TOHOKU

When the devastating tsunami hit Japan’s northern region of Tohoku on 11th March 2011 the whole world was stunned.

Tohoku is known for a broad cross section of industries and the high quality production abilities it holds within each industry. From electronics to handy crafts, the region has always been active and highly productive supplying Japan and the international market with products and materials relevant to modern day life. The livelihood of many people in the region depends on these industries, however, when the tsunami hit their coast, many established factories and companies were wiped out in an instant.

Traditional Japanese textile industry is operated through co-ops and industrial alliances to broaden their production capacities to deliver accordingly to the market’s demand. Depending on orders, small factories and larger manufacturing plants come together to produce the highest quality garments known around the world. When a wide array of small and larger scale factories and workshops were affected by damage and destruction, most orders were instantly cancelled.

Learning of the region’s textile heritage, we created a collection of simple T-shirts two months after the devastation. This enabled us to commission factories that were still operational, however, without any orders due to cancellations. Since the initial collection, we have kept working and endeavouring to increase our production to support the Tohoku region.



Collaborating with like-minded friends such as Richard Windsor, James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem), and Hiroshi Fujiwara. The aim is to create awareness for support and empowerment through business.



We have developed a unique blend of organic hemp and cotton for all our Made In Tohoku t-shirts, specifically aimed at creating comfort throughout the increasingly hot summer months around the world.
All organic hemp and cotton used for this project is grown free of chemical fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides, and defoliants.