Hirofumi Kiyonaga and Hiroshi Fujiwara: SOPHISTICATION | Hypebeast

Having said that, do you feel that this is an issue that the lines are slightly blurred between SOPHNET. and uniform experiment?

HF: F.C.R.B. is in itself a brand that is most unlike the others. However between ue and SOPHNET., I think it’s best to think of it this way. uniform experiment falls under the SOPH. umbrella so there are bound to be some similarities.

HK: It’s hard to express via words, but if you look closely, there are details that differentiate the respective lines.

Maintaining three brands of relatively different themes and directions, what inspired you to branch out?

HK: From a direction stand-point, they are all reflections of my personal self. F.C.R.B. appeals to the massive football fan in me. uniform experiment appeals to the desire for a uniform in me and SOPHNET. in itself is another label that is perhaps a little more casual.

Obviously by launching a mock-football team as the inspiration behind F.C.R.B., you’re an avid football fan. We’ve seen Dunhill work with the Japanese National Team, what are your thoughts on designing something for the Blue Samurais?

HK: I look at a lot of kit designs for many big clubs, and they are all wonderfully designed. I don’t see any need for additional implementations or changes. However as it stands, adidas is the official partner with the Japanese National Team, I can only hope that they change sponsors from adidas to Nike.

Of the three brands, F.C.R.B. is perhaps the most easily acquirable due to the relation with Nike. However when the brand hits stores outside of Japan, it seems to be a bit lost on the consumer. Do you think that you (Hirofumi Kiyonaga) needs to be the subject of education to foreign markets about not only your exploits but that of F.C.R.B.?

HK: It’s a difficult question to answer… Nike has few designers who straddle the line between their own fashion line and a sports-based lines so perhaps F.C.R.B. could benefit from some further marketing?

HF: Why don’t you make a real football team?

HK: [Laughs] I sponsor some teams now but maybe in the future I can actually launch a full-fledged team.

Thanks a lot for the opportunity Kiyo-san and Hiroshi-san.