Cottle

From Kurashiki, Japan
Founded in 2015

Nestled in a quiet corner of Okayama prefecture, the birthplace of Japanese denim, lies a converted 130-year-old house that serves as Cottle HQ, the home and atelier of Toshiaki and Yukari Watanabe. Operating in the heart of a thriving garment manufacturing centre, mere minutes from dye and weaving houses, the Watanabe’s keep careful watch over all stages of production, working closely with dyers and weavers. Cottle’s long lasting products are constructed from natural fibres that have been coloured using natural pigments, often employing forgotten, disused, or dying materials and expertise. The designs and attention to daily function express a uniquely moving interpretation of the intertwined legacies of Japanese and American workwear.

“We operate under a set of values: health, leanness, seriousness, dignity and manufacturing responsibility. This is the philosophy I am always thinking of.” -Toshiaki Watanabe