Happy New Year
Happy New Year everyone. Every year, I cross into the new year with that same restless feeling, as if something is about to happen at the end of the year, only to be struck by an indescribable sense of emptiness.
I wonder when it was that I realized Santa Claus wasn't real, or when I found the zipper on a character's back.
I open the balcony door, look up at the dazzling sun and the cold, clear blue sky, confirm that it's business as usual, and a normal day begins to smoothly unfold.
With extra flesh on my sides and a small despair in my heart that time alone won't change anything, I avert my gaze as the days slowly begin to tick into motion. This small sense of despair is what makes people grow, or so I feel at the beginning of this year.
Restock
At the end of last year, HLVTC restocked a pair of pants: the Spiral Cut Trousers 2.0.
There are various reasons why it took more than two and a half years since the first version. And likewise, there's a reason for the restock.
As I've mentioned in a previous blog post, I really enjoy making pants. I like jackets and tops too, but I just tend to come up with more ideas for pants.
Perhaps one reason is that I build my outfits starting from them.
Backbone
Among them, bootcut or flare pants.
This is a silhouette I've hardly ever worn until now.
Punk over hippie, grunge over elegant, mode over casual.
These were the paths I've taken, so I had a feeling that I couldn't quite incorporate flares into my own style.
With that in mind, in the previous Spiral Cut Trousers, I added a gimmick to the hem so it could be transformed into various silhouettes.
The moment I conceived this, I felt a definite sense of accomplishment. This was a pair of pants that "could also be flared," so even those who don't like flares could wear them.
It was the night before the birth of a major new talent who would stride back and forth across cultures and silhouette preferences.
For the Experts
Normally, in pant design, seams are placed on the sides to connect the front and back, creating a cylindrical shape.
Somehow, I wanted to break this convention.
I wanted to create a structure where a spiral-shaped fabric wraps around the leg, eliminating the concept of front and back, and beautifully curving like a golden ratio rotation from the waist to the shoe.
And I wanted those seams to be clean, not overly emphasized, so that when viewed up close, they would convey an impressive craftsmanship.
At an exhibition, when someone from the same industry came to see it, they asked, "Are you going to mass-produce this as is?"
The difficulty of this design was evident to those in the know.
Difficult clothes aren't necessarily good clothes, but sometimes I want to create a beastly individual like this, one that growls and drools, intimidating other brands. 
The Birth of the Second Iteration
The previous version happily sold out and was well-received, so I had thought I might not make flares for a while.
However, while researching shapes, I found a new body balance that I liked.
Longer length, a slight taper at the thighs while ensuring a beautiful rear, and a generous hem width to be held down by sturdy boots or sneakers. Even if the hem gathers a little, it must be sublimated into a silhouette that exudes a sense of mode and beauty.
I needed to emphasize the three variable silhouettes of this individual piece – tapered, straight, and flared – to create a casual, deconstructed look while maintaining luxurious elements, so I decided to give the fabric a lustrous finish.
It can be coordinated with short tops, as well as loose or long ones.
To support the flared silhouette while preventing it from becoming too thick with the tapered shape, I used a slightly thinner fabric than the previous version, "Ventile Gabardine."
Here again, I felt a definite sense of accomplishment, and thus the Spiral Cut Trousers 2.0 were born.
Please check out the comparison with the previous version on YouTube.
HLVTC Crosses the Sea
As the first event of 2024, HLVTC will be holding a POPUP at the select shop "HYST" in Taiwan.
I will be heading to Taiwan with the confident pieces I've released so far.
A new, impactful product is needed.
I decided that a down jacket would be difficult given the climate, so I'll propose something different.
I had promised to bring new work, and this is exactly it.
Among the shops I check, this is the one that has the strongest focus on tech wear and tech fashion in Taiwan, offering unique proposals.
Although those two phrases tend to become outdated in the market due to overuse, I believe that from the perspective of excellent function and form, they will never become obsolete.
Perhaps the drawback lies in the stereotypical coordinating and cosplay-like expressions.
Combinations should be freer and more enjoyable. Paradoxically, as a brand, the stability of knowing that "if you wear HLVTC, it will work" is also necessary.
I want to propose both stability and freedom simultaneously.
To cross the sea and compete, the most challenging beastly bottoms in the brand's history have been completed.
First, I want people to see and experience them, and show that there's a seriously cool brand in Japan.
While I primarily create what I want and what I want to propose to customers, sometimes I also want to create intimidating pieces like these.
The first unveiling of the Spiral Cut Trousers 2.0 at the Taiwan event will be from February 17th to February 25th.
It will be held for one week each at HYST's Taipei and Taichung stores.
I will be at the stores on weekends only.
For all of you who always visit, how about making a trip to Taiwan? I'll explain more details next time.