Inspo. United
―Behind the collaboration with POGGY―
Alberto Escribano and Jose Luis Bartolome are the designers behind HEREU. This is their eighth visit to Japan and they are also interested in Japanese manufacturing. This time, they have announced a special collaboration with HEREU with fashion curator POGGY. They are currently ordering a design for a special shoe to be sold at "POGGY'S BOX", a pop-up store. We asked them about their thoughts on each other's creations and the process of how collaborative items are born.
Albert Escribano and José Luis Bartolomé, the designer duo of HEREU, are visiting Japan for the eighth time and have an interest in Japanese craftsmanship. Renown men's fashion curator POGGY announced a special collaboration with HEREU. They are currently in the process of making an exclusive design to be featured in the “POGGY'S BOX”pop-up store. We asked about their thoughts on each other and the process of creating collaborative items.
POGGY (hereinafter P) : Nice to meet you. I'm happy to be able to talk to you about our collaboration today.
Nice to meet you. I am happy to talk to you today about our collaboration.
HEREU (hereinafter H) : Thank you. What kind of shop is "POGGY'S BOX" that you are running?
It's our pleasure, what kind of shop is POGGY'S BOX, what POGGY is involved in?
P: "POGGY'S BOX" is being developed in various places in the form of a pop-up. We are also working to introduce young Japanese brands to overseas, and this time I was looking forward to working with HEREU, who I learned about from an acquaintance. We are planning to unveil it at the 2G POPUP STUDIO at Shibuya Parco in September.
"POGGY'S BOX" is a pop-up shop which held in a variety of locations. We also work to introduce young Japanese brands to the rest of the world. This time I was looking forward to working with HEREU, which a friend told me about.
Thank you very much. Until now, we have been communicating online, but today I have brought the first sample.
H: Thank you. So far we have been communicating by email, but today we have the first sample.
P I ordered my favorite model, the ALBER, in the Tan and Custard color scheme.
I ordered my favorite model, the ALBER, in a combination of Tan and Custard.
HThis shape and combination was suggested by POGGY, but how did you come up with this idea?
This style or combination was suggested by POGGY, how did you come up with this idea?
P I usually like to match Carhartt work pants with leather shoes, so I thought it would be nice to match them with leather sandals, so I ordered them.
I usually like the style of Carhartt work trousers with leather shoes, and I thought it would be a good idea to wear leather sandals with this kind of
combination, so I ordered them.
When I first heard about the idea, I thought it was very unique. Since HEREU has not done much combination design, the first suggestion was to change just the upper, but I wanted to try it out with the desired combination, so I gave them a sample.
When I first heard the idea, I thought it was very unique. We have not done many combination designs at HEREU.
The first suggestion was to change just the upper, but we have managed to develop the samples of the desired combinations.
P: I also thought it would be interesting to change the atmosphere just by changing the upper, but I was surprised that they gave me a sample so quickly and even fulfilled my desired combination. I'm very excited that they brought it with them in their handbags when they came to Japan this time.
I also thought it would be interesting to change the atmosphere just by changing the upper, but they finished the sample very quickly and surprised me by showing me the combination I wanted. I am very excited that you hand-carried samples during this visit to Japan.
Thank you for talking to me . There are still some fun details to be added, such as a double-name box and special engraving, so I'm looking forward to seeing it completed.
Thank you for the collaboration suggestion. We still need to add some fun details, such as a double name box and a special engraving, so we are looking forward to the completion of the project.
P: You two have an atelier in Barcelona, Spain. I worked for United Arrows for 20 years until five years ago, and their Harajuku flagship store was designed by the Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill. I believe he also designed Barcelona-El Prat Airport, right?
You both have a studio in Barcelona, Spain? I worked for United Arrows for 20 years until five years ago, and the Harajuku flagship shop was designed by Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill. As I recall, Barcelona-El Prat Airport is also his work, isn't it?
H : Yes, you know a lot about that!
Yes, that's true! You know it well!
Maybe it's because I'm a P , but Spanish craftsmanship feels very close to me.
Maybe that's why Spanish craftsmanship feels so familiar to me.
There is a building by Ricardo near our studio, and I think it has influenced our designs.
We have Ricardo's architecture near our studio and I think it has influenced our design.
P: I agree. It's classic with a resort vibe. What are your design inspirations?
