A BRIEF INTRODUCTION

Regarding Japanese fashion labels that have made an impression on the fashion industry, one brand worth mentioning is the lifestyle brand Human Made. Human Made is well known for bridging the gap between Japanese fashion and classic American workwear. We are excited to announce that Human Made is the newest brand roster addition at FEATURE. Keep reading to learn more about the history of Human Made.

A BACKGROUND ON NIGO

Before we get into how Human Made came to be, it’s essential first to introduce the mind behind the lifestyle label: NIGO. Born Tomoaki Nagao, NIGO would record shop in Tokyo as a teen. This is how he discovered his love of hip-hop music and was inspired by the artists he listened to’s fashion choices. After working as an editor and stylist at Popeye Magazine, the devout hip-hop addict quickly evolved himself in the music scene and found himself involved in the music scene, specifically at nightclubs, while he was still in college. This is how he made connections within the industry, such as young Jun Takahashi, who later established UNDERCOVER. NIGO also befriended Hiroshi Fujiwara, and the two would eventually start the fashion boutique ‘Nowhere’ in 1993. The boutique took on a mixture of crucial American street culture and sportswear into a niche Japanese aesthetic.

That same year, NIGO’s iconic legacy officially began when he introduced BAPE (A Bathing Ape) to the fashion industry. He introduced the brand alongside graphic designer Sk8thing. The brand quickly became a household name in Japan. It became revered for its signature apparel presented on n graphic t-shirts, sweat shorts, hoodies, crewnecks, sweaters, sweatpants, full-zip hoodies, pullover hoodies, and more. BAPE is considered to be one of Japan’s OG labels. The label remains an iconic Japanese-based lifestyle label to this day.

EARLY DAYS OF HUMAN MADE

Once 2010 came around, NIGO started something different from his revolutionary and trendsetting streetwear brand BAPE. He wanted to show everyone another part of himself, precisely one utterly detached from BAPE's aesthetics. With the slogan ‘Gears For Futuristic Teenagers,’ Human Made was introduced as a nod to NIGO’s desire to perpetually embrace all things youth. NIGO is well known for his extensive collection of popular culture memorabilia, much of which influences his overall style. The Human Made journey is personal to NIGO, resulting from the designer’s desire to dig deeper into his fashion archives and create styles that resonate with him.

UNIQUE DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

"GEARS FOR FUTURISTIC TEENAGERS"

Human Made takes on sensible and wearable aesthetics, as the brand combines the best of vintage and street culture. Human Made is inspired by casual workwear Americana and prioritizes excellent craftsmanship. The lifestyle label is based entirely on NIGO’s personal popular culture collection. He didn’t want to work from photos or anything he couldn’t physically take inspiration from. This revolutionary fashion label was developed in collaboration with Warehouse, the Osaka company that is well known for reproducing high-quality vintage clothing and fabrics. Human Made introduces apparel such as t-shirts, hoodies, varsity jackets, accessories, and more, in addition to homeware, all of which spotlight the brand’s signature heart logo and other motifs. Each Human Made collection evokes heritage-driven aesthetics, accurately representing the best of mid-century Americana.

IMPACT ON THE FASHION INDUSTRY

Characterized by its delicate fabrics, soft colors, pastel shades, and unique graphics that all take on a vintage look, Human Made has perfectly bridged the gap between casual fashion and inspired thought. The brand speaks to a sense of high quality, as NIGO’s overall goal was to develop something of substance that honored his appreciation for old-school popular culture. Human Made is an understated brand that has collaborated with brands like Adidas and Girl’s Don’t Cry. From the playful to the fashionable, Human Made puts its twist on workwear-inspired apparel, accessories, and homeware that still takes on a minimal aesthetic.

Human Made’s debut collection at FEATURE is available now in-store + online at feature.com Shop the vintage Americana-inspired apparel, accessories, and homeware by clicking here.