A unique style—Y's, the first brand created by Yohji Yamamoto in 1972, embodies Yamamoto's thoughts and philosophy on clothing creation. Always moving forward, Y's expresses its identity based on an unchanging philosophy. In 2022, Y's will look back on its 50-year history through creative endeavors and strive for further innovation.

"Y's 1972 - SUKAJAN" is a sukajan collection by Y's and Tailor Toyo. "Tailor Toyo" is Toyo Enterprise's sukajan brand. Toyo Enterprise's predecessor, Kosho & Co., was founded in the post-war 1940s and engaged in the import and export of fabrics. After the war, witnessing American soldiers seeking traditional Japanese items like kimonos and obi sashes as souvenirs at the street stalls around Ginza, a Kosho employee came up with the idea for a souvenir jacket featuring oriental embroidery. This was the birth of the Japanese clothing we now know as "sukajan."

The design was modeled after the baseball jacket familiar to Americans, and the embroidery was commissioned from artisans in Kiryu and Ashikaga. At the time, postwar material controls made it difficult to obtain silk thread, so the fabric used was acetate, which resembles silk. When Kosho began selling the jackets at their street stall, they quickly gained popularity. Eventually, the jackets caught the eye of a purchasing officer at a PX (a store on a U.S. military base), and they were delivered to bases throughout Japan, eventually spreading to U.S. military bases overseas. Delivery slips from that time show the product listed as "SOUVENIR JACKET."

During the heyday of souvenir jacket production in the 1950s, Tailor Toyo accounted for 95% of deliveries. Originating from Minato Sho, Tailor Toyo has been making souvenir jackets for over half a century. They are the original creators of the sukajan and have continued to pass on the sukajan as a culture.


Y's 1972 - SUKAJAN

"Y's 1972 - SUKAJAN" is committed to making all processes in Japan, even though sukajan production now involves a mix of overseas production. They perfectly reproduce the vintage sukajan of the time, down to the smallest details, including acetate material, wool ribs, zippers, and horizontal embroidery. Furthermore, they strive to create a high-quality silhouette with even greater attention to detail.


A tiger rendered in black - based on the design of a particularly rare vintage piece in Tailor Toyo's collection, the tiger's stripes and dynamic body are reproduced using only the three-dimensional effect of embroidery, using an all-black color scheme. This is an embroidery technique that only Japanese artisans can achieve, and is an expression that embodies Japanese creativity, made possible by Y's commitment to design and Japanese skills.


This collaboration piece was created as part of the "Kosho Label," a special edition that recreates the finest pieces from Tailor Toyo's collection with meticulous attention to detail. It is affixed with a label from "KOSHO & CO. Kosho Shokai," the predecessor of Tailor Toyo. The intricately embroidered patterns and adjusted acetate fabric weave give it a vintage-like finish, and the wool rib is knitted one by one using an old-fashioned flat knitting machine.


The zippers are made by reviving a fastening machine from over 50 years ago, and are reproduced using the same hand-bent method as back then. Therefore, the real charm of "Y's 1972 - SUKAJAN" is that the authentic specifications of the time, which are more delicate than modern products, are also one of the highlights of "Y's 1972 - SUKAJAN". The body color is a variation of black, and comes in two colors: jet black and vintage black. "Y's 1972 - SUKAJAN" is made up of various "expressions of black".



Y's 1972 - SUKAJAN
Color: Jet black / Vintage black
Reversible [Front: Tiger, Back: Dragon, Embroidery commemorating Y's 1972]
https://theshopyohjiyamamoto.jp/shop/g/gYF-Y50-505-2-02/





Contact your nearest Y's store:
https://www.yohjiyamamoto.co.jp/shopinfo/
Some stores accept product orders over the phone and offer cash-on-delivery shipping. Please contact your nearest store for details. Store staff will be happy to assist you.

Online reservations/purchases:
https://theshopyohjiyamamoto.jp/shop/g/gYF-Y50-505-2-02/

Customer inquiries: We accept inquiries at all Y's stores. Please contact your nearest store.

Y's has online boutiques tailored to your country:
Japan/Japanese https://theshopyohjiyamamoto.jp/shop/c/c30/
France・International/Francais https://theshopyohjiyamamoto.com/fr/shop/c/c30/
International/English https://theshopyohjiyamamoto.com/shop/c/c30/
China/中文 https://china.theshopyohjiyamamoto.com/shop/shop/c/c30/


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Y's
Y's is the first brand created by Yohji Yamamoto in 1972, and it also embodies Yamamoto's thoughts and philosophy on clothing design. It originated with the concept of women wearing men's clothes, and was created for independent women with timeless values. Functional and elegant everyday wear. Within its own unique category, Y's creations are shaped by universal values and unique pattern making. The clothing is created with a focus on cutting and silhouette, making the most of the texture of the material, and placing importance on the sense of air, volume, and balance that emerges between the wearer and the clothing. The current atelier team, who have inherited this philosophy, embody the brand's identity and a collection that offers functional, high-quality ready-to-wear.
http://www.yohjiyamamoto.co.jp/ys/