Stretching is the most important thing.

June 14, 2025

Ah, hello. Nice to meet you again.

It's been a while since my first post, but how are you all doing?

It had been a while since I last played soccer, but my body was so stiff that I couldn't handle the ball well at all. I was a talented player who had been selected for the city team in elementary and middle school, and I had never played in an official high school match, but for the first time in my soccer career, I was told I was "bad." Even though I'm actually quite good. Damn it...

I had zero flexibility, so now I stretch every day before going to bed. I was so frustrated that I couldn't continue doing anything.

My sacred place, J-GREEN Sakai

I think flexibility is very important in sports and in anything. Especially for a skinny guy like me, if I'm not flexible I'll get blown away and that's it. It's the same in work and relationships; if you're too rigid, things won't go well, so I think it's important to think and act flexibly.

And "softness" also affects clothing. This time, we will introduce some squishy items that are full of that softness. (Not squishy.)

Before introducing the product, let me first introduce the brand.

" Oira "

Designer Takahashi Yuhi started his collection in 2018, and this Japanese brand has been in full swing since the 24 S/S season, with a mass production system in place and full-scale wholesale. After attending fashion school, he started the brand by working at an antiques shop in Kyoto, where he made clothes. Designer Takahashi is a charming man with a very gentle aura, and this "softness" is overflowing into the brand. 101 began stocking the brand from the 24 S/S season, when mass production began, and this is the third season. Each collection has a theme, and the theme for this collection (25 S/S) is,

"I collect."

003/Spring and Summer "I collect"

① Wash knit bag/Col.Black

I personally love clothes and fashion, but even more than that, when I can see or imagine the process or background of something, it vaguely translates into "good." The brand itself sets a theme for each collection, and this item was something that I thought was "good" after hearing about it at the exhibition, and the designer told me that "it took a long time to make this product."

② Wash 85% Cotton 15%

This Washi knit series also has an interesting background.

First of all, making the fabric is difficult. It is made by twisting thick Japanese paper thread with thin cotton thread, but it seems that Japanese paper thread cannot be knitted depending on the humidity and temperature. In order to knit it, the thread was vacuum packed and twisted with cotton thread, which made it possible to knit it. However, it was still not strong enough, so it was finally possible to knit it by using two strands of cotton thread.

I think most people gave up trying to understand it because they didn't understand what it was saying, and I was one of them. But even if I didn't understand it, I think I was able to understand that it took time to make it. (I understand. 4th time)

Once the fabric is made, it goes into production, but because it requires the skill to knit gently, and because the average age of the knitters is high, it would take a long time and production would be delayed, she explained, "so I just kept visiting the factory." It's so Takahashi-like, selecting good products even if it takes time, imagining the knitters at work makes me feel warm inside, and not getting angry even after visiting the factory multiple times, and I was impressed by the "gentleness" I found there.

3. A strange texture that resembles washi paper

"Oira" in particular is interesting in terms of its process, background, and content, but Takahashi said, "I want people to enjoy wearing it as fashion."

This is something that I personally value very much, and it's even more interesting when you can simply enjoy fashion, and then learn about the process and background and share it with people who share your hobbies and interests, so I would like to share as much of this as possible in stores and on my blog.