The relentless heat of consecutive days where the temperature never drops below 30°C (86°F) pitilessly wears down both our spirits and our physical strength. We hear from many sources that we should refrain from exercising during the day, but it may just be our inescapable nature that, even under the scorching sun, we find ourselves wanting to move our bodies and play, fighting the heat and shedding buckets of sweat.
One day last week, I headed to Yamanashi with Ryotaraw-shi of RawLow Mountain Works. We were guided by Mr. Ishikawa, the owner of Sunday, an outdoor shop in Kofu that promotes mountain activities such as hiking, camping, and trail running. We spent the day exploring the surrounding mountains like Mt. Mizugaki and Mt. Kimpu on our bikes. We pedaled into the mountains, enjoying the unique basin terrain of Yamanashi and its massive peaks. At times, we even ventured onto roads with no end in sight, seduced by the sweet, pleasant scents of the forest. And when we coated our heat-radiating bodies in heavy sweat, the relief of cooling down all at once in the cold river water was an indulgence that can only be savored during this season. Summer rides are simply inseparable from our lives.
That said, enjoying these activities requires the appropriate gear. If you have a pair of shorts that is exceptionally cool, quickly absorbs and dries sweat, possesses excellent stretch to accommodate a wide range of movements, and has a look that fits naturally not only in your activities but also in your daily life, it would surely become the single best item in your summer wardrobe. To realize such shorts, we collaborated with Deeper’s Wear to create the RAL meets DEEPER’S WEAR / Fast Pass Short, which we launched over the past two years to great acclaim from many of you. This year, we’ve added elements of the Fast Pass Active Short, resulting in a new release with even greater comfort.
I wore them all day during our ride in Yamanashi, and their comfort is such that I’ve already reached a point where I cannot part with them.
The fabric used is a lightweight herringbone weave, a new addition to the highly moisture-wicking and quick-drying Fast Pass series this season. Furthermore, it offers even more stretch than the fabric used in our previous Fast Pass Shorts, so you will experience unparalleled comfort whether you are riding, running, hiking, or engaging in any of the activities we enjoy daily.
They come in two colors: navy and khaki. We offer sizes starting from 2 (Women's M), so they can be worn by women as well.
Compared to previous models, the details are now closer to outdoor apparel like climbing shorts. The elastic waistband can be finely adjusted with a nylon strap. Additionally, the inclusion of a detachable buckle, snap buttons, and a zipper makes them easy to put on and take off. The buckle, in particular, is unique in how easily it "snaps" open with just a thumb press. This detail is hard to put into words, so please try them on at the shop! Even if you’re someone who doesn't typically wear shorts, I want you to try these at least once. We’ve also set the hem narrower than most running or climbing shorts, creating a silhouette that balances well with shirts, polo shirts, and other tops. Furthermore, while the 100% polyester fabric has a slight sheen, it has a more subdued look than the fabrics used in typical jerseys or sportswear, making it highly compatible with casual wear.
The back pocket also features a snap button, so you can safely store your smartphone, wallet, or keys. And because the fabric is so stretchy, you can minimize the stress caused by the contents against your hips while pedaling.
【RAL meets DEEPERS’ WAER】
Fast Pass Player Short
Price : ¥10,000 (tax excluded)
This Fast Pass Player Short is the seventh item in our RAL meets DEEPER’S WEAR line, where we work with Deeper’s Wear to bring our ideas to life. We have released many items to date, and we are grateful to say that all of them have been very well received.
DEEPER’S WEAR items are equipped with features that many people need, such as stretch and moisture-wicking/quick-drying properties that excel in various situations, from daily desk work to weekend outdoor activities. Furthermore, they are not based on chasing trends like typical casual wear, but are designed to be worn for a long time, regardless of the era. They call this LIFE SPEC WEAR: clothing (WEAR) that pursues the functions (SPEC) required in daily life (LIFE).
The items they create are not announced as seasonal collections like standard apparel brands. What they create is based solely on the LIFE SPEC WEAR concept; they dream of the person who will use the item and generate ideas from there. They then use crowdfunding to directly ask if there is a need for the item, delivering it to those who truly require it.
The people who resonate with their actions are not just the users—whom they call "accomplices"—but also shops like ours and other manufacturers. This was evident from the diverse crowd that gathered at their recent 3rd-anniversary event, LIFE SPEC COOP 2.
photo by @fukudahitomi610
Another reason their circle of "accomplices" continues to grow is that their staff travels to various regions themselves to interact directly with many people through POP UP STORE events. In fact, our ride in Yamanashi mentioned earlier was made possible because we were invited to a joint POP UP STORE held at Sunday last November.
Here is a project they have been working on recently.
Their work has been recognized, and they have been nominated as a candidate for the Grand Prize of the "36th Mainichi Fashion Grand Prix." They were looking for messages of support from "accomplices" to include in their application materials. While the call for messages has already closed, please do check out the details.
By the way, in addition to these shorts, we have one more item scheduled for release this season, and another for the autumn, so we hope you will keep an eye on our future developments.