The reason why Hisao Saito, "TUBE" designer, prefers American fashion

"At that time, the United States was a dream country," says Hisao Saito, a designer at "TUBE".Saito -san met an American fashion when he was 15 years old.No, it may be more correct to say "style" instead of fashion."At that time, I heard that" fashionable clothes are "American Trad", "and searched hard and bought them. My age was for women ...Saito says.

Mr. Saito says, "The charm of American clothes is casual.""Speaking of American clothes, jeans and T -shirts. The United States is a country of cotton. In other words, it is a country of practical clothing. Button -down shirts were born from practical use. In other words, only industrial products.I think it's a country that can't be made. That was 1971. I went to the Levis Factory in San Francisco, but most of the sewing (Hosei) is a straight line.(Laughs). (Laughs). Because it is a multi -ethnic nation, I think that it has a linear silhouette that suits everyone, but I think there are probably some sloppy places. "Mr. Saito commented.

It is really reasonable like the United States, but it continues to say, "It's attractive there ...".

"That's fine. It's practical, functional, and rational, and it's because it has spread to the world. Because anyone can make it anywhere ... but the charm of American clothing continues.Is it until around the 70's? The so -called heavy duty era. Magazine "Made in U.S.A Catalog "was published.For me, it was an impression of the second American clothing boom, but many people would have opened the American clothing.However, the actual situation of American clothes at that time was completely different.A very exaggerated collar shirt, the age of Soultrein.From that time, it has been fashioned.At that time, I never wore American clothes.The outdoor boom barely connected the charm of American clothes, "said Saito.

When the style turned into a fashion, the appeal of American clothes was lost.And Saito says that he is now in a new phase.

"From now on, the clothes are obsolete after the market expansion, and the end is said to be the end. A new, small clothes -loving boom has been born. Even jeans, a symbol of American clothing, are no longer in my own.It's no longer made in the country ... I rely on the workforce of immigrants with low wages, even if it's made in the United States. Once it happens, it's difficult to inherit the culture.There are also many parts that are becoming a conversion. "

But I wasn't just pessimistic.I will continue if there is hope.

"In order to regain American clothing that once attracted many people and many people, it is important to dig deep because it is not all, but in the extreme, jeans and T -shirts. Is to make it in the United States (laughs). The two are items that can respond to the requests of any era. Well, this is not limited to the United States ... Italy and France. The same is true in Japan. The United States has exported a lot of culture to the world, including clothing, so there are some that have diminished, but some of Japan and export are deeply remained. With jeans. Saito says that you should reconfirm what you should never let go, like a T -shirt, and reduce it to the family business again and inherit it properly. "

Only if you love dry complaints."Because the United States was a dreamland for me at the time, it wasn't a lie ..." Saito finally commented.

[Profile] TUBE Designer Hisao Saito

Born in Tokyo in 1945.He dropped out of college and moved to the United States.He goes around various places, including Europe and the United States.After that, he graduated from Men's Fashion Academy and joined an apparel manufacturer.He established the current company "TUBE" in 1979.He has been active in the production of various brands and select shops, including the Director of Men's Biggia.He also works on the brand "Tube".