Since 1996, RVA’s Need Supply Co. has made waves by offering unique and high end fashion to folks around town and abroad. And their success abroad has helped them enter one of the most competitive fashion markets in the world: Japan.
Since 1996, RVA’s Need Supply Co. has made waves by offering unique and high end fashion to folks around town and abroad. And their success abroad has helped them enter one of the most competitive fashion markets in the world: Japan.
Need’s overseas success manifested with the opening of their second location in Shibuya, Japan late last year and a third location in Kumamoto after that.
This opened the door to hiring a new creative designer for their Japanese operation and sure enough that lead to a new line of Japanese-designed collection called NSCO.
“We have long felt a kinship with the people and culture of Japan. What began as admiration became friendship and — eventually — collaboration,” reads the intro to the new collection. “Combining interests in traditional graphic design, workwear, architecture and minimalism – Mr. Takayuki Minami’s (Need’s Japanese Creative Director) work takes a function-first approach to beauty.
Takayuki Minami via Need Supply
The release includes an interview with Minami who details how he got into fashion and what inspires him.
“I didn’t want to become an office worker wearing a tie,” said the Nagoya Prefecture native who’s been working with Need for about a year. “I look at things from different angles, visit the sites where things are made, and communicate with people. By doing these on a daily basis, there are moments where different dots (points) are connected and form a line. And eventually, those lines become source of inspiration, which are formed in to a shape.”
Denim Skirt NSCO, Rib Mock Neck NEED, Mala Ring, Milá Cuff no. 2 Bracelet Coyote Negro – via Need Supply
You can read the full interview here. And you can check out the new Japanese designed line here.
