"Ani Shop," a collection of limited-edition items specially commissioned by Eiji Katano, also known as "Aniki," who is popular for his classic fashion and Showa-era bar-themed content, will be holding a limited-time promotion Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building B1F, Bags section, from Wednesday, October 7th to Tuesday, October 13th. This time, we asked him about his thoughts on the items that will be sold at Ani Shop.

▶Click here for the latest "AniShop" event-related articles

The jacket, bag, and sneakers are all "just right."

When asked about the details behind the custom-made items that appear in Ani Shop, Aniki explained that after actually buying, wearing, and using them, he felt a strong desire to improve them, thinking, "It would be even better if they did this differently." This led him to want to collaborate himself and let everyone know that such great items exist! That's how the "Ani Custom-Made" collection began.

The biggest appeal of the Le Saint Pareil jacket is its affordable price, thanks to being made in Japan.

I recently discovered a cotton moleskin traditional coverall from Le Sans Pareil and I wear it all the time. Le Sans Pareil is a historic French factory brand founded in 1894, but the brand has disappeared from France.

A common story with these kinds of endangered brands is that a Japanese person discovers them, reproduces them in France, and sells them at a high price. However, the biggest appeal of Le Saint Pareil is that it reconstructs classic French workwear in a Japanese factory using Japanese fabrics, making it truly Made in Japan. This jacket, which is soaring in price even in vintage clothing stores, can be purchased brand new in Japan for around 25,000 yen, so I highly recommend incorporating it into your style and enjoying it.

What we focused on this time was incorporating details from the original coveralls made in the 1940s and 50s, such as making the neck deeper, tightening the curve of the collar, intentionally distorting the placket stitching, and adding a V-shape to the pockets. The fabric is a thick moleskin with an elegant sheen that is comparable to the moleskin of the time, and the thread thickness and stitch count have been faithfully reproduced as they were back then, so the fit is no different from the regular product.

The jacket comes in two colors, black and navy, which are said to have been worn by French workers at the time. Black was favored by people working in markets and agriculture, while navy was worn in industrial and production workplaces. Since this coverall jacket pursues a classic French work style, we chose these standard colors.

My personal style is all about mixing and matching items from different countries, and with this Le Saint Pareil jacket, I enjoy pairing it with vintage European military chinos, Italian sneakers, and an American T-shirt underneath. I like to wear collarless innerwear with collared outerwear, so a lightweight crewneck knit would be perfect for the coming season.

I wanted to create an all-black look using Superga's "2390" sneakers!

I grew up with American Converse sneakers, but about 30 years ago I learned that Italy also has sneakers with a history of over 100 years, and I've been a loyal wearer of SUPERGA's classic canvas shoes, the "2750." Then, when I learned that the "2390," a model issued to the Italian army, was being reissued, I thought, "If I were to wear them, they'd have to be all black." But when I looked into it, I couldn't find an all-black model. Then I heard from an acquaintance about the "shock of black" at the 1980s Paris Fashion Week, and I thought all-black was a fresh idea.

The Superga "2390" is characterized by its design where the rubber part of the toe is firmly covered, and the all-black version created through this collaboration has a black rubber part as well, giving it an overall sharper image. Furthermore, compared to the regular sneakers, the insole in this collaboration has been changed to a thicker and softer one. The softer feel against the foot means that even people who are used to wearing high-tech sneakers should be able to wear them comfortably.

I fell in love with the <Slow> bag at first sight, and after numerous improvements, I finally created the Ani version!

SLOW is a brand that specializes in leather products such as leather bags and SLGs (small leather goods), but last late autumn at their Kamakura store, I came across a canvas shoulder bag.

I'd been searching for a casual bag for a long time, and I wanted something lightweight that could hold my 13-inch MacBook, wallet and other small items, and a jacket I'd taken off. But nylon backpacks just didn't suit my style. Then I came across this shoulder bag, and I was impressed by the nicely worn look of the washed material, the easily adjustable strap length, and its versatility—it goes with any casual style, from authentic to vintage, military surplus, and even herringbone coats. I feel like I've finally found the perfect bag.

The standard version is a vertical rectangle, but since I often carry it slung over my shoulder, I changed it to a horizontal shape, made the inner pockets shallower, and added them on both sides. I also attached a pouch inspired by military bags and stenciled "ANK" onto it.

This casual bag is lightweight, has a substantial feel to it, and looks just right even when filled with items. It comes in two colors: white, which showcases the elegant herringbone texture, and black, which is not available in our regular line. It's also machine washable, so feel free to use it often.

I'll be the store manager for one hour, starting at 6:00 AM on the first day, Wednesday, October 7th!

Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building is unique in the world, offering everything from authentic and domestic brands to global luxury items all in one building. Currently, the COVID-19 pandemic makes it difficult to go shopping freely, but this AniShop event is a great opportunity to see brands you wouldn't normally wear or wear, and there are definitely things you can only gain by visiting the store that you can't find in magazines or online. Buy what you like at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building , and then head to the food hall in the basement of the main building next door to buy some delicious food from around the world and enjoy the best of department stores even more.

The novelty item is a popular Nakata hanger from Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building with the ANK logo engraved on it!

During this period, the first 20 customers who purchase eligible AniShop products in-store using their MI Card for a total of 22,000 yen or more will receive a Nakata hanger with the ANK logo engraved on it as a gift.
*If you do not have an MI Card, applying for membership in advance at the store or via the URL below will allow us to assist you more smoothly on the day of your visit. When applying for membership via the URL, please select in-store pickup.
Apply for an MI Card here.

In addition, the first 20 customers who purchase AniShop eligible items totaling 8,800 yen or more in-store and present a coupon from the Mitsukoshi Isetan app will receive an "ANK exclusive handkerchief" as a gift.

The Mitsukoshi Isetan app is available here.

Being able to see all the collaboration items in one place is something unique to Isetan Men's, so please take this opportunity to enjoy "Ani Shop"!

AniTube is available here.

Related article ▶ [EVENT] "Aniki" Eiji Katano's "Ani Shop" is here!

Photo: Shinpei Suzuki
Text: Makoto Kajii

＊All prices include tax.

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