One at a Time
When BORDEAUX was in Shinsaibashi, Osaka, I noticed something about the people who had been visiting for years.
When the shop became busy, they were often the first to leave, quietly making room for others.
I was grateful to have a busy shop, but there were days when they left without having had time to try something on, or simply to talk for a while.
I wondered if I could have given them more time.
Today, BORDEAUX is at the Vories Tomihisa Residence in Sakai, Osaka.
It is no longer somewhere people happen upon while passing by. Some travel a long way to visit, occasionally from overseas.
Before each appointment, I rearrange the display with that person in mind.
I think about what they might be coming to see, and whether there is something they have yet to discover.
Preparing for someone I have known for years is different from welcoming someone for the first time.
Now, I welcome one appointment at a time.
Over the years, I come to know more than someone's taste in clothes. I learn about their work, their lives, and how these change with time.
We grow older, and the way we dress changes with us.
Sometimes I show someone a piece they might never have considered.
What interests me is seeing how a garment takes on a different character when someone puts it on.
Not every visit leads to a purchase.
I remember a first-time visitor apologising for taking up my time without buying anything.
I asked, “Did you enjoy your visit?”
Some people have been coming to see me for more than twenty years.
Others stop by to catch up. Sometimes a friend visits, and we end up talking about everything except clothes.
These relationships have become part of my life.
I loved the work when I was in Shinsaibashi, too.
Now, surrounded by nature and the changing seasons, I welcome people one appointment at a time.
I enjoy the work more than ever, and everyday life has become richer.
There is time to look at clothes, to talk, and sometimes to forget about clothes altogether.
ZENJUN / BORDEAUX