Paul Stuart

[ABOUT]

Paul Stuart is a pioneer brand of "Anglo-American" style.
Proposing traditional British suit culture from an American perspective, the branding is based on the motto of "timeless style and unwavering elegance."
Paul Stuart's style of customer service, which is ``unwavering confidence, not looks'', is the reason why we have maintained a shop on New York's prime location, Madison Avenue, for 80 years.
Paul Stuart has many stores in Japan. However, the reason why we started business only with our flagship Madison Avenue store. We interviewed CEO Masahiko Kusagaya to find out what kind of story there was.

━ How did Paul Stuart and BROOKLYN MUSEUM meet?

Paul Stuart Clifford Grodd, the second generation president, and the founder of BROOKLYN MUSEUM have known each other for about 30 years.

When I say that, I think people get the impression that it was a great connection, but it's more of a simple one.
The founder of BROOKLYN, who launched BROOKLYN at the age of 25, visited New York many times to develop new clients. At a time when mobile phones and email weren't as available as they are now, traveling to the site was the surest way.
Young Japanese people who just love fashion and speak poor English come to make appointments every year. It was a lot of energy, and I think people found it interesting.

Paul Stuart originally ran a select shop for Ivy Leaguers, and the founder was also greatly influenced by the Ivy Look. Including those roots, I was blessed with a wonderful opportunity and started my business.

━ Why did you keep attacking Paul Stuart?

"Because it's first class."
It's very simple.

As I heard from the founder, at the time, Paul Stuart's clothing production changed the concept of ``Savile Row'' when it came to suits, and the natural fit around the shoulders that followed the lines of the body was innovative.
It quickly became a favorite of many celebrities, including former President Kennedy and Frank Sinatra. Apparently it was a brand she admired.

And the dignity of the flagship shop is amazing.
A luxurious and spacious space, about the same size as a small department store. The staff working there proudly. The customers happily chat with the familiar staff and head out into the streets of New York.
Everything is top notch.

It's rare in the world to find a shop that opens from 7am to accommodate customers.

━ Is it 7 a.m.? !

That's amazing, isn't it? Nowadays, things have changed because of this situation, but before going to work, business elites choose the day's necktie while having coffee in hand.

Rather than saying, ``Please come and visit us according to the store's needs,'' our stance is that because we conduct thorough customer research, we will operate according to the lifestyles of high-end customers. However, it also closes quickly. Everyone goes out to dinner.

Even the business hours are customer-centered.
The same goes for the suits and accessories we handle. Naturally, I become more stoic.

"Providing confidence, not looks"
Because it is such a brand, it was meaningful for us to carry it.

━ You can see that they are branded not only with quality but also with conviction. What kind of items did you handle?

We mainly handled leather accessories such as wallets and card cases. I also had the opportunity to make Dulles bags.

They basically do business under their own name. Rather than relying on materials or factory names, they compete with the Paul Stuart store brand.
I think the reason we earned the absolute trust of Manhattan executives was because we prioritized quality over profit.
Surprisingly, I heard that they are requesting OEM for the suits from Kiton.
Kiton is a global tailored brand representing Naples, Italy, whose materials and sewing techniques have been hailed as ``the most beautiful clothes in the world.'' It is famous for the careful handwork that takes 150 craftsmen 20 hours to make just one garment, and just the fact that they are requesting OEM from such a top-notch brand shows how serious they are.

━ So BROOKLYN MUSEUM is also there. Was there anything in particular that you were conscious of?

We strived to create products that Paul Stuart's discerning high-end customers would want.
Just as Kiton spends 20 hours on each suit, a lot of time and effort goes into making our products.
Because mass production is not possible, we cannot sell products unless they are of high quality in terms of materials, designs, and colors, and will be loved for a long time.

I feel that this policy was communicated not only in words but also in the product, and as a result of gaining trust, this led to repeat orders.

━ What kind of material do you prefer?

As expected, there were many materials that were not available in America. Persimmon tangy dyed, indigo dyed, original leather Yamato, and gloss cordovan. We handled all kinds of materials.
Among them, the persimmon tangy dyed product had a particularly high repeat rate.

Persimmon tannin dyeing is applied to large pieces of cowhide one by one using a brush.
You can feel from the products that they cannot be completed without the ancient techniques and wisdom and delicate handiwork of the Japanese people.
I've heard that some people become fans even though they're aging, and some even collect them.

Until two years ago, persimmon tanning dyeing was a technique that was at risk of being inherited.
By meeting a wonderful tanner, I was able to pass this on to the next generation. This was not just a coincidence, but because there was a tanner who had the skills to grasp our strong desire to "never lose this technology" and make it a reality.

Each item that is loved across borders has a story behind it. I believe that products with stories like this have power.

Paul Stuart's style of ``providing confidence, not looks'' is also connected to our craftsmanship, which conveys the ``power of leather'' and ``the power of color,'' and is a spirit that should never be forgotten.

We want to convey the charm of handicrafts that cannot be found in mass production.
Our goal is to continue to create products that make our customers' lives even a little bit richer by providing them with powerful products.

Once again when the situation has calmed downI would be happy if I could visit Manhattan and talk about things like that.