Introducing Kaptain Sunshine

A Japanese label producing high-quality takes on archival Americana staples isn’t exactly newsworthy at this point, but trust us – you’ll want to pay attention to what the folks at Kaptain Sunshine are up to. Rather than producing exact replicas and reproductions, Kaptain Sunshine injects elements of designer Shinsuke Kojima’s own style into each piece the brand produces. The silhouettes are largely borrowed from vintage workwear and military & naval gear, but it’s difficult to put one’s finger on the exact time-period any garment hails from since the past is used more as a jumping-off point than an exact template. To put it plainly, Kaptain Sunshine produces riffs, not covers.

This amalgamation of influences and epochs makes perfect since considering Kojima’s early experience as a curator of sorts. The now-designer earned his stripes as an editor for a fashion magazine before striking out on his own in 2013. This also informed the designer’s accept-no-substitutes approach to everything from fabric sourcing to production. Only Japan’s most lauded factories will suffice for Kaptain Sunshine, who have also made materials a priority – nay, an obsession, sourcing the highest quality fabrics from producers around the globe. This artisan approach and their ability to deftly merge decades of clothing into one seamless piece has turned the brand into a powerhouse in the adventure-wear world, and even earned them a must-see collab with Goldwin.

All this, in spite of the fact that nowhere does Kaptain Sunshine refer to themselves as an outdoors brand, or claim to produce ‘gear’ rather than clothing. There’s nary a technical material in sight here, yet their garments are undoubtedly capable of accompanying any adventure thanks to some good ol’ fashioned grit. Staples like the anorak are made over with a cotton-silk blend that is delightfully crinkly to the touch, while other classics are rightfully left alone, like Kaptain Sunshine’s take on the denim work shirt – a heavyweight affair that features a two-pocket front with contrasting white stitching. Time-honoured staples are done justice here, with just enough modification to make you feel like you’re looking at something totally new and original. Shinsuke Kojima may be a student of the past, but Kaptain Sunshine designs for the future.

Kaptain Sunshine will be hitting our shelves in short order – keep your eyes peeled for new arrivals later this summer.

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