"my condition" will be held for a limited time from September 8th (Wed) to September 21st (Tue) on the 1st floor of the Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building . I SWIM TRAVEL ARROUND THE WORLD (hereinafter referred to as I Swim), created by brand director YASU (Yasutaka Hirai), who has experience competing in the Olympics twice as an open water Olympian, will be featured.

i Swim is a lifestyle brand that covers everything from casual to formal wear, aimed at people all over the world who incorporate swimming into their lifestyle. Having developed an interest in fashion since his days as a swimmer, and having traveled the world, the brand's products are created from the perspective of what kind of items would be nice to have, resulting in products that combine design, functionality, comfort, and a sense of Japanese identity.

So, we spoke with Akira Taneichi, a freelance planner whom Yas respects as a senior figure in the fashion world, and stylist Atsushi Hashimoto, about the appeal of i Swim and the mental aspects that can be gained from the product.


(Photo) Left: YASU, Center: Atsushi Hashimoto, Right: Akira Taneichi

i Swim is a brand with interesting characters and a unique perspective.

—When did you first learn about iSwim, Ms. Hashimoto?

I think I first learned about the Hashimoto brand through N. Hollywood designer Obana's Instagram, because I noticed he'd been posting a lot of swimming-related content lately. I'd known about Yasu for a while, but time just passed by without us ever having a chance to meet.

—As a stylist, what were your impressions of the brand?

Hashimoto: I met Yasu-kun for the first time at the showroom, and I went there with absolutely no prior information, so I looked at the clothes from a personal perspective rather than a professional one. That's when I got to hear a lot about the brand. When I choose clothes for myself, I first look at things like the feel of the fabric, the details, the silhouette including the size, how comfortable they are to wear, and whether they are over-engineered for my lifestyle—in other words, whether they can be used on a daily basis. I also tend to select things that convey the designer's own thoughts (i.e., message, passion, way of thinking, and vision) , and when I listened to him, I felt that there were some points where Yasu-kun's stance on clothes matched my own feelings, and my first impression was that his "insights into ideas" were interesting.


—Mr. Taneichi, what are your impressions of iSwim?

I got the impression that it's a direct reflection of Yasushi Taneichi, a straightforward, no-nonsense approach. There's a brand called WACKO MARIA , run by my friend and former J-League player, Atsuhiko Mori, and I thought it was a bit similar to the early days of that brand, because the passion of "I want to do this" and "I want to create this" comes through so directly. When you know a little about making clothes, you usually end up making them in a merchandising kind of way. But Yasushi doesn't care about that at all; he just thinks, "This would be fun and cool to have, it's good that it's water-repellent, it would be nice if it felt good when I'm on an airplane," and there's no pretense in any of it. I feel like i Swim came along at a time when people are looking for more functional, comfortable, and relaxed clothing. And to add to that, what's great is that the clothes also have a distinct character.


The clothes that Hashimoto and Yasu-kun make have a wonderfully stateless feel to them. I think that he himself has seen various parts of the world with a broad perspective and a pure eye, and has selected what he likes and dislikes. He also insists on being made in Japan, cherishing the meticulousness and identity unique to Japanese people, but at the same time, he seems to be someone who has experienced and seen many different things around the world. I felt that many of his pieces give a glimpse into that experience. Also, Ice Swim is very masculine. In a good way, there's a certain sexiness to it.

Aiming for elegant clothing that doesn't cause stress even when worn for long periods of time.

Yasushi Taneichi, how do you like the sweatpants you're wearing?

Taneichi feels good. Is this made in Yamagata?


It looks affordable . It would go well with flip-flops, of course, but also with leather shoes and loafers, and I tried to give it a sophisticated look. I designed the silhouette to be narrower towards the bottom, so it would also look good paired with a double-breasted jacket made of the same knit. With I Swim clothes, I try to make them versatile with minimal items. I also stick to really good quality natural materials. I want people who spend long hours on airplanes or bullet trains to be comfortable. That's why, with sweatshirts, I deliberately remove drawstrings to minimize stress as much as possible.




Taneichi, this one doesn't have a strap! That's amazing. When I was at Beams, I would go to Dubai, the Basque Country, or Paris about once a month when I was busy, but when I went on business trips, I was always thinking about how to reduce my luggage as much as possible. When I really wanted to be the most minimalist, I once went on a business trip to India with just a waist bag (laughs).


—It's casual, yet refined.

If we were to make the Taneichi sweatshirt, I don't think we'd use this kind of blue for the denim patch, considering the finer details and color choices. I think that's what really defines the brand's character. It's not just about design; it's built on the passion and beliefs the designer has for what they do. There's no pretense in it, so it doesn't feel off-putting.



—So, the experiences you've had traveling the world are really reflected in your clothing designs, right?

I've seen people wearing Yasu sweatpants and loafers throughout my time competing in various tournaments, so that's a style I've come to appreciate.

Hashimoto: Like Tane-san (Taneichi), I'd like to wear flip-flops, boots, or shoes with socks, and dress in a simple, healthy way.

