STAFF: Sota
instagram : sootaaa_1234
Hello everyone.
It’s well and truly "summer" now, isn't it?
If I keep going on and on about how hot it is,
it just starts to feel even hotter.
Meanwhile,
the 25AW season is starting to launch.
If you tried to wear outerwear or knitwear now,
you’d basically perish.
It’s still a while before we can wear them,
but I’d like to introduce a “knit brand”
that I discovered while buying,
which left a huge impression on me—
one where the desire to wear it
comes well before the season actually allows.
Started in 2023 by Ms. Obara, who has built up
years of experience as a knit pattern maker,
"obafer"
The brand name comes from the name
of a stuffed animal the designer has cherished
since she was a child.
Just like that plush toy,
"I hope that obafer knits, too, will become something
that is loved for a long time in someone's life."
That kind of gentle sentiment is woven into it.
I still clearly remember the day
I first met Ms. Obara.
It was a rainy winter day at an exhibition.
While my body and heart were feeling a bit cold,
the aura she carried
wrapped around me like a warm blanket.
In her unpretentious, natural, and soft personality,
I felt I saw the reason
behind the warmth held by obafer’s knits.
Through the product of knitwear, obafer is a brand
that delivers her personality
straight to you.
And for our new arrivals this season,
the first item I want to introduce to everyone is
"COTTON CASHMERE BORDER SLEEVE SWEATER"
COTTON 80%
CASHMERE 20%
The smoothness of cotton-cashmere,
and a gentle touch that hugs the skin.
There is absolutely no prickliness,
just a comfort that makes you want to wear it every day.
The biggest feature is the border design on the sleeves.
It is designed with an exquisite balance
so that it becomes an accent that peeks out
from the cuffs of a simple outer layer.
Of course, it looks great worn alone as well.
It’s that kind of knit—one that adds
a new nuance to your styling.
When you look at this knit by itself,
you might feel a bit uneasy, wondering,
"Is it a bit too cute?" or "Is it too flashy?"
But lately, I’ve felt strongly that this
“slight sense of unease” is precisely
the “reason it looks stylish.”
Plain, dark, and subdued basic knits
offer a sense of security, but
in other words, they are “hard to remember.”
When you want to set yourself apart,
you ultimately need “something different from others.”
Of course, I’m not saying there's anything
wrong with basics (haha).
But it is also true that a "little bit of adventure"
can make your style something special.
From here, let me talk a little bit about myself.
Recently, I tried "on-the-eyebrow bangs" for the first time in my life.
I bleached my eyebrows and mustache, and
honestly, objectively speaking, some people might
think I look a bit "sinister."
But strangely enough,
I started to be seen as
a "stylish person."
Why?
The answer is, "Because it’s different from others."
I think fashion is a game
of enjoying those "differences."
From a general perspective, this particular knit from obafer
might be a little flashy, and
it might not be an item that appeals to everyone.
But that is exactly why you can
genuinely enjoy fashion.
It has the power to quietly encourage
the wearer's mood and personality.
However, if you put together an entire outfit
using only unique items,
it just ends up being flashy.
That is why, if your top has a strong design,
you should pair it with basic slacks.
By being conscious of such a balanced
styling, you should be able to enjoy
obafer’s knit as a more sophisticated form of
“grown-up style.”
Instead of viewing “being different from someone else”
or that “slight sense of unease” negatively,
try to enjoy them positively as your own "individuality."
I would be happy if I could deliver that sentiment
along with this knit.
I’ll be waiting for you at the store tomorrow as well.