FOUND OUR [0308]

March 25, 2025

Hello.

I'm Noguchi from CASANOVA&CO.

For the past three days, until yesterday, we held Yamauchi's 2025AW exhibition and pre-order event.

Thank you very much to everyone who visited us.

Personally, it was a three-day period where I gained various insights and knowledge from Yamauchi's clothing, Mr. Kosaka from Yamauchi Sales, and our customers.

We've been holding events continuously, but now it's time for a short break.

That being said, next month we have "that" annual event coming up...

Today, please allow me to introduce FOUNDOUR.

It's been quite a while since it started in stores, but I thought it would be nice to take my time with it from the beginning, and since it's getting warmer, I think it's a good timing.

FOUNDOUR debuted this spring/summer season.

So, of course, we've been carrying it since this season.

If you search for information about the brand, you'll find plenty, so perhaps there's no need for me to explain it here again. However, I believe that understanding the background of this brand greatly changes how one perceives the clothes, so I'll briefly explain.

The brand is overseen by Mr. Keiji Kaneko.

Many of you probably know him.

At our store, CASANOVA&CO, about four years ago, Mr. Kaneko visited for an event for a brand he was directing at the time.

Of course, I had known about Mr. Kaneko long before that event; he's someone that virtually anyone working in sales, like us, would know.

I never imagined at that time that I would have the opportunity to showcase Mr. Kaneko's clothes at this juncture, but...

For FOUNDOUR, Mr. Kaneko's main premise is "not to create clothes from scratch."

This aspect is very difficult to convey through text-based media like blogs, so I'd like to discuss it in person at the store. But if I were to put it very bluntly,

"We use super high-quality fabrics!"

That's not the kind of clothing manufacturing we do.

However, it's certainly not about using shoddy fabrics either.

The image is that we mostly use commonly available fabrics, and then, for vintage items that serve as inspiration, we make unexpected fabric selections. We ensure that the clothes are made with proper patterns and stitching, while being careful not to deviate too much from the atmosphere of the base items.

That kind of image.

The clothes that result are, in a sense, very catchy, but in another sense, very complex.

I have no intention of making it seem unapproachable by saying "these clothes are complex," but I find this unique sense of balance incredibly interesting and stylish. That's why I'm really excited about FOUNDOUR's proposals.

However, I feel that trying to explain it too much in words would overemphasize the complexity due to its unique balance. So, for FOUNDOUR items, I'd like to introduce them mainly with photos while also conveying information about the vintage clothing that serves as their base.

Therefore, the title of this blog is simply the date the photos were taken.

There's no profound meaning in this. lol

It's just that there were various changes in my schedule between taking the photos and writing this blog, and the continuous events made me miss the timing to write it.

But looking back at the photos again, I feel like I was dressed in a way that reflected my mood and feelings that day, so I'll observe my past self from a broader perspective.

FOUNDOUR

MOUNTAIN PARKA

color _ BEIGE

size _ 2,3

I had tried shooting it once with a different outfit, but it didn't feel right, so I reshot it, and this is the result.

I think I just really wanted to wear slim-fitting pants.

I remember it being a slightly chilly day, but it was just right over WONDER ROOM's WHALE sweatshirt.

With the current warmth, it would be perfectly fine over a shirt or cut-and-sew.

The base is the SYNERGY WORKS from around the 1970s.

Since I used to be quite into vintage clothes, I was aware of Synergy Works, but I think its name recognition is low unless you're a vintage clothing enthusiast, and honestly, I've never seen an actual old one.

The Synergy Works of that time seemed to be a pioneer among outdoor brands using functional materials like GORE-TEX, but this FOUNDOUR piece is 100% cotton and unlined.

The sleeves are raglan, but the slope isn't very steep.

I wonder if it was designed with this balance because it was originally an outdoor brand.

The hood has an unusual construction.

Bright red adjusters.

They're cute like toys.

I think white outerwear is inherently tricky.

There's a sense of "I'm trying to be stylish," and a bit of self-consciousness.

One way to counteract that feeling is with the incredibly well-crafted items you usually see at CASANOVA&CO, but this FOUNDOUR piece, with its Velcro and adjusters, has just the right amount of delightful imperfection that prevents it from looking too prim and proper.

Whether you find that stylish is up to you, but when I ask myself, "What makes good clothes?" I find myself needing this kind of balanced approach.

FOUNDOUR

COVERALL JACKET

color _ BLUE

size _ 2,3

※Size 2 is sold out.

I don't remember why I chose this combination, but these Midorikawa lame cotton flannel pants reminded me of the fabric of the FIVE BROTHER flannel shirts I used to wear a lot,

"Coveralls go with flannel shirts, right!"

I guess I was operating on that kind of American spirit.

This coverall is apparently based on a Carhartt coverall from around the 1940s.

It's what's known as a wartime model.

So, there's only one pocket on the chest and one on the hem.

...However, something is off.

Generally, chest pockets are usually on the left, and even during the war, the asymmetrical pocket placement would be "left chest, right hem."

But this is the opposite.

"Right chest, left hem."

Why is it like that?

It's because,

"It seemed more interesting that way."

You rarely find a reason so pure and wonderful, do you? lol

And this pocket placement is incredibly inconvenient.

For most right-handed people, putting their right hand into the right chest pocket requires bending their wrist at an awkward angle, and having a pocket on the right hem would be smarter, as they could retrieve their smartphone and operate it smoothly with their dominant hand.

However, even with such inconvenience, "right chest, left hem" is better.