Buyers trip to Japan: 4 Highlights

Although it’s becoming an increasingly popular travel destination, Japan and Tokyo still feels very authentic and stands out for its many unique traits and characteristics. It doesn’t matter if you’re into food, tech, toys, arts & crafts or fashion, whether you’re into going fast or taking it easy, you’ll find it here and experience it in a truly original way. And we’re happy to join the chorus of people praising the country, culture and people, since travelling there is such a stimulating experience and its popularity is well-founded.

We have been doing business with Japanese suppliers for many years and it’s always a pleasure to reconnect with the kind and passionate people behind the companies we work with in their home base, allowing a closer interaction and deeper cultural understanding.

What characterizes Japanese brands and products first and foremost is a genuine respect and appreciation of quality and craftmanship. This, combined with curiosity and research, allows for preservation and continuous creation of classic and timeless garments that are as relevant today as they were 50–60 years ago.

Porter Yoshida & Co.

One of our favorites is the Japanese cult bag brand known for high-quality and durable bags made entirely in Japan. We’ve been stocking their more well-known bags, such as the Tanker and Force series, for many years, but the domestic collection is huge.

Look out for some new, limited products this year – including some beautiful leather bags.

Rocky Mountain Featherbed

Rocky Mountain Featherbed was founded in Wyoming, USA back in the 1960s, and are known for their colorful down vests and jackets. Today the company is owned by menswear guru and avid vintage collector, Kinji Teramoto, who respectfully ensures the legacy lives on.

Channel your inner cowboy with Americana-inspired garments such as the Christy Vest.

OrSlow

Although actually from Kobe, we met Orslow founder Ichiro Nakatsu and his team in their Tokyo showroom to review the new collection. Out of the hundreds of products in the collection, the majority are permanent pieces that carry-over season after season, a testament to the quality and timeless design approach of Ichiro.

Denim and pants are the key categories, but we recommend to keep an eye out for excellent military and work jackets.

Snow Peak

The Japanese outdoor- and camping brand is also a non-Tokyo native, but we couldn’t miss the opportunity to experience their take on a big-city infiltration. The company resides in the penthouse of a Tokyo skyscraper with a huge terrace overlooking the green Yoyogi park, which seemed as close to great nature as you’d get in Tokyo. Unfortunately, the offices are closed for public, but we do recommend visiting the Snow Peak Land Station, where you can experience their camping gear first hand in the beautiful café which is decorated completely with Snow Peak equipment, chairs, cups and cutlery.

Through extensive research of old and new crafting techniques, or the study of specific historical periods and garments, the Japanese brands are keeping alive, and even refining, valuable parts of our history that might otherwise be lost or forgotten.