Right. It's classic and has a resort mood. What are your design sources?
I brought a photo that I think will be useful as reference material today . This is a photo from 1945 of my grandfather. He served in the military and after retiring, he helped his family sell fish at the market. He wore leather sandals all year round, and that was what inspired me. I still keep this photo hanging in my atelier. All of these things that are related to our roots become design sources.
I brought some photos with me today that could be used as an inspiration sources. These are pictures of my grandfather from 1945. He had served in the army and after he left, he helped his family selling fish at the market. He wears leather sandals all year round and I was inspired by the way they look. This photograph still hung in my studio. All those things from our own roots become a design source.
P : What a lovely photo. I also thought it was interesting that you were designing something that people in the past wore to suit modern times. Recently, I've seen people in Japan pairing leather sandals with a nice jacket style. This design would look good on such people.
It's very nice picture. I also found it interesting to design something that was worn by people in the past to fit in the current world. Recently, I have seen people in Japan wearing leather sandals with a clean jacket style. The design will work well with those people.
H It's hot every day in Spain, so that's what happens. Maybe that's why Spanish leather and leather goods are so durable, you can use them for a long time, and I think people today will like them too.
It is because of the humid weather in Spain. Maybe that's why Spanish leather and small leather goods are durable, so they can be used for a long time, and I think the current generation will like them.
P HEREU shoes also have special attention to stitching.
HEREU shoes are also incredibly detailed about stitching.
Originally , the techniques used by Native Americans to handle leather were brought across the ocean to Spain, where they were localized as new techniques. We are thinking about creating products that can carry on such long-standing techniques.
The technique, originally used by Native American people when working with leather, crossed the ocean to Spain, where it
was localized again as a new technique. We are considering manufacturing products that can carry on such a long history of technology.
P: You both have extensive knowledge of Japanese products. Are there any similarities between these and Japanese manufacturing?
You are both familiar with Japanese products, do you see any similarities with Japanese craftsmanship?
Japanese crafts are also interesting. I'm interested in the culture of craftsmanship, which respects dyeing, cut glass, and the small things that surround our lives. And the biggest commonality is the gratitude we feel for the craftsmen. When we first announced our collection, a Japanese buyer was the first to buy our work. It was Japan that sympathized with our craftsmanship, which values local things. After that, we started selling in Europe, but I'll never forget that Japan was the first country to show understanding.
Japanese crafts are also interesting. I am interested in dyeing, Kiriko glass and other cultures that make things with
respect to the finer things around us in our daily lives. And perhaps the greatest common element is the appreciation of craftspeople. When we first launched our collection, a Japanese buyer was the first to buy it. It was Japan
that showed sympathy towards manufacturing that valued local things. We launched later it in Europe, but we cannot forget that Japan was the first country to understand it.
P : I see. I guess there is a commonality between the two in that craftsmen use their hands to create beautiful things.
Was that so? There may be similarities in the way craftspeople work with their hands to create beautiful things.
H : That's true. Japan and Spain may have a lot in common.
Right. Japan and Spain may find many similarities.
Thank you so much, P. I'm looking forward to seeing our collaboration come to fruition!
Thank you very much. We look forward to completing our collaboration too!
Alber Poggy
Color: Tan/Custard
¥83,600 (tax included)
POGGY'S BOX
Date: 2024/9/14(Sat.)–9/16(Mon.)
11:00–21:00
Venue: 2G POP UP STUDIO
Shibuya PARCO 2F, 15-1 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Contact：03-6455-3003
Motofumi "Poggy" Kogi
Fashion curator. Joined UNITED ARROWS in 1997. After working as a sales staff and PR, launched UNITED ARROWS & SONS in 2010, where he serves as director and buyer. In 2017, won the Best New Menswear Designers award from the American GQ magazine together with Kamoshida. Won an independent award in 2018, and currently works as a fashion curator for 2G in Parco, where visitors can experience art and fashion. At POGGY'S BOX, which is held irregularly in a pop-up format, he introduces young Japanese brands to overseas, and as a judge for the FASHION PRIZE OF TOKYO, he supports Japanese brands in holding shows in Paris. He was also selected for the 2023 BoF 500, an influential person in the fashion industry selected by editors of The Business of Fashion (BoF).
Text & Editing: Michino Ogura