TOSU, a consulting and food service company, has entered the apparel business with a new venture, opening a directly managed store for its original men's brand, "Rainmaker," on August 11th at 502 Rokkaku Eboshiyacho, Muromachi, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City. The store is 65 sq. meters in size.
As this is an entry into a different industry, the company has hired former N4 designer Koichi Watanabe to launch the brand with this fall/winter collection. Currently, the brand is wholesaled to nine other stores in addition to this directly managed store.
The brand name "Rainmaker" has the unusual meaning of "rainmaker." One reason is that designer Watanabe was a "rain man," and was always met with rain whenever he went on business trips or held exhibitions. It also derives from the tale of the "rainmaker" written by the famous psychologist Jung.
Rainmaker offers a total apparel lineup based on a traditional taste, from tailored to casual wear. The directly managed stores purchase shoes from brands such as John Lobb and Musica, and some cut-and-sew items from Aristocratico. They have about 50 original styles and plan to continue offering around 50 styles each season. They plan to strengthen their wholesale business using the newly opened directly managed store as a base. In addition to the shoes they currently carry, the directly managed stores also plan to purchase bags, glasses, and other items from other companies, aiming to offer a comprehensive product lineup.