{"id":88640,"date":"2024-05-10T10:08:26","date_gmt":"2024-05-10T01:08:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/papersky.jp\/?p=88640"},"modified":"2024-05-10T14:16:25","modified_gmt":"2024-05-10T05:16:25","slug":"keisuke-kawashima","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/papersky.jp\/en\/keisuke-kawashima\/","title":{"rendered":"Keisuke Kawashima"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I have always liked fashion, so I often make classic designs with contemporary materials and outdoor interpretations.\u00a0<\/h4>\n\n\n\n



More than twenty years have passed since I first visited Takaosanguchi and I was curious to see how things had changed. It has changed and so have I. This time my goal wasn\u2019t to reach the summit, but to enjoy time with Keisuke Kawashima and discover the story behind Velo Spica<\/a> cycling caps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is my journey back to Mt. Takao<\/a> where Keisuke and I hiked and talked until it was time to eat soba noodles and drink local beer\u2026 then we talked some more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Exactly ten years separates Keisuke and I, but we easily and quickly found friendship and connection in our fascination for countercultures. Creative cultures with a distinct aesthetic, sense of community and style. Often at the core of these cultures you find an energetic DIY (Do It Yourself) attitude, making the most out of every opportunity. Keisuke makes caps, cycling caps; \u201ccaps seeking possibilities<\/a>\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It all started back in Tokyo\u2019s 2006 piste cycling boom. The bikes, bags and the caps were all new to Keisuke, who before too long was commuting to work on his own fixed gear bicycle. Around that time he found a handmade cycling cap in a used clothing store; a worn out cap from San Francisco based Chuey Brand. It was this DIY style along with the atmosphere of the cycle messenger culture at the time that energised Keisuke to buy his first sewing machine. With no prior sewing experience he intuitively dismantled \u2014 reverse engineered \u2014 the old cap using the separated parts as a pattern to make his own. As the classic story of a maker goes, you start by making your own cap, sooner or later you’re making caps for friends, then friends of friends and before too long selling caps in cycling shops around the city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While orders from a new generation of cycling shops were coming in, Keisuke was still improving his design and sewing skills. Learning and gathering tips from established garment manufacturing professionals who pointed out his suspect stitching while gladly assisting him sow the parts he couldn\u2019t do on his own machines, such as the eyelets indicative to caps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this way Velo Spica was pieced together. V\u00e9lo, meaning bicycle in French, and Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo. The etymology of this name comes from the Lantin & Greek word for spike or an ear of grain, which in Japanese has a good meaning of harvest and fertility. \u201cIt has a slightly spiky impression and I thought it would be an interesting name for my brand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Now years later Keisuke is still designing caps including many collaborations with\u00a0brands<\/a>,\u00a0artists<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0organisations<\/a>. Cycling persists at the core of his designs while crossing over into other activities including\u00a0hiking<\/a>\u00a0and his latest hobby;\u00a0fly fishing<\/a>. However all the caps have flip up visors as all good cycling caps should.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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PAPERSKY \u00d7 Velo Spica “Tour de Nippon Official Jetcap”<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As he bridged the gap between young and old industries he blended designs between cultures, taking inspiration from diverse interests and genera. The whole time enjoying the process of creating new designs with an apparent sense of humour. It\u2019s evident that Keisuke enjoys his work-lifestyle, it can be seen in everything he does, from making caps to short films. Working together with photographer friend\u00a0Sugisaki-san<\/a>\u00a0they collectively produce films as\u00a0LONGBUNCH, named after \u201cNagabusa-machi\u201d where we live.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWe wanted to film a more realistic everyday play, rather than forcing ourselves to go to extremes on our bikes. It’s a record of people who turn casual little things in their daily lives into fun in the neighbourhood. We aimed to create something that would leave\u00a0an impression<\/a>\u00a0on viewers, but not feel like a promotion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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