STAFF: Haru
instagram:haru_02018
Hello! It’s Haru, the clothing geek!!
Do you happen to remember the
26SS exhibition video on
Kent-san’s YouTube channel
about six months ago?
When we introduced OVERCOAT
in that video, Kent-san raved about
a particular shirt, and ever since,
it’s been a hot topic in the store
with people asking, “When is it coming in?”
It has been a few weeks since
that item finally arrived,
but our regular customers still
bring it up constantly,
and people just keep choosing it.
We stocked so many that it felt like
a special order, so we still have some left,
but if you underestimate the demand,
it will likely disappear soon,
so I decided to introduce it here
in this blog first.
Let’s dive straight into the item.
OVERCOAT
-Chiyonofuji Collaboration Tuxedo Shirt-
Are you familiar with the
Yokozuna Chiyonofuji?
He was a legendary sumo wrestler who
defined an era as the 58th Yokozuna,
the "Small Grand Champion,"
and was so great that he was
awarded the People’s Honor Award.
Chiyonofuji poured blood and sweat into
honing his talent,
throwing opponents who were over 100kg heavier,
and continued to captivate sumo fans.
This "Chiyonofuji Collaboration Tuxedo Shirt"
is a reproduction of the actual tuxedo shirt
that the Yokozuna wore at the banquet
following his retirement ceremony,
keeping the exact original dimensions.
You might wonder why a fashion brand
like OVERCOAT would make a
tuxedo shirt for a Yokozuna.
It all started with the friendship between
Chiyonofuji’s eldest son, Mr. Tsuyoshi Akimoto,
and OVERCOAT designer Mr. Daimaru.
※ Photo of the setup with the actual shirt
worn by Yokozuna Chiyonofuji
While trying on the heirloom pieces
provided as reference material,
Mr. Daimaru was drawn to the "oversized"
silhouette that occurred naturally—not one
designed as a fashion trend—and decided
to produce it out of a desire to let people
"experience the scale of the Yokozuna’s body."
Mr. Daimaru is a specialist in clothing who
has handled patterns for over 100 brands.
Using his high level of technical knowledge
and unique craftsmanship, he traced the
pattern of the heirloom tuxedo shirt accurately
without taking it apart, bringing the shirt
that the "Yokozuna Chiyonofuji" wore
back to life in the modern day.
The hallmark of OVERCOAT is the high-level
pattern technology born from Mr. Daimaru’s
extensive experience and skill.
While it is ready-to-wear, its strength lies in
a beautiful silhouette and fit that feels as
if it were custom-made for the individual.
However, he deliberately chose not to
alter the pattern, recreating the
"Chiyonofuji Size" exactly as it was.
By doing so, he finished it as a piece
that allows you to feel the body and life
that once existed within it.
At 180cm tall, one would generally be considered
large, but in the world of sumo,
he was actually on the smaller side.
From a fashion perspective, you can see it’s
oversized, but it’s fascinating how your
perspective changes when you know the roots.
The cuffs can be rolled up and secured
with an adjuster.
It’s a functional design that allows you
to change its look depending on how you wear it.
Whether you know