HARAJUKU.

The main purpose of this trip to Japan is to oversee the Staple Fall 2006 Collection which debuts in Japan this week. In Japan, the fashion business works a little differently than in America. In the States, we hold these HUGE massive tradeshows like MAGIC, ASR, PROJECT and the rest...In Japan, its a much more private affair. A handful of brands, and sometimes, just one brand holds their own private show where they invite potential buyers and shop owners over. This goes on for like 3-4 days. So this week we are holding ours in Tokyo. Weird isn't? Spring 2006 isn't even in stores yet and here we are showing our Fall/Winter collection already. When I get back to NY, we have to get right on Spring Summer 2007!!




Behind the Scenes: Getting ready for the show and setting everything up. Transporting your whole collection 5000 miles away is no easy task.


Kota from BQE stopped by for a surprise visit. He owns a shop called Cluster right near Reed Space. Our exhibition is held in Laforet Museum. A gallery space sitting at the top of a very popular department store in Harajuku. A shot of me in front. (In that North Face Denim Goretex jkt y'all liked so much!)


My man Miyoshi (Manhattan Records) putting dibs on some Staple Fall pieces. Also met Mr. Homma...a real cool dude who runs The North Face Purple Label. Not a bad job huh?

After completing the set up of the exhibition, I met up with some Nike heads who were also in town from Portland. We did the retail rounds in Harajuku. I bought nothing. I must have a fever.



Jesse, Richard, JB and Jamie...4 dudes responsible for keeping Nike like crack.



Later on that day, I met up with Hiroshi. His new MacBook Pro was already on the fritz...(can't sleep. Just like its owner.) So we went to the Apple Store and tried to see what the Genius' at the Genius Bar could do. Basically nothing...
For dinner, we met up with Riko, my partner who's in Japan at the moment and AK from Burton. We had some Chinese food that was unlike any Chinese I've ever had in my life. Extremely good...


Table for 4. HF, Me, Riko, and AK.


Red Grouper. Reconize.


HF is gangsta. Ummm. Like literally! Yo put that away! We in a Chinese restaurant!


Match the kicks to the owners: Hello Kitty Prestos vs Nike AF1 Supreme Ostrich Leather.