Thank you for visiting our blog. This is Uenishi from the Okayama store.
Lately, I've been thinking about the "aging" of clothing.
It's a term I often hear not only from Nigel Cabourn, but also from various other brands, secondhand clothing, and in the vintage market.
"The more you wear it, the more character and texture it develops,"
"It becomes a one-of-a-kind garment,"
"There's the joy of nurturing it"
—these are some of the things that come to mind when I think of the appeal of aging. However, these things are not possible without "durability to wear it for a long time."
If you only seek aging while ignoring durability, the period during which you can wear it with your preferred look will be limited.
With that in mind, I'd like to introduce a "short-sleeved shirt with the durability to enjoy the aging process" in this post.
At first glance, it looks like a simple work shirt, but it's a garment packed with Nigel Cabourn's signature attention to detail. It's the kind of product that seems to say, "The more you wear it, the more character it will have."
Many people may have overlooked this because it's not mentioned in the product name, but this product uses Nigel Cabourn's signature "pigment dyeing" technique.
Unlike dyes that penetrate the fibres, pigment dyeing is a technique where pigment is applied to the surface of the fibres.
Because the colour is applied like a coating to the surface, it gradually peels off due to friction during wear and washing.
As the colour fades due to the "peeling off of the pigment," the appearance changes, and the texture gradually improves. This is a dyeing method favoured by Nigel Cabourn fans.
The fabric used is cotton twill.
Compared to plain weave fabrics, twill fabrics are characterised by their resistance to tearing and their supple texture.
If plain weave fabric were woven to the same thickness, it would be more durable, but the fabric would become stiff, making it difficult to move in and impractical.
Denim pants are also made of twill weave because it is durable enough for strenuous labor while still allowing for ease of movement. Some may say, "I don't do strenuous labor, so I don't need that much durability!" But in my view, durability that allows for long-term wear is necessary "to enjoy the changes that occur over time."
Some people believe that new clothes are at their peak when purchased, and that their value decreases with each wear and wash.
Naturally, when clothes are worn, the fabric wears down, the colour fades, and the stitching may break. Compared to when they were purchased, the functionality of the clothes will decrease, and the design will fall out of style.
Low-durability fabric, unrefined dyeing, shoddy stitching, and a fleeting design that only considers trends.
In my opinion, what happens to such clothes is "age-related deterioration," which is a phenomenon similar to but different from "aging." This product combines "reasonable durability" and "a look that changes the more you wear it," so I want you to think of it as a garment whose "value continues to increase as you wear it, starting from the moment you purchase it."
The design is based on a 1950s work shirt.
It features a distinctive "square hem," a square-shaped hem that appears to be cut in a straight line, creating a silhouette that doesn't look clunky even when worn untucked.
This product boasts a simple, timeless design that incorporates vintage details. When paired with patterned trousers, it enhances the trousers' design, while pairing it with simple trousers highlights the aged look of the shirt. Its simple, understated details make it highly versatile, which is another of its appealing features.
Height: 180cm / Wearing Size: 50
Height: 180cm / Wearing Size: 48
I usually wear a size 48 or 50, so I tried styling it in different sizes. The shirt really stands out when paired with simple pants. I felt that this is a piece I'd like to see how it ages and develops a unique patina over time.
Please come and see this pigment-dyed short-sleeved shirt, which is durable enough to enjoy as it ages, in store.
The other day, I had a cherry blossom viewing barbecue with my company staff near Korakuen! It was an event that was as hot and exciting as a barbecue grill.
