Relative Normality
"I hate being normal"—a rebellious spirit lies at my core.
Though it may seem restricting to be bound by the idea of not wanting to fit in, this spirit is rooted in my father's teachings.
I vividly remember when I was in elementary school and mountain bikes were popular. I begged my father for one.
"It's no fun being like everyone else, is it? If that's your only reason for wanting it, then no," my father said.
My usually easygoing father would occasionally utter such profound words.
They were deeply etched in my mind and became unforgettable.
Though my father himself probably doesn't remember saying them.
What do I think? What do I want to do? Why do I think that way? To think based on my own perspective, to judge right and wrong for myself. And to take responsibility for those decisions.
Thanks to this, I've never once wavered about what I want to do or what I want to become.
Discovery
At the end of 2022, I went back to my parents' house and saw my father after a long time.
I had him try on some HLVTC clothes, and he looked better in them than I did, which I found amusing, so I filmed it for YouTube. If you have time, please check it out.
Functional Beauty and a New Daily Standard
My father's clothes are always the same. As far as I know, he's been wearing the same clothes forever.
The closest comparison might be Roronoa Zoro's outfit from One Piece.
A white undershirt, a beige belly warmer, gray slacks, and geta sandals.
When I saw my father after a long time, he had developed osteoarthritis of the knee and complained of pain after walking just a little.
I had him try on HLVTC drop crotch pants for the shoot, but due to the wide leg pattern, he struggled to put them on, and his knees were taped.
A touch of sadness and thoughts swirled.
The pendulum of time just keeps ticking. Human physical functions decline. For me, and for you reading this.
While high specs are important for functional clothing, isn't the ability to make a weakened body look cool, or to provide support, also a form of tech fashion?
I wanted to create clothes that people like him could wear.
The gray pleated slacks my father always wore.
They are his standard. As his son, I decided to reinterpret his standard.
As the Bass Line for HLVTC.
Suitable Fabric and Design
The fabric was decided from the beginning.
The same as the HD Dropcrotch Cargo Trousers: high-density, two-way stretch, water-repellent, yet with a cool, crisp feel and wrinkle-resistant.
It was a fabric I went through great lengths to find, and I intend to make it a staple.
I often wear pants made from this material, and they allow for easy leg movement and cause little stress even in hot and humid environments.
I tested their functionality during long walks and long flights, and they are undeniably functional.
The design features two pleats and a relaxed thigh that tapers beautifully down to the hem.
We also considered compatibility with various shoes and ease of pairing with tops.
The hem is designed so that it looks good even when rolled up a few times to wear with boots.
A zippered change pocket is placed behind the side pocket, utilizing the spacious front.
The back pockets have flaps secured with buttons, and the hip darts are placed on the bias.
A long drawstring acts as a design element, and the elastic waistband ensures a fit for various body types.
Pattern and Sewing
This time, the pattern was the most crucial factor.
We carefully determined the silhouette through discussions with the pattern maker.
The rise is roomy to accommodate all body types, but the key here is to transform slacks, which tend to look dated, into something modern and technical. Almost by force, simply by wearing them.
We planned silhouette-correcting pants that envelop and cover the shape of the legs. The toile looked like this:
Next, we selected the drawstring for the waist. We narrowed down thousands of options to six, then found the absolute best.
The Road to Completion
We did everything humanly possible.
A beautiful silhouette and comfortable material. At first glance, it might not seem distinctive, but a closer look reveals meticulous attention to detail throughout the garment.
As I was writing this, the actual product arrived. The finish is superb.
I'd like to quickly show it to all of you who are reading this blog.
Sewing stretch fabric is very difficult. Yet, it was finished with what seems like every stitch made with a soul. You can see it in the beautiful stitching on the back pocket.
It took about a year and a half from planning to productization.
These are also pants that are hard to appreciate without experiencing them firsthand.
For me, as someone who primarily sells online, this is a critical issue, but I've reflected on this same problem many times before.
Nevertheless, I strongly hope that you will see and experience my—no, our—basics in person soon.