Why this Japanese Menswear store is Popular in New York? | Kamakura Shirts | New York 100 Ep 11

Even with all the changes and adaptations that comes with expanding a brand from Japan to New York, Kamakura Shirts sustained their core mission to:

「世界のビジネスをおしゃれにする」
Preserve Japanese fine craftsmanship through bringing finely made dress shirts to the world.

In order to achieve their mission, Kamakura has always placed a heightened emphasis on providing high quality products, with high quality service, at the lowest prices. Their dedication to the customer has made them a highly respected brand in Japan. And has thus, taken them successfully across borders.

ABOUT KAMAKURA SHIRTS
In 1991, Yoshio Sadasue and his wife Tamiko Sadasue opened a small family owned shirt store in Kamakura where once stood the ancient capital of Japan. Since then, Kamakura Shirts have launched 24 stores around Japan.

In 2012, after many years of dedication and determination, Kamakura Shirts opened its first overseas store in the New York City, the spiritual home of the 1960s Ivy League style that first inspired us. Kamakura continues to develop products and provide excellent service for each one of their customers with the intent to make them feel confident and empowered.

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IN THIS EPISODE
The Balance of Price and Quality


Building a Global Business
To Kamakura, branding begins with the customer at heart. Their belief in committing to their product offerings transends across borders.

The Relationship Between Culture and Apparel
Japan and America have two very distinctive cultures. These differences also conjure subtle preferences of how how people dress. Keisuke, manager at the Madison Avenue store, discusses the main differences between American and Japanese culture. And explains how they shape style and fashion.

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INFORMATION

INSPIRED BY KENSUKE ISHIZU, FOUNDER OF VAN JACKET INC.
“Is there no one to take over my vision and make Japanese men fashionable?”

In 1993, Yoshio and Tamiko Sadasue opened their small shirt store, above a convenience store in Kamakura.
It was their hope that, one day, their shirts and brand would be recognized by everyone - including those at the heart of Ivy League fashion, on the sacred ground of menswear, a place of admiration since the days of VAN Jacket: New York.

There is nothing that makes us happier than the fact that we have been able to identify our brand with the image of Kamakura, a charming city known all over Japan. At some point, people in Japan just started calling us 'Kamakura Shirts', and today we’re better known as 'Kamakura Shirts' than 'Maker’s Shirt Kamakura.' This is why, when we opened in New York, we decided to call ourselves 'Kamakura Shirts.' It makes sense: our company was born and bred in Kamakura, and our flagship shop is still in Kamakura - right next to the famous Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine.

It is an honor to be called Kamakura Shirts.
We aim to share the unique sensibilities of Kamakura with the world.

Industrial sewing machine

The value of "Made in Japan."

From the very start, Kamakura Shirts has been committed to quality materials and high manufacturing standards.

The sewing techniques used in Japan are among the best in the world, exemplifying precise craftsmanship and excellent skill. Upholding the principle “each stitch placed with the greatest care”, each garment is delicately and meticulously sewn together. The shirts are finished with single needle seams that look neat even on the inside, and the shirt pattern itself is elegantly curved to fit around your body. Many fabrics we use are 100% cotton, while some collections feature a luxurious 200 or even 300 thread yarn count. The buttons are made from natural shell, and our interlinings are non-fused.
Simply putting your arm through one of the sleeves will reveal to you why our shirts are so special.

We work very closely with our factories and deal with them directly. We research and develop new ideas together with them, and place emphasis on all-Japanese manufacturing. These factories work as a team, not as rivals, and share techniques freely in order to promote better craftsmanship as a whole. Keeping the entire production process in Japan facilitates communication between all parties involved. Both maker and seller are able to unite for a common goal.

Through direct communication and the elimination of outside contractors, we are hands on throughout the process. We also deal directly with fabric mills and subsidiary material makers to facilitate our operations.

All of this is for the sake of producing shirts honestly, with reliable quality.


We challenge ourselves to evolve and tirelessly work to improve, bringing our craft now not only to Japan, but to the world.

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