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nanamica NEW YORK































                                                                                                                                                                                                                           nanamica DAIKANYAMA
                                                                                                      nanamica NEW YORK
             Uniting Function                                                                                                   “We hope that in the long-term our



                                                                                                                                products can be seen as tools to help

                                       with Fashion                                                                             support the lives of our consumers”







                                               nanamica mixes fashion and function at a high level and

                                               proposes timely standard wear with a neutral design that
                                               transcends genres, ages and genders. Here, RLI sits down

                                                     with company CEO Eiichiro Homma to discuss the
                                             company’s recent expansion outside of Japan and what the
                                                         future of the company is in these unusual times.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               nanamica TOKYO

                                 n outdoors-centric casualwear fashion label brand   facility, adjust the volume of production to avoid surplus products   In the last few years in particular, the increased presence   excellent  additions  to  the  nanamica  family.  They  are  all
                                 based in Tokyo, Japan, nanamica combines a classic   in the market and release fresh information to stimulate our   of social media on the internet has changed the world and   capable, genuine and understanding and to the same degree,
                                 aesthetic  with  performance-driven  construction   consumer’s mind,” explains company CEO Eiichiro Homma.  affected the way that a lot of brands conduct business. In   our customers and even our competitors have cooperated
                         A in  a  range  of  outerwear  items. The  brand  has   In the coming months, the business is considering its brand   terms of the brand, people who are not already customers   with us and supported us.”
                         collaborated  with  the  likes  of The  North  Face,  Champion   store to be not only a point of sale, but also a showroom for   can be accessed, while people who are already customers   Since the beginning, the ethos of the company has been
                         Japan, wings+horns, and Clarks.               consumers. With this consideration, Homma believes what they   can be updated on the company’s latest news and products   to be a major player in the market with its high-level mix
                           With a focus on practical design, and with utility and sports   should be focusing on is launching a mix of retail, showroom   in an instant.     of fashion and function, and this is set to continue in the
                         as key mantras for the brand, the company makes functional   and online in each continent, so that they would have platforms   When talking about the customers who shop at nanamica,   coming years.
                         clothing from innovative fabrics.             and could communicate with consumers all around the world.  Homma highlights that they have been creating their products   When  looking  ahead,  Homma  feels  that  in  Japan,  the
                           The company currently operates four stores in Japan and they   “We are thinking of new values and a new way of life here   through the same methods that they started with back in   population  has  started  to  decrease  and  that  the  younger
                         recently opened their first boutique outside of Japan in SoHo,   at nanamica. As we are currently a small company, we must   2003. On a more personal note, Homma can draw on his 18   generations  are  somewhat  conservative,  and  that  they
                         New York. The US store opened its doors back on 23 August   create a new value for the people whom we can reach via   years of design experience for a leading technical sportswear   seem to be consumed with just information and knowledge
                         and  it  was  designed  in  collaboration  with  Japanese  architect   our current platform,” says Homma.  company  to  help  steer  the  company  and  position  it  as  a   without ever really experiencing reality or the world outside.
                         Taichi Kuma in the image of a ‘beach house’, expressing the free   Supported by high-level fabric mills and advanced sewing   brand with authenticity and power in the market.  “We like to think that ‘fashion’ is not the most important
                         and relaxed feeling of the seaside, but with a distinctly Japanese   factories, the business is currently a leading sportswear brand   So what would Homma consider to be the key drivers   thing in the world to a human being. Instead we feel it is ‘life’
                         aesthetic sensibility which highlights the products of nanamica.  in the market and they continue to seek other combinations   behind the brand’s success to date?  that should be considered the most important thing,” says
                           “Our objective has not changed in the last few months, what   of  perfect  fashion  and  the  latest  technology  to  create   “I would say that without doubt it is the team. The new   Homma. “We hope that in the long-term our products can
                         we are looking to do is improve our online store service and   products that they believe can make people happy.  members that joined the team in recent times have been   be seen as tools to help support the lives of our consumers.”

        20 RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL OCTOBER 2020                                                                                                                                       OCTOBER 2020 RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL 21
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