For the past few years, we've been collaborating with WORKERS' Tateno-san for an annual project. Of course, the base is the added-on-hood sweatshirt, which I often layer with my denim jacket or coveralls around this time of year.Until now, we've released special colors related to cat fur patterns like tabby or calico cat, but this season I've changed direction a bit and tried Logo style.
One design is based on a font made based on the USNA, which was also available in WORKERS' in-line collection. To recreate this, we meticulously designed and drew everything from the thickness of the letters, to the decorative edges of the letters, the angle of the diagonals, and even the rules for line thickness!
Tateno spoke enthusiastically about how he enjoyed making the font, but...he also told me "It would be embarrassing if logo items didn't sell well, so please keep your orders moderate," he said half seriously.
That modest attitude is typical of Tateno.
The other design is based on college-style items with animal mascots, a style often seen in vintage clothing,and is expressed in a "recognizable collaboration" style that is reminiscent of the '90s. Looking at the finished product again, I do feel a little embarrassed to wear clothes with TCB Logo in big letters. But it's also true that when I choose clothes, I feel better knowing that there's a label somewhere that tells me which brand I'm wearing proudly or which team I support, what community I belong to, etc because I think fashion is a way of self expression.
The same goes for the USNA sweatshirts and college team uniforms.
Wearing clothes that show who you are boosts morale and gives you courage, and I think those clothes have existed as "clothes for going to battle."
That's why they're not easily thrown away, and they remain today as vintage items people seek after.
With that background in mind,
I hope that this collab hoodie, which I had WORKERS make for me,will lift your spirits up and give you courage for your challenges and become that kind of "cute clothing."
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Introducing the heavyweight sweatshirt/attached hoodie from WORKERS.
This heavy-ounce sweatshirt is made with a custom-made WORKERS fabric: The back loops are knitted short and then brushed.
The 18-gauge knitting is tightly knit, so it retains its shape well. Weighing approximately 15 ounces, this so-called "ultra-heavyweight sweatshirt" is made without synthetic fibers, making it supple and soft to wear. The ribbing is also free of the common "span terryco yarns" polyurethane, which stretches easily. It's made with 100% cotton yarn and features a stretchy knitting technique. It features a set-in V-neck. The hood is folded in a special way to minimize bulk from the thick fabric, creating a detachable hoodie, which were seen only on the parkas before the 50's.
The silhouette is a relaxed fit with dropped shoulders.
