The traditional stitching techniques
Sashiko stitching is a type of stitching that has been in practice for over four hundred years. According to tradition, white cotton thread is sewn in lines and patterns using a running stitch. This would usually be done on traditional indigo blue cloth.
Originally, it was used on areas of fabric that might get worn faster to reinforce it or to mend areas that have already become damaged. The technique could even be used to stitch different pieces of fabric together, perhaps after they had been worn out. This way, a new garment would be formed.
Boro is similar in that it was traditionally used to patch up garments that were falling out of use. The boro technique uses the simple running stitch sashiko that results in turning patches of fabric into clothing. After years of patching, items would bear the signs of many rounds of sashiko and boro stitching.
The capital of Japanese clothing
It’s easy to spot the influence of this technique in all collections of the brand. Indigo fabrics feature throughout, emblazoned with white, super-fine detailing. Kapital’s dedication to patchwork is also clear, used to add layers of story and colour to their idiosyncratic garments.
Kapital clothing is playful, detailed, and highly unique. It pays homage to the heritage it’s deeply rooted in, whilst pushing out forward in its own, peculiar direction.
Kapital’s products at Hansen
Kapital is amongst our favourite brands here at Hansen. So, we stock a variety of their products, including all their cult classics.
One of Kapital’s most coveted products has been its bandanas. Decorated in such a way that they could almost pass as traditional bandanas, the closer you look, the more quirks typical from classic designs featured by Kapital you can spot.
Take a look at their Denim Man in Big Maze design. From a distance, it has the common characteristics of bandanas -- it’s black with white detailing and is emblazoned with a repetitive pattern.
However, look closer and Kapital’s personality seeps out of the design- little men, lost in the maze of the hypnotic pattern. There’s even a rat patched on one corner. It’s fun and almost psychedelic and available in a deep blue colour as well.
Kapital is thinking outside the box
Kapital has always been one of the brands not afraid to think outside the box and break the norm. The proof is their bandana pattern, which also trickles through into other designs, like their scarves and as a motif on their Kapital bandana shirt.
Bandanas are such a big part of Kapital’s culture that they have a museum dedicated to them within their headquarters just outside Tokyo, the capital of Japan. This significant garment of Kapital is a little offset from their denim collection.
The classic smiley feature
We stock several styles where the brand's signature smiley face is featured.
The shirts are special as the material is dyed by craftsmen, meaning that each piece comes out differently. The tie-dye itself is different, as is the arrangement of the different fabric pieces' patchwork.
Several products are part of the Kapital Kountry line. It focused on pieces that had the human touch, relying on the skill set of craftsmen, rather than machines and industrialised manufacturing.
We also stock the Mirrored Fiji Smile bandana, with smiley faces stamped over them, and the Ivy Smiley socks that have two faces, one smiling and one frowning, on the heel of each piece.
Other designs of theirs that have the smiley are some of Kapital watches and Kapital smiley face jeans. You can see these designs on their own website.
Our favourite new Kapital accessories
Next in our Kapital lookbook is the Kapital bucket hat. We stock them in multiple different styles, including those from their Ox Check X Chino collection. These designs feature bold-coloured, checkered fabrics with white, contrast stitching. They’re playful and cool.
We also stock the Old Man and the Sea Chino hat, which is a subtler alternative. It sports the same, subtle motif of many Kapital pieces - uniform, sashiko-style stitching and buckle detail.
More denim, more jeans
We have a range of jeans, including the Kapital okagilly jeans. Century denim is used for these pieces, a true heritage of Kapital's craftsmanship. This design is particularly popular thanks to the classic, indigo-dyed sashiko stitching which decorates the fabric used throughout the garment. As well as strengthening the item, giving it a longer life, it also adds a beautiful, textural contrast to the piece.
Other denim designs include the Katmandu Patchwork Shirt in indigo. All popular items have their low profile alterations, see also Katmandu Patch Shirt in classic white.
What else is popular from Kapital?
Considering the endless possibilities, most of the designs are not mentioned here from kaleidoscopic woollen socks, high-neck sweaters, weathered hats crusted with sequins, and patchwork cross-body bags.
The Kapital fleeces are a particular favourite amongst followers of the cult brand. They too carry many traditional motifs of Japanese garment design. This includes deep indigo colouring and traditional patterning.
Their fleece jackets are available in several different combinations, with different coloured piping detail and designs.
Kapital's iconic pieces
Two items from their vintage collections which have now become highly coveted are the Kapital skeleton shirt and the Kapital moon hoodie. Both designs are simple, the shirt decorated with a set of ribs, spine and lungs where they appear on the body.
The hoodie says the word ‘moon’ on the front with a semi-circle created with stitching on the front pocket.
The original Kapital Kamakura Anorak is another favourite. This piece is completely versatile, with detachable modules which can be added or taken away as you please. It can also be folded and sized down into a portable pouch.
This injecting a bit of fun back into high-end clothing also increases each piece’s versatility, helping your garments suit any situation.
The brand that refuses to stand still
Kapital's vintage original designs that are a true masterpiece of manufacturing, are now being featured in different brands collections, with a twist and new features.
Each new line is still different from the previous, made with attention to details, following the latest development in the industry. From accessories to socks to jackets and jeans, all Kapital products are made with care, the company's values in mind, trying to please the customers with all they create.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kapital Clothing
Is there Kapital women's clothing too?
Even though there is no women’s section in Kapital’s webshop, that doesn’t stop women from wearing their pieces. In fact, women are repeatedly used in their campaigns.
The Attus Kakashi 8 oz. The Denim Jacket in indigo is a brilliant example of an androgenous piece that would suit almost any frame.
Where is Kapital HQ?
Kapital operates from a space situated in the Japanese countryside. The Hirata family acquired the space back in 2013 and it now houses their offices and even some of their factory space. The most important thing is that Kapital leads each factory with the craftsmanship and exceptional results in mind.
With three decades of craftsmanship expertise and new innovative processes from their in-house factory, Kapital offers the most well made and unique products on the market.
How did Kapital get its name?
The first time the brand started under the leadership of Toshikiyo and Kiro, the name was a vital feature that would represent the craftsmanship that Kapital stands for. And since Japan was considered the denim capital of the world, 'Kapital' best represents the story behind the brand.
