Nepenthes

Nepenthes is a Japanese apparel company founded in Tokyo in 1988 by Keizo Shimizu, which began by importing American workwear and military surplus before building its own labels. It now designs and distributes Needles, Engineered Garments, South2 West8, AiE and Nepenthes-branded goods, and runs retail stores in Japan, London and New York. The house aesthetic reworks Americana through Japanese pattern-making: butterfly-embroidered track pants, patchwork and asymmetrical shirting, hunting and fishing gear. Nepenthes New York, open since 1998, sells the in-house labels alongside outside brands.