YUKI HASHIMOTO, which launched in 2019, will be making its debut at Isetan Shinjuku. A pop-up store will be held from Wednesday, April 7th to Tuesday, April 13th at the Men's Creators section on the 2nd floor Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building . Prior to this, Isetan buyer Sugita hosted a discussion with designer Hashimoto and Ryo Matsumoto, manager of "HOWDAY" and fashion YouTuber, who has been working with the brand since its debut collection.

The pop-up store will showcase the entire collection, along with the brand's first-ever original bags and Isetan exclusive models. Furthermore, on Saturday the 10th during the period mentioned above, Mr. Hashimoto and Mr. Matsumoto will be at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building to serve customers.

The design framework that emerged through the conversation was highlighted by Mr. Matsumoto, who has been checking it out since the first season, and the conversation remained friendly throughout.

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The "Docking" series was born from this season's theme.

Ms. Sugita and Ms. Hashimoto have appeared on Mr. Matsumoto's YouTube channel, haven't they? Are they close friends?

Hashimoto and I only get to meet a few times a year, but we exchange information on a wide range of topics, including business and fashion (laughs).

Matsumoto exhibition and... I guess so (laughs). But I've been watching it since the first season, so I do have some attachment to it.


Sugita: This time, as we're opening the first ever YUKI HASHIMOTO pop-up store at ISETAN MEN'S , we'll be offering not only apparel but also the brand's first-ever completely original bags.

Even before Hashimoto's debut, we had been collaborating with the Chinese bag manufacturer "Kitayama Studio" to develop bags, but the pandemic prevented us from traveling to China. So, this first season was our first attempt at creating bags entirely on our own. Because it was completely original, communication became smoother, and we were able to fully express our attention to detail.

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Matsumoto: It's like two bags become one, or one bag splits into two. Where did this 2-in-1 idea come from?

Hashimoto: This season's collection theme is "Space Reality," and the "Docking Pouch" and "Docking Shoulder Bag" are models that embody the keyword "functionality" that comes to mind when thinking about "spacesuits." It wasn't that we started by trying to combine the two into one; rather, we arrived at this form while considering various functionalities such as being able to use them differently depending on the situation or changing the capacity.

The Matsumoto Collection also had items with detachable hoods, right?

Hashimoto : That's right, exactly. This bag series has pockets not only on the outside but also on the inside, so you can organize and store small items.

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The snap buttons that are left when Sugita takes his jacket off look like studs, which is really cool.

Hashimoto: I like that aspect too. I think the design works well no matter which side you use as the face. I hope you enjoy it depending on your mood that day.


Matsumoto: I think this bag isn't just a simple bag for carrying things, but one that can also be an accessory. You can change the way you carry it in various ways too.

Hashimoto: I use it regularly, and I like it because it allows me to store my personal items and work items separately. I recommend it for people who carry a lot of things.

Sugita: I'm the kind of person who just throws everything into my bag, so I'd really like to try it out.

The "Pentagon Bag" incorporates the collection's theme.

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Matsumoto: This "Pentagon bag" caught my eye when I saw it at the show. The models were holding it at chest level on the runway, right? This styling really highlights its accessory-like qualities.


Sugita: Where did this shape get your inspiration from?

Hashimoto: The geometric patterns in the artwork of the artists that were the theme of this season's collection served as inspiration. I incorporated them into the pockets of the jacket and vest, and I really like the resulting shapes.

The Matsumoto Triangle pouch can be detached and used as a coin case.

When I first saw Sugita , I thought he was very unique and I liked him.

When I commissioned the factory to create the Hashimoto First Design, I asked if I could attach the zipper to the front in a "V" shape, but they said it was impossible because they couldn't bend the line (laughs). The design was created with as few seams as possible, but actually making it required some very difficult techniques, and we went through a lot of trial and error.
I was also drawn to how they expressed a sporty design, similar to the Sugita body bag, using leather. I immediately ordered a custom model based on it.

The Matsumoto Isetan exclusive model is made of black leather, and the strap is also made of leather.

Ms. Hashimoto Sugita requested that the strap also be made of leather, which I thought sounded interesting. When I tried it, I noticed that the fit, which wasn't a problem with the inline nylon strap, was slightly diminished. So I consulted with a craftsman and made some adjustments to the specifications. I was able to discover a new aspect of this item, and it was fun to design.

Sugita: So you've attached the leather strap with a carabiner clip, right? I think all your hard work has paid off; it has a sporty yet luxurious finish.

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Matsumoto , this item looks like a portable pocket. Pockets are quite a key element in YUKI HASIMOTO's designs, aren't they?

Do Sugita and Hashimoto like pockets?

Hashimoto (laughs): It's not that I'm particularly fond of pockets, but I think the size, shape, and placement of pockets are very important elements in designing clothing.

Matsumoto 's first season included shirts with pockets on the back, right? And in the second season, there were slacks with lots of pockets of various sizes.

Hashimoto: Now that you mention it, maybe you're right... (laughs).


The thick form of the Matsumoto Pentagon bag reminds me of this season's coats with three-dimensional pockets, doesn't it? The collection for the next season that you showed me the other day also had lots of pockets, didn't it?

Hashimoto: Maybe so... I might reconsider the design (laughs).

Sugita , don't you think this style is really good? It's surprisingly simple and seems easy to match with any style.

Matsumoto products don't seem to go out of style, so I think I can use them for a long time.

Hashimoto puts a lot of thought into this design, so I'm happy to hear that you feel that way.