Contemporary Special Feature Page