IN FOCUSVol.9
LINE KNIT TAPE EASY CARE TRACK PANTS
From the stories behind the creation of items by THE CRIMIE to spin-off behind-the-scenes tales,
A column covering a wide range of topics, with a focus on things that are a little useful.
The hot summer is just around the corner, lasting a mere 120 days.
There are plenty of items that symbolize summer, from T-shirts and aloha shirts to flip-flops and sunglasses, but THE CRIMIE’s new summer staple is track pants. “Wait, track pants??” That’s probably a perfectly reasonable reaction (laughs). But this is no joke—we’re completely serious. Once you hear what’s coming, you might find yourself saying, “Ah, that makes sense.”
Let’s start with a little trip down memory lane. In the early ’90s, Ikebukuro Kingston Club, centered around reggae, was hugely popular among young people, especially teenagers (unthinkable today, but please bear with the times), and became legendary. The club’s popularity sparked an almost unbelievably feverish nightly buzz among young people in the Ikebukuro West Exit area, much like in the drama IWGP. The THE CRIMIE designer is deeply knowledgeable about music, but he also has a strong connection to Ikebukuro back then (laughs). A graduate of Bunka Fashion College and one of the club’s founding members, he was influenced in how to dress and develop his style by punks who loved reggae.
Sorry to jump around, but rock and punk musicians like Eric Clapton, the Sex Pistols, and The Clash have also openly acknowledged being influenced by reggae. Yes, those of you with a sharp eye may have guessed by now: for the genre-spanning, music-savvy THE CRIMIE designer, once he understood the equation “rock meets reggae,” it was only natural for it to become an even greater interest (laughs). Around that time, he received these words from a certain senior.
“Track pants look great on cool people”
Ah, I see. Styling track pants, an icon of reggae fashion, with flair is more nuanced than you might think. It’s been decades since I first discovered reggae, and now I’m returning to my roots. That may be putting it a little dramatically (laughs). The ideal answer to the question of how to express this emotional mindset turned out to be track pants made for summer.
So what about the pants? First, take a look at the fabric. It has a beautiful drape and fluidity, with just enough structure to keep it from feeling flimsy. It strikes the perfect balance between soft and firm. These track pants, born from a chance encounter with this fabric, are the very definition of “something you didn’t know you were missing.” They’re a great choice that keep you comfortable every day, even in the hot summer. They also pay tribute to the “Jamaican rude boy” style, and we’d love to propose a laid-back, “ya man” look that brings a sense of freedom to pairing track pants with dressed-up outfits.
Urban life, post-surf, even party scenes: these pants take center stage. In summer, the designer says he wants to build his outfits around the combination of flip-flops and track pants, paired with a dress shirt and summer hat. Honestly, this style feels like a different take on Shōtarō Ikenami, capturing even the rakish elegance of a man with style.
Isn’t it simply cool to have the allure and mood of a sophisticated adult, paired with just the right touch of ease and playfulness?
When you think this can all be achieved with just one pair of track pants, the value for money is almost frightening (laughs).
Mr.T
A fashion specialist and addict, he’s active across the industry, from consulting for numerous renowned Japanese and international brands to PR and writing. His lifestyle is...
