sofar F/CE. designer / SATOSHI YAMANE / INTERVIEW
2016.10.14 / OTHERS
Mr. Satoshi Yamane, founder of "F/CE." and "sofar," and bassist of the renowned post-rock band "toe" representing Japan since 2000, has been traveling around the world.
At Dice and Dice, we conducted an interview delving into Mr. Yamane's fashion sense.
"I started to dig deeper into my identity."
- Can you tell us what inspired you to start in fashion?
Mr. Yamane: When I was in junior high, I became influenced by seniors and friends and started to like genres like punk and hardcore, which led me to appreciate underground music and culture. I began to dig deeper into the identities of people in those scenes. From there, I became interested in the clothes they wore and started looking for similar pieces. That was probably the beginning.
"What was I looking at, and how did it feel?"
- You have expanded into the U.S., centered around New York. What do you think are the differences between fashion in Japan and overseas?
Mr. Yamane: I think the current mindset towards business is quite different, but I don’t feel there are significant differences in fashion itself. I have been heavily influenced by underground culture in America, so at that time, I was learning everything by imitation, including what to wear. Since it was before the internet, I exchanged information with friends and collected zines. I also traveled to America. The movements happening in America might have had the most impact on my roots. Conversely, I was initially curious about what I was looking at and what influenced me, so I ventured out. I believe fashion should be fun, and wearing it symbolizes my identity.
"I feel like I just happened to be involved with music and clothing."
- As the bassist of toe, what are your thoughts on the connection between music and fashion?
Mr. Yamane: I often get asked this (laughs), but I haven’t really thought about the connection. I have been in a band for a long time and have been in the clothing industry for a long time, so for me, both are necessary in my life, and I think that’s just natural. I’ve never seriously considered the connection between music and fashion. I love both, and I’m doing what I love; that’s my style. Even that feels natural to me. I feel like it just happened to be music and clothing for me.
As I mentioned at the beginning, I have been deeply immersed in the culture derived from music, buying what those people wear, but what I create doesn’t particularly focus on that culture or community, so I think it’s a completely different approach.
I think music can sometimes be a trigger for buying clothes, but compared to the era when various cultures were fresh, perhaps due to the advancement of information, that connection or relationship seems to have weakened.
"I created clothing by substituting the word 'beat.'"
- You focus on leather items every season, such as the 16AW sheepskin coat and suede riders. What are your particular commitments to the 16AW items?
Mr. Yamane: This time, the theme is "MAKE BEATS." There is an image of "artists who are immersed in something" or "people who are creating something," and I substituted that feeling from those creative individuals into the word "beat" to create clothing. Rather than being basic, I design with attention to material texture, silhouette, and overall balance. For the sheepskin this time, I was introduced to a factory that I was really satisfied with (probably the best in Japan) and decided to challenge myself. The approach is reminiscent of the B-boy era of the 90s, and I think I was able to incorporate a lot of creativity into the drop shoulder, silhouette, and materials, making it fit the brand well.
- What are your future directions for the brand and yourself?
Mr. Yamane: Next year, I will open a store near a large park in collaboration with a Danish tent manufacturer. It will be a store focused on play (camping), so please look forward to it.
Since music is close to him, Mr. Yamane separates it from fashion. Be sure to check out the clothes from sofar, created from his unique worldview, at our store and online.
Here are sofar products at Dice and Dice.
Here are F/CE products at Dice and Dice.
CONCEPT
The brand started in the fall/winter season of 2013. With the concept of "Urban Comfort Casual," we propose casual wear finished from an urban perspective, with styling that is not overly done and a relaxed dress-down feel. Inspired by the atmosphere of history, culture, music, and colors, we complete our collections.
