The 2nd of this month was a memorable day for us, THE ELEPHANT. The venue was Roppongi, Nishiazabu. Traffic Tokyo.
If you head to the second basement floor of Traffic Tokyo, you'll find a space designed in a European Gothic style, exuding a dark atmosphere.
(We also used it for THE ELEPHANT's 4th anniversary party)
In this chaotic venue we held a night party in collaboration with NAMACHEKO .
A diverse group of people, including many of Tokyo's fashion heads, gathered at the venue. The fact that everyone was wearing what seemed to be their best outfit made the party even more festive.
Many people were wearing NAMACHEKO clothes (which is perhaps to be expected since it was a NAMACHEKO party), and the exotic and elegant clothing that Dilan creates really caught my eye.
I was looking at the clothes of the visitors, drinking a beer in hand, talking to customers and friends, enjoying the music, and getting drunk; I'm sure I'm not the only one who felt that it was an irreplaceable day.
I'm writing this while still basking in that afterglow.
For regular customers of THE ELEPHANT, people who know the store, and fashion lovers not only from Tokyo and Osaka but all over the world.
As a new venture, we are starting a classic medium called BLOG.
Sorry for the late reply, my name is Kanji and I am the manager of THE ELEPHANT Osaka store.
Many people may wonder why someone from Osaka would start something like this, but the reason is quite simple: because I want to start it. That's all.
You may read blogs written by other staff members in the future, but I'll be starting off with mine.
When I am working at a storefront and talking to customers, I am often told, "This looks like something you would like, Kanji-kun." I also often see this when I am visiting a clothing store with friends.
Even if I say so myself, I think that my feelings of love are several times clearer than most people's and are very easy to understand. (Well, I suppose that each person probably thinks the same thing a lot.)
Among them, NAMACHEKO, which is sold at THE ELEPHANT, has many clothes and items that really appeal to me.
As I wrote earlier, the exotic and elegant aspects of this product make me sigh in delight.
The NAMACHEKO brand was launched in 2015 and released its first season in Fall/Winter 2017.
It goes without saying that the brand was supported by the Parisian select shop The Broken Arm, and from there it has reached the hands of many fashion lovers around the world.
It is also well known that the brand is run by brother and sister duo Dilan Lurr and Lezan Lurr.
With Dilan focusing on design, Lezan handles marketing and runs the brand - a rare and wonderful duo.
While the brand itself releases a variety of items each season, there are knitwear that are instantly recognizable as NAMACHEKO, as well as precisely designed and beautiful tailored jackets and trousers.
The denim series that was released several years ago and is offered at a price range that is unusual for an import brand has been very well received.
Although THE ELEPHANT only started carrying the brand in AW 2023 last year, it is already becoming a flagship brand thanks to the positive response from customers in stores and events.
In this commemorative first article, we would like to introduce the following item.
NAMACHEKO - HOLM DERBY
As you can see, eyelets are used abundantly. (In Japan, they are more commonly called "hatome").
Eyelets are a familiar detail in fashion, used to reinforce holes for shoelaces and as decoration on bags, but these eccentric leather shoes are dotted with large, medium and small eyelets (which we will explain later).
That alone makes it a pair of shoes that is so strange that it is appealing.
Personally, I feel that Aillet has a musicality.
Studs go without saying, but eyelets were often used to thread laces through the sides of tight leather pants and denim worn by punks in the late 70s and early 80s.
Back to these leather shoes.
To begin with, the basic name has not been decided.
The item name is HOLM DERBY.
However, while the so-called derby shoes refer to shoes with an open wing, these shoes are made with an open wing, giving them a dressy impression.
The rounded toe and center seam are designs commonly seen in casual shoes, but the firm, jet black calf leather is beautiful and doesn't look tacky.
The sole is voluminous, and the heel is just under 4cm, giving it a dressy look. It is also made with the Goodyear welt method, so there is nothing wrong with it.
The finishing touch is the silver eyelets, which add a touch of glamour to the shoes.
As I write this I am reminded once again that these are indeed some strange shoes.
For someone like me who basically only wears leather shoes and boots, this is a very attractive item and will definitely catch people's attention around town.
The sole is so sturdy that I would like you to wear them as often as you would a pair of sneakers. I think that will make it easier to understand the appeal of these shoes.
There is only one pair left, so if you're interested, hurry up.
https://theelephantmarket.com/collections/namacheko/products/namacheko-holm-derby
To be honest, I didn't expect the introduction to be so long, but writing after a long time has really helped me to use parts of my brain that I don't normally use, which makes me feel very sharp.
I'm not sure how often I'll update from now on, but I hope you'll look forward to the next one.
That's all for the first article.
Miki Fukuhara
