Brand profile

The Flat Head

Nagano-based Japanese Americana label making fade-focused raw selvedge denim, flannels and horsehide outerwear on vintage shuttle looms since 1996.

NaganoOrigin

Workwear / HeritageStyle

$$$Price

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What to know about The Flat Head

Fabric is woven in-house

Custom cotton is woven on vintage Toyoda shuttle looms, and details like rivets are made with the company's own proprietary machinery rather than sourced parts.

Founded on reverse-engineered vintage jeans

Masayoshi Kobayashi ran a vintage store and took apart old American jeans to learn construction before starting the label in Nagano in 1996.

Relaunched after a 2019 bankruptcy

The original company went bankrupt and Kobayashi left; investor Sirius Ventures restarted a smaller core range still produced by the original craftsmen.

StyleWorkwear / Heritage

Looks from The Flat Head

Shop all The Flat Head ↗

The Flat Head — FN-SNR-101LSP Indigo-dyed Block Check Flannel Shirt Indigo/Black

FN-SNR-101LSP Indigo-dyed Block Check Flannel Shirt Indigo/Black$360

The Flat Head — FN-OJ-D002 The Flat Head 14.5oz 50's Type II Denim Jacket- Indigo

FN-OJ-D002 The Flat Head 14.5oz 50's Type II Denim Jacket- Indigo$365

The Flat Head — FN-IW-GL102 The Flat Head Sunglasses- Brown/Brown

FN-IW-GL102 The Flat Head Sunglasses- Brown/Brown$375

The Flat Head — FN-IW-GL102 Sunglasses- Black/Orange

FN-IW-GL102 Sunglasses- Black/Orange$375

The Flat Head — FN-IW-GL102 The Flat Head Sunglasses- Black/Blue

FN-IW-GL102 The Flat Head Sunglasses- Black/Blue$375

The Flat Head — FN-THLH-004 -The Flat Head Thermal L/S Henley T-shirt - Light Orange

FN-THLH-004 -The Flat Head Thermal L/S Henley T-shirt - Light Orange$120

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Brand facts

The Flat Head is a Japanese heritage label founded in Nagano Prefecture in 1996 by Masayoshi Kobayashi, a former vintage-store owner who deconstructed old American jeans to learn construction. It builds raw selvedge denim, flannels, loopwheel tees, Type III jackets and Shinki Hikaku horsehide outerwear, weaving custom fabrics on vintage Toyoda shuttle looms and using proprietary machinery for details like rivets. The original company filed for bankruptcy in 2019-2020 and Kobayashi stepped down; investor Sirius Ventures took over the apparel business and relaunched a tighter core range still made by original craftsmen.

Founded: 1996
Origin: Nagano, Japan
Price: $$$
Facts checked: August 2026
Styles: Workwear / Heritage

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