Full of passion and skills, Hoodie by Kepani.
UNCOMPROMISING WORK, WILL IT BE LIGHT TO THE JAPANESE APPAREL INDUSTRY?
As Large companies using cheap material and labor rise, apparel industry in Japan isn't the only one struggling with insufficient of domestic material and craftsman. But at the same time, movement in the society tries to fight it is waking up.
"Kepani" (ケパニ) is one of the new brand of such founded by "Kinosho Hampu" (木の庄帆布) in 2006. The name of the brand, "Kepani" is local word in Hawaii for "Japanese". Its concept is based on succession of craftsman skill and quality of manufacturing to following generation in Japan. "Raffi / uneven thread" created by the brand is twisting long fiber length cotton, no matter how many times washed its original supple won't be lost. Plus, the cotton's reflectance is high, looks shining. Sticking thoroughly to material, a life-time clothes shed light.
The material is mixture of ultra-long cotton and fallen cotton of Giza America, called "Raffi" thread.
The thread is a mixed recycle thread of ultra-long cotton Turfan and Giza America's fallen cotton.
As a feature of super long cotton:
The longest fiber in cotton
Heavy moisture absorption and excellent plump
It has a high reflectance so it looks shiny
It contains a lot of fats and oils, and it feels very good
Fallen cotton: In raw spinning process raw cotton which was not formed on yarn but fell as waste.
Recycled cotton that was spun together with raw cotton
Ecology material realizing natural unevenness feeling by mixing fallen cotton as raw material
As a result of using the material, a very fluffy, shiny, soft, ecological, natural sense of unevenness was born.
Knitting is done by innovative sinker machine. The purpose of using the machine to knit as not tight as done by other knitters so the feature of the yarn stays with the result, three-dimensional fluffy.
The goodness of comfort is made by "sinker knitting" instead of hanging. Softly knitted cotton is processed in Wakayama, then brought to Mie for brushed processing. Shrink the fuzz woven knitted fabric at a stretch with a tumbler. Especially, inner fabric of the raised is ingeniously done by tumbler.
Everything about Kepani's wear simply can't be explained because its full of special features and commitment. Let's start looking part by part.
Manhattan - Ⅱ, (マンハッタンⅡ)
Price: ¥19,440
Material: 100% Raffi brushed back
Colors:
Medium gray
Carbon gray
Oatmeal
Light gray
Gray
Navy
Ivy green
Dark navy
Black
Some of colors may be sold out. Always check availability.
Unevenness gives sophisticated impression of good vintage like worn for a decade. It should feel thick but soft and light.
The spindle is knitted unit in the shape of hollow tube. A braid and weaving organization is common nowadays, but instead, Kepani uses a few very old knitting machines which are still operatable in several domestic places.
Zippers are "UNIVERSAL" which used for over 100 years. Smooth opening and closing with cool styleless look.
Fluffy made inner provides extra comfort and heat retention.
Sleeve ribs which fit perfectly to your wrists are tightly knitted and feels burly so they won't get loosened up by even long-term use.
The waist part is done as same as sleeves.
Size 3 worn by a model. (180cm 80kg)
The size of hoodie is available as below:
Width: 42 (0), 48 (1), 50 (2), 52 (3)
Length: 58 (0), 60 (1), 62 (2), 64 (3)
Sleeve: 79 (0), 83 (1), 85 (2), 87 (3)
(0) is lady's M, (1) is S, (2) is M, (3) is L
The hood may be the softest part made in this hoodie. So, it stands instead of hanging sloppily.
At Kinosho Hampu, the store of Kepani, handles many other items such as T-shirts, sweatshirts, shorts, gloves, neck warmers, etc.
I will post and update on other items if I have a chance.
Where to buy: "Kepani"
Kinosho Hampu store.
Address: 1F of Wako palace21, 2-1-13, Honkawacho, Naka ward, Hiroshima city
Open hours: 10:00 to 18:00
Closed on: Sunday, Monday and National holidays
Kinosho Hampu official site.
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