$395
ODZT004 A
Limited production of 28 pieces
A collaboration we've been brewing with the fam over at Zanter for the best part of last year, we're stoked to finally have this piece come to fruition. Initially due to drop in October of last year, the first sample didn't quite feature the details that made us drool, and thus we went back to the drawing board for a second sample and pushed back the release. The best move we made perhaps, as the extra time and intention with the fabrics and fillers for the vest helped us to develop a genuine representation of who we are, as well as to clearly represent the DNA of Zanter as a brand.
The base fabric is a celebration of the finest traditional Japanese Indigo textile that we could produce. Woven from yarns hank-dyed in Natural Indigo on site at Tsujimura-Ai, the team at the mill then single-handedly go through each of the subsequent steps. This includes the spinning of the yarns, and the weaving of the fabric to complete a Sashi-ori Natural Indigo fabric so intricate in its structure, you'll be studying your piece for hours. The crazy thing about this specific Natural Indigo Sashiko textile is the way the weave changes every 5-6 centimeters (approx. 2 inches). Sashiko woven on a loom featuring a self-finishing edge (Selvedge), as is the case of this fabric, uses a punch card to read the pattern and appropriately sew the sashiko thread in its intended position. In this case, the punch card changes pattern every 5-6cm in order to create the pattern you see in this latest collaboration.
As we took the time to go through with a second sample, we were able to include some unique details on this piece - one of those is the varying zipper tape on the zipper closure, to pay homage to our OD logo. Previously seen on our ODZT Haori Jackets, we included our original YKK JapanⓇ Permex OD embossed brass buttons for a little love from yours truly. Usually reserved for serious mountaineering winter jackets that require such a tool, we decided to celebrate Zanter's pedigree as Japan's first down jacket producer with the addition of a detachable distress whistle on the lower zipper.
Finally, the detail that we have been able to include for the first time in our history, and one that has been in the making since about 2021, when we first started collecting said fabrics. About three years ago, we began a quest to collect as many deadstock Japanese Kimono fabrics as we could. Our criteria is that they are deadstock, woven with some element of naturally dyed yarns, and using the highly coveted "Oshima-Tsumugi" style of hand weaving such fabrics on hand looms. These Kimono fabrics are always limited to about 36cm in width, and are 13 meters in length. In the case of this vest, we selected a Kakishibu (dyed using persimmon) Kimono woven in the "Oshima-Tsumugi" style, with just enough meterage for the neck lining for the 28 pieces we've produced for this run.
Zanter is heralded as the first brand to produce down wear in Japan. The first pieces were worn in 1956 by members of the Manaslu Expedition Corps as well as the Antarctic Observation Corps. Zanter has continued to produce the highest quality Japanese down wear by selecting only the finest materials and using well-honed production methods. Locally sourced high-quality down feathers are extremely difficult to come by, at the most only 10g can be found on the chest area of a suitable Waterfowl. The quality of feathers is also greatly affected by breeding methods, environment, and feed during infancy. These carefully selected feathers then go through a thorough process of washing, drying, dehydration, sterilization, and dust removal which results in a down that not only has excellent heat retention properties but is also durable and sanitary.
*Model is pictured wearing a size L. He weighs 59kg (130 pounds) and is 178cm (5’11”) tall.
Size - CM | Chest | Shoulder | Centre Back |
M | 115 | 44 | 67 |
L | 118 | 45 | 70 |
XL | 124 | 46 | 73 |
Size - Inches | Chest | Shoulder | Centre Back |
M | 45.3 | 17.3 | 26.4 |
L | 46.5 | 17.7 | 27.6 |
XL | 48.8 | 18.1 | 28.7 |