ESTNATION | 2012 Spring/Summer Men's Buyer Feature: Estnation

ESTNATION

Mr. Tomonori Aso, General Manager of Men's Division II, Merchandising Department

Sophistication for Grown-Ups, Crafted Through Tasteful Mixing

ESTNATION's 2012 Spring/Summer catalog is finally complete, allowing customers to discover the latest items and coordinates not only in stores but also online. This season's major theme for men's casual wear is 'Taste Mix,' which encourages enjoying various combinations, such as mixing different materials or creating urban tastes with military and sport influences. "We aim to propose styling that offers an ESTNATION-esque 'sophistication for grown-ups,' rather than simply combining elements," says Mr. Tomonori Aso.

Text by Makoto KAJII (OPENERS)Photographs by Emiko HARA

Sport, Military, Japanese Designers, Double Names

"Military is a key focus again this season. We're proposing an 'urban military' style, ESTNATION-style, by using slightly brighter military colors like olive and leaf green, accented with pops of orange or white. We're expressing even dressy tastes using comfortable, sporty materials such as nylon stretch, cotton nylon, and jersey."
"Furthermore, a new initiative this season is the '08 CIRCUS × ESTNATION' collection, curated with Mr. Kominori Morishita, the designer behind the brand '08 CIRCUS' launched in Spring/Summer 2010. We discussed every fine detail to arrange the brand's worldview in an ESTNATION manner, pursuing collar shapes, fits, and design details. In addition to the jackets introduced here, we also offer parkas, shirts, and shorts themed around 'travel.'"

MUST BUY! 01
A Highly Anticipated Piece Debuting This Season

"At ESTNATION, we respect the unique ideas and originality of international brands, but we also focus on the high quality and meticulous attention to detail found in pieces by Japanese designers. Take, for example, Birvin Uniform, which debuts this season. While it falls under the surf category, their innovative use of digital technology to create jacquard knits with patterns resembling vintage posters on pile fabric is remarkable. This idea is realized beautifully, resulting in a garment that feels comfortable against the skin and exudes an adult atmosphere. It truly captures the Japanese sensibility. It possesses a 'sophistication' that transcends mere surfwear."
Parka ¥33,600 (Birvin Uniform / ESTNATION)

MUST BUY! 02
Material, Functionality, Fit – Perfect in Every Aspect!

"Batten Sportswear is another exciting brand that debuted this season. It's a New York-based brand helmed by Japanese designer Shinya Hasegawa. This is what you might call a 'mountain parka,' but it truly embodies Hasegawa's dedication, evident in its practical materials, sensible functionality designed for ease of movement, and well-balanced sizing. These details reflect his passion for outdoor sports. At ESTNATION, we offer this blouson along with T-shirts, climbing pants, and shorts, presenting a complete look."
Blouson ¥43,890 (Batten Sportswear / ESTNATION)

MUST BUY! 03
A Calculated 'Airiness' – Truly for the Discerning Adult

"This is the shawl collar cut-and-sew jacket from '08 CIRCUS × ESTNATION,' which I mentioned earlier. The 'Circus' in 08 CIRCUS is derived from 'sircus,' a portmanteau of 'SIR' (a British title) and 'CUSTOMER.' The '08' prefix, used since the brand's inception under Morishita's name, is a play on 'bee' (hachi in Japanese). This collection embodies both meticulous craftsmanship and a refined sense of 'ease,' appealing to the casual style that adults can enjoy. ESTNATION offers exclusive navy and gray colorways. The vest, shirt, and shorts I'm wearing today are also from this brand."
Cut-and-sew jacket ¥39,900 (08 CIRCUS × ESTNATION / ESTNATION)

MUST BUY! 04
Adult Resort Style for the City

"A key styling point for Spring/Summer is the change in pant length. Techniques like pairing cropped bottoms with slip-ons worn barefoot are becoming widely recognized. These are ESTNATION's original 8-length cropped pants, featuring side stripes to lend an adult, rather than overly casual, feel. They use a special fabric treated with high heat after washing and air-drying, which removes excess moisture and oil, creating a texture reminiscent of well-worn garments. We offer them in cotton in khaki and beige, and in wool in gray. The wool version is particularly fresh, embodying a dress-meets-sport combination."
Cropped pants with side stripes, ¥24,150 each (ESTNATION)

MUST BUY! 05
Finally Reissued with Today's Desired Specifications!

"The 'Weft & Warp BY EDWIN' collaboration with EDWIN, launched last year, continues to be popular. This season's highlight is 'The Over Works Factory for ESTNATION.' ESTNATION has reissued EDWIN's former work pants brand, adjusting the sizing. We've finished the beautifully textured hickory fabric in a workwear style, adding a vintage touch. They pair exceptionally well with thin rider jackets, so please give them a try."
Hickory pants ¥27,300 (The Over Works Factory for ESTNATION / ESTNATION)

ESTNATION
Tel. 03-5159-7800
http://www.estnation.co.jp/