Through Yas Products, we connect with swimmers all over the world, including those involved in swimming, triathlon, surfing, and diving. Once the pandemic is over, I'd like to hold an event to connect with swimmers from all over the world.

Maintaining the condition of the garment will allow you to wear it for a long time.

—Ms. Hashimoto, you mentioned that you rarely wear clothes with logos on them. Do you prefer simple clothes?

Hashimoto: I like simple outfits. It's not that I stubbornly refuse to wear them, but I don't particularly like wearing things with logos. I think I've always disliked being judged for what I wear. I'm particular about things like the material, the fit, and the silhouette. Also, I never used to wear black at all, but recently I've been wearing almost exclusively black for work. Black is great because even when the season changes, you don't have to buy new clothes; you can just change the way you wear it or resize it a little, and it's hard to tell which season it is. It's versatile and convenient. I don't think my simple tastes and preferences will change in the future.

—That's sustainable. It makes perfect sense coming from someone like Hashimoto-san, who has seen so many different kinds of clothes.

Hashimoto: That might be true. That's why I wash and dry clean my clothes to keep them in the best possible condition. The clothes Yas makes are simple, so I think they're the kind of clothes that can be worn for a long time in a good way, and that suit anyone. There are a lot of clothes that look cool as they age and get worn out, and when you go out in public, you want to be wearing them in the best possible condition, right? So I think it's good to have clothes that can be worn for a long time, like loungewear when they're worn out. In that sense, I think I Swim clothes are the kind that you can wear for a long time before discarding them. But to do that, I think it's important to be able to keep them in good condition.

That seems like a good idea. If you can be conscious of keeping your clothes in good condition, I think it's similar to playing sports or taking care of your health. It feels like you can be as conscious of your personal grooming as you are of managing your physical health.

Hashimoto : That might be why it looks like healthy clothing. Of course, how to maintain that condition ultimately depends on the individual (laughs).




Taneichi: I consult for several companies, select shops, and brands, and right now there's a general mood in society to avoid owning too many things. But even so, I've been thinking about what kind of things people would still want in this situation. It's not just about having a distinctive design or anything like that; the culture and story behind it are also important. Personally, in addition to being functional and comfortable, I'm interested in clothes that help relieve fatigue.

Yasu : In that respect, I Swim places great importance on material selection because we want to create products that can naturally improve both physical and mental condition, starting with the everyday wear you wear.
The T-shirts that Mr. Taneichi and Ms. Hashimoto are wearing today are made from 100% organic cotton (GOTS certified) that is grown without pesticides and helps prevent water pollution. People who swim as part of their lifestyle often swim in the sea or rivers, and we chose this fabric hoping it could serve as an opportunity to think about marine pollution. It's breathable and gentle on the skin, so it won't irritate sunburnt skin and can be worn all year round.

—Of course, the attention to detail in materials is important, but another appealing aspect of iSwim is that all products other than towels are water-repellent, right?

Yasu: People like me, who incorporate swimming into our lifestyle, love the idea of "repelling water." Swimmers can put their arms in the water before a competition and tell how well the water repels from their skin. Also, competitive swimwear and triathlon suits always have water-repellent features to reduce water resistance, so I thought it would be great if everyday clothes also had water-repellent properties. That's why with iSwim, we decided to create products made from natural materials that also have water-repellent properties. And when people see the water repelling, I hope it will subconsciously appeal to their mental state and wellness.

Each person's way of getting in shape

—Finally, Mr. Hashimoto and Mr. Taneichi, could you tell us how you maintain your own condition?

Hashimoto: For me, it's mainly diet and training. When I have time, I also enjoy playing golf and surfing. When the balance of these is off, my overall rhythm tends to be off as well (laughs). As for diet, I try to eat the same breakfast menu as much as possible. Since the pandemic, I've eaten out much less, but normally I wake up two hours before leaving the house, check the news, and eat the same breakfast menu as usual. I believe that having the same morning routine every day helps prevent my rhythm from being disrupted throughout the day. When I go to the beach or play golf, it's on a case-by-case basis, but ultimately, I feel more secure when I have a routine. Since I work alone, I think about these things rationally. I'm clumsy, so I unconsciously repeat things to maintain my condition (laughs).



Taneichi: For me, surfing is a big influence. It's hard to plan surfing; you can't just decide what time to go with whom tomorrow. The weather is unpredictable, the wind can change in the morning, or you might find it crowded and decide to go somewhere else. It teaches you not to panic when something happens, and although it can be frustrating, you can reset yourself. For example, if you go all the way to Kashima but the waves are bad, you might think, "Wouldn't it be better to go to Shonan instead?" I once went all the way from Fukushima to Shizuoka because there were no waves (laughs). But I try to enjoy it, and the way surfing helps you balance all those different things is great for getting yourself in shape. When you surrender yourself to the natural environment, you start to think, "Well, that's just how it is." Having the mental fortitude to accept things is important, and it strengthens both your mind and body. I often go surfing alone, and I think about work in the car on the way there and back, which helps me to get myself in shape.



There are different ways to prepare the sandpaper . Thank you for today.





Photograph: Roku Watanabe
Text: Kana Yoshioka

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