Poly Smooth Track Pant
The butterfly-embroidered, side-striped Poly Smooth track pant (and its matching jacket) is the piece that made Needles a global name, offered here in narrow and boot-cut fits.
Explore Track Pants →Brand profile
NEEDLES
Needles is Keizo Shimizu's Nepenthes in-house label, reworking Americana and 1970s leisurewear, best known for its butterfly-logo velour track pants.
TokyoOrigin
MenswearFocus
StreetwearStyle
$$$Price
27 brands like NEEDLES like Engineered Garments, Wacko Maria, Comme des Garçons →
What to know about NEEDLES
Needles is the in-house label of Japanese distributor and retailer Nepenthes, designed by founder Keizo Shimizu. Launched in 1997 to complement the American labels Nepenthes imported, it reworks Americana, Western and 1970s leisure references through Japanese fabrics and construction. The butterfly-embroidered velour Track Pant is its best-known piece, alongside rebuilt vintage garments, mohair cardigans and patchwork shirting. Stocked at Nepenthes stores in Tokyo, New York and London, the brand released its first Uniqlo collaboration, a fleece capsule, in October 2025.
The pieces that define NEEDLES
Shop NEEDLES →Piping Cowboy Series
Western-piped jackets and lounge pants in poly double cloth distill Keizo Shimizu's habit of running 1970s Americana through Japanese fabric and tailoring.
Explore Piping Cowboy →Papillon Pieces
The papillon butterfly motif is the brand's emblem, embroidered and embossed across belts, shirts, loafers and slippers.
Explore Papillon →Shop NEEDLES
Shop all NEEDLES ↗Available atSSENSE · END. · HAVEN · Blue in Green · DeeCee style · Hatchet Outdoor Supply Co.
How NEEDLES fits
Overall fit
runs large
Needles garments are widely described as roomy and relaxed for their labelled size, so shoppers frequently take a size down from their normal Japanese or US size while still ending up with a loose fit.
Tip: Most people size down one from their usual, and only stay true to size if you want the full oversized look.
Medium confidence · based on 16 sources
By category
| Category | Runs | Shape | Size advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoodies & sweatshirts | runs large | oversized with dropped shoulders and a full body | Size down one unless you specifically want the heavily oversized look. |
| Jackets | runs large | roomy through the chest and shoulders, cut with layering room in coach jackets, track jackets and outerwear | Size down one if you plan to wear it over just a tee; stay true to size for heavy layering. |
| Shirts & overshirts | runs large | boxy and wide through the chest with dropped-ish shoulders on camp-collar and patchwork styles | Take one size down if you prefer a cleaner shoulder line; true to size gives an intentionally loose drape. |
| T-shirts & graphic tees | slightly large | relaxed and boxy rather than fitted | Stick to your usual size for a modern relaxed tee, or size down if you dislike a wide body. |
| Trousers & pants | runs large | relaxed with a high-ish rise; the signature Track Pant flares from the knee while H.D. and Western pants sit fuller and straighter | Size down one on track pants unless you want a very baggy, pooling fit, and budget for a hem. |
Directional fit consensus summarized from public sources with AI — a starting point, not a guarantee. Confirm with the product's own measurements before buying.
If you like NEEDLES
See all 27 brands like NEEDLES →
93% matchEngineered Garments
Sibling Nepenthes label, workwear-side Americana rework
What changes: Military/workwear patterning rather than 70s leisure and velour
74% matchWacko Maria
Tokyo take on 70s rayon leisure shirting, nightlife-leaning
What changes: Graphic, music-subculture branding over vintage reconstruction
68% matchComme des Garçons
Tokyo pattern-cutting heritage with sub-label sprawl
What changes: Avant-garde conceptual cutting, far less Americana nostalgia
65% matchOur Legacy
Reworked wardrobe staples on custom-developed cloth
What changes: Scandinavian minimalism, no vintage-Americana references
NEEDLES fit questions
Does NEEDLES run big or small?
NEEDLES runs large. Most people size down one from their usual, and only stay true to size if you want the full oversized look. Needles garments are widely described as roomy and relaxed for their labelled size, so shoppers frequently take a size down from their normal Japanese or US size while still ending up with a loose fit.
How does NEEDLES fit?
Needles garments are widely described as roomy and relaxed for their labelled size, so shoppers frequently take a size down from their normal Japanese or US size while still ending up with a loose fit. Overall shape: relaxed and boxy, with wide shoulders and generous through the body — cut closer to a loose 70s leisure silhouette than modern slim tailoring.
How do NEEDLES hoodies & sweatshirts fit?
NEEDLES hoodies & sweatshirts runs large. Size down one unless you specifically want the heavily oversized look. Shape: oversized with dropped shoulders and a full body.
How do NEEDLES jackets fit?
NEEDLES jackets runs large. Size down one if you plan to wear it over just a tee; stay true to size for heavy layering. Shape: roomy through the chest and shoulders, cut with layering room in coach jackets, track jackets and outerwear.
How do NEEDLES shirts & overshirts fit?
NEEDLES shirts & overshirts runs large. Take one size down if you prefer a cleaner shoulder line; true to size gives an intentionally loose drape. Shape: boxy and wide through the chest with dropped-ish shoulders on camp-collar and patchwork styles.
Brand facts
- Founded
- 1997
- Origin
- Tokyo, Japan
- Made in
- Japan
- Price
- $$$
- Typical prices
- Jackets $300–$594 · Trousers $181–$359 · Shirts $212–$375
- Focus
- Menswear
- Styles
- Streetwear, Avant-garde, Athleisure / Sportswear