Shigeharu Tagaki founded Studio D'Artisan in Osaka, Japan in 1979. Tagaki was a designer who studied in France and was influenced by French and American workwear.

Studio D'Artisan is one of the original five Japanese denim companies known as the "Osaka Five".

Studio D'Artisan is known for its focus on the unique stiffness, unevenness, fading, and texture found in old-fashioned denim.

Shinichi Haraki established The Works Inc and the Iron Heart brand in 2002. After 20 years of working in the garment industry in Japan, beginning as a pattern maker for Edwin and advancing to designer and producer/director for the company, he decided to combine his wealth of experience with his passion for motorbikes and create his own clothing brand, with a focus on heavyweight denims and durable fabrics, designed for and aimed at the Japanese motorcycling community.

Samurai Jeans is a Japanese denim brand renowned for its high-quality, heavyweight selvedge jeans, often featuring heavy-ounce denim, unique textures, and intricate details inspired by traditional samurai imagery, including a distinctive silver thread on the selvage representing a samurai sword's gleam; the brand is known for its exceptional craftsmanship and focus on premium materials, making their jeans highly sought after by denim enthusiasts. 

Toru Nogami founded Samurai Jeans in Osaka, Japan in 1997. 

• Samurai jeans are known for their extreme attention to detail. 
• They feature a flash of silver thread woven into the selvage, a callback to the glint of samurai swords.

Japanese denim is better due to better cotton and weaved in shuttle loom.

Come Join Us This November 8th and Nov. 9th for Hiroshi Kato Trunk Show

at Our Brick and Mortar Shop in Wicker Park.

First 100 Customers Will Receive Kato Denim Shampoo.

The legend was born in the 17th Century, as the first European travelers explored Tibet, and tells of “Shangri-La” as a mythical valley, a mysterious and unreachable place, which evokes pure human desire and deep spirituality.
The name retraces the dream for explorations on motorcycles hunting for beautiful and forgotten spots, in a word, searching for the Shangri-La.
Heritage comes from the need to create iconic and timeless garments, inspired by the past.
Designed for Bikers, Rockers and Gentlemen.

The oldest Japanese denim brand in Japan is arguably BIG JOHN.

Established in 1940, BIG JOHN is renowned for its high-quality heavy onz denim and is considered one of the pioneers of the Japanese denim industry. Known for their top-notch denim products that combine superb quality with meticulous craftsmanship, BIG JOHN jeans have earned a loyal following among denim aficionados worldwide. 

BIG JOHN uses premium denim sourced from Japan. The denim is often raw or selvedge, known for its durability and unique aging characteristics.

 The choice of materials,like the brown selvage and original cotton yarn, adds to the uniqueness of the jeans. The use of vintage iron buttons and the intentional aging of buttons further enhances the authenticity and character of the garment.

We are very proud to introduce Edwin Jeans Made in Japan Edition to our collection. Just two fits for now, Regular Straight and Regular Taper. 

THE EDWIN BRAND IS KNOWN FOR ITS AUTHENTICITY, SKILL, AND UNRIVALED DISCIPLINE OF JAPANESE JEAN MAKING. IN 1947 THE EDWIN BRAND WAS AMONGST THE FIRST DENIM PIONEERS TO TRANSLATE POST WWII AMERICANA THROUGH A JAPANESE LENS AND BECOME THE FIRST GLOBAL DENIM BRAND FROM JAPAN

TODAY, EDWIN CONTINUES TO SET THE STANDARD IN JAPANESE DENIM PRODUCTION. THEY PRIDE THEMSELVES ON THE USE OF EXCLUSIVE FABRICS, REVOLUTIONARY PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES, AND STATE OF THE ART FINISHING, KEEPING DESIGN AND FIT THE PRIORITY.

About Beams

Renowned for its masterful interpretation of classic American menswear, BEAMS PLUS is a private-label brand started in 1999 by Japan’s lifestyle retailer BEAMS.

When BEAMS started as a tiny shop in Harajuku, Tokyo in 1976, its store name was taglined American Life Shop BEAMS.  The tides had turned after a gloomy era of depression and political turbulence, and the youth, influenced by images of American culture that they saw in movies and on TV, were hungry to get their hands on something other than army surplus.  A small group of young men travelled to California and returned with bags full of American fashion and lifestyle products to sell – and that was the beginning of BEAMS.  Styled to replicate a UCLA student dorm room, the shop was undoubtedly the first of its kind.  As BEAMS quickly expanded its offerings to include European brands, high-end designer labels and women’s fashion, BEAMS PLUS was launched to sustain the company’s passion for genuine American styles.

BEAMS PLUS draws inspiration from America’s Golden Age, the mid-1940s to mid-60s, when the country came out of World War II as the victor and its economy was booming.  Every business sector saw massive development, and dress codes, or uniforms, were defined for various lifestyles.  Four main uniform categories were fostered in this era that are the basis of fashion thereafter: American trad, work, sports and military.  BEAMS PLUS sees timeless beauty in the functional designs of uniform fashion, and strives to honor such tradition in its modern interpretations.

Cited as being a guardian of classic American style, BEAMS PLUS flagship shops in Japan offer a curated selection of clothing and accessories from trusted brands around the world.  Currently directed by Hideki (Harry) Mizobata, BEAMS PLUS private label collections are designed in-house by a team of dedicated professionals.  Outside of Japan, it is stocked by distinguished retailers in more than 14 countries across Europe, North America, Asia, and Oceania.

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We will gladly repair your well loved denim. 

BORN IN JAPAN, MADE IN LOS ANGELES

Inspired by classic garments, KATO focuses on combining the modern need for comfort with the love for vintage pieces. Taking inspiration from hardware, stitching and even machinery used and blending it with innovative blends of fabric and new fits, KATO is dedicated to creating timeless pieces that you’ll hold on to for years.