2016 SPRING / SUMMER "WORKING CLASS HERO" 2016 FALL / WINTER "MAKE BEAT" 2015 SPRING / SUMMER "FISHERMAN FISHER WOMEN" 2015 FALL / WINTER "THE FISHER LIFE" 2014 SPRING / SUMMER "HABANA LIBRE" 2014 FALL / WINTER "THE T.E.D.S" 2013 FALL / WINTER "HABANA LIBRE"
DESIGNER
Satoshi Yamane
Born in Aichi Prefecture in 1975.
Asami Yamane
Born in Osaka Prefecture in 1977.
At Dice and Dice, we conducted an interview delving into Mr. Yamane's fashion sense.
"I started to dig deeper into my identity."
- Can you tell us what inspired you to start in fashion?
Mr. Yamane: When I was in junior high, I became influenced by seniors and friends and started to like genres like punk and hardcore, which led me to appreciate underground music and culture. I began to dig deeper into the identities of people in those scenes. From there, I became interested in the clothes they wore and started looking for similar pieces. That was probably the beginning.
"What was I looking at, and how did it feel?"
- You have expanded into the U.S., centered around New York. What do you think are the differences between fashion in Japan and overseas?
Mr. Yamane: I think the current mindset towards business is quite different, but I don’t feel there are significant differences in fashion itself. I have been heavily influenced by underground culture in America, so at that time, I was learning everything by imitation, including what to wear. Since it was before the internet, I exchanged information with friends and collected zines. I also traveled to America. The movements happening in America might have had the most impact on my roots. Conversely, I was initially curious about what I was looking at and what influenced me, so I ventured out. I believe fashion should be fun, and wearing it symbolizes my identity.
"I feel like I just happened to be involved with music and clothing."
- As the bassist of toe, what are your thoughts on the connection between music and fashion?
Mr. Yamane: I often get asked this (laughs), but I haven’t really thought about the connection. I have been in a band for a long time and have been in the clothing industry for a long time, so for me, both are necessary in my life, and I think that’s just natural. I’ve never seriously considered the connection between music and fashion. I love both, and I’m doing what I love; that’s my style. Even that feels natural to me. I feel like it just happened to be music and clothing for me.
As I mentioned at the beginning, I have been deeply immersed in the culture derived from music, buying what those people wear, but what I create doesn’t particularly focus on that culture or community, so I think it’s a completely different approach.
I think music can sometimes be a trigger for buying clothes, but compared to the era when various cultures were fresh, perhaps due to the advancement of information, that connection or relationship seems to have weakened.
"I created clothing by substituting the word 'beat.'"
- You focus on leather items every season, such as the 16AW sheepskin coat and suede riders. What are your particular commitments to the 16AW items?
Mr. Yamane: This time, the theme is "MAKE BEATS." There is an image of "artists who are immersed in something" or "people who are creating something," and I substituted that feeling from those creative individuals into the word "beat" to create clothing. Rather than being basic, I design with attention to material texture, silhouette, and overall balance. For the sheepskin this time, I was introduced to a factory that I was really satisfied with (probably the best in Japan) and decided to challenge myself. The approach is reminiscent of the B-boy era of the 90s, and I think I was able to incorporate a lot of creativity into the drop shoulder, silhouette, and materials, making it fit the brand well.
- What are your future directions for the brand and yourself?
Mr. Yamane: Next year, I will open a store near a large park in collaboration with a Danish tent manufacturer. It will be a store focused on play (camping), so please look forward to it.
Since music is close to him, Mr. Yamane separates it from fashion. Be sure to check out the clothes from sofar, created from his unique worldview, at our store and online.
Here are sofar products at Dice and Dice.
Here are F/CE products at Dice and Dice.
CONCEPT
The brand started in the fall/winter season of 2013. With the concept of "Urban Comfort Casual," we propose casual wear finished from an urban perspective, with styling that is not overly done and a relaxed dress-down feel. Inspired by the atmosphere of history, culture, music, and colors, we complete our collections.
DESIGNER
Satoshi Yamane
Born in Aichi Prefecture in 1975.
Asami Yamane
Born in Osaka Prefecture in 1977.