We recently caught up with the two powerhouses behind Battenwear, Shinya and Carrie. Renowned for their impeccable Made In USA gear the family recently relocated to Tokyo and have set up dual production across both USA and Japan. Japan is now exclusively home to the brands design and garment construction, whilst the production of accessories will remain in the USA where it all began. We're really excited to be carrying Battenwear this season and can't wait to see how the brand develops with Japanese influence.
Why was Battenwear initially being Made In USA so important to you?
I had worn Made in USA since high school, when we were in Manhattan’s Garment District everything was in a 5 block radius of our office. We had our fabric suppliers, our factories, our cutting rooms and grading room there so it just felt natural.
What are the main differences between USA manufacturing and Made In Japan?
USA manufacturing started with military uniform, so that’s why the fabrics are alot more rugged. Japanese factories are alot more delicate and precise in construction so they make really beautiful products but if you want to achieve anything ‘rugged’ you have to really show them what you’d like. It means paying alot of attention to the fabric and sewing technique to get the details right.
Shinya: In 1988 when I was 16, I became obsessed with American clothing through zines like Pop Eye. I still remember this one ad with a model wearing a Champion Reverse Weave Sweatsuit and I remember thinking ‘I HAVE to have that’.
That summer I got a plumbing job and my first paycheck was just enough to buy one Champion Sweatshirt. When I got home I tried it on and I was so dissapointed. The fabric was thick, stiff and uncomfortable.
It felt nothing like I imagined, still I kept wearing it, complaining about it and washing it. Breaking it in, and overtime it softened, molded to my body and slowly became part of my everyday. That experience taught me something important about American Military Clothing: The best garments don’t reveal themselves immediately.
What do you consider the most precious piece in Shinya’s extensive archive?
I got this like 20 years ago at a flea market in New York. The 1984 olympic games was the first that I remember. In my class at school I was the fastest runner so I got the nickname ‘Carl Lewis’ so thats what this jacket reminds me of.
So Between Brooklyn and Tokyo Where Are Your Favourite Food Spots?
For when you’re homesick for America in Japan, we recommend McLean Old Fashioned Diner in Kurumae, Tokyo is known for its burgers, and we also love its milkshakes, onion rings, and Brooklyn ambiance. After eating, you can explore Kurumae, which was once a shogunate rice storage neighborhood, then a manufacturing (including garments) supply district, and now a stylish hub for artisanal coffee shops, boutiques, and eateries. We shop for specialised trim there when we're not stuffing our bellies with American-style greasy goodness.
And for Brooklyn?
For when you're homesick for Japan in America: Hibino in Brooklyn, New York is known for Kyoto-style box sushi but we love its rotating menu of OBANZAI, which are small dishes that deliver us the exact dose of home cooking we need to not miss Japan quite as much. After eating, you can walk to Brooklyn Bridge Park and take a ferry to Governor's Island.
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