December, 23rd, 2012

Newcastle, Tokyo | CABOURN | THE PARTY GYM

Nigel Cabourn has worked in the fashion industry for over forty years, but his clothing has little in common with most people’s concept of the word fashion. He is influenced not by trends but a longst anding passion for vintage clothing, fabric and details.

These elements have formed the basis for much of his output over the years and continue to be a vital part of his collection today. Nigel Cabourn was a student at Northumbria University from 1967-1971 and he started his own label while still in his final year and against all advice stayed in the North of Engl and, another source of inspiration over the years. This cold, windy location has certainly influenced him and he is known to be one of a few true outerwear specialists.

Nigel has collected vintage clothing for over 30 years and has an archive of over 4,000 pieces, including salvaged British Military uniforms and workwear and a trove of exploration garments unearthed from all corners of the globe. It is this ever increasing vintage collection that is the corners tone of each collection, not a response to a particular trend or general dem and. Each collection has a real s tory, sense of his tory and integrity underpinned by the highest level of quality. Today the Cabourn team work and play in a converted gardener’s house at the bot tom of his garden overlooking a cricket pitch and are the envy of everyone who visits them, especially when it’s summer and they’re working in the sunshine !

But it’s not all of it. Nigel Cabourn has also a long his tory and a close affinity with Japan, he has a great following of loyal cus tomers there and is well appreciated as a first class designer, as well as one of the major vintage collec tors in the world.

He was one of the first British designers to secure a licence in Japan in the early 80’s and he has had a close relationship with CEO Sam Sugure for over 30 years, ever since they met in Paris in ’79 when Sam bought the collection for the 1st time. They have worked together over the years and set up Nigel Cabourn Marketing Ltd. in August, 2008 as a joint venture between Nigel and Abahouse Holdings Co., Ltd., the joint owner of Outer Limits Co., Ltd. which makes the Nigel Cabourn Main Line collection. As well as the wholesale collections of Authentic and Main Lines, they opened their 1st concept and flagship s tore in Tokyo in August 2009, THE ARMY GYM.

THE ARMY GYM was designed to look like an old army gymnasium, the floors are made of concrete and aged wooden planking with vintage army lockers to display the clothing. The changing room resembles an old shower cubicle and giant metal and wood sliding doors line the far walls. This small but beautiful shop showcases the collections so well and has been a great success since it’s first day and we are now looking to open another s tore in Japan very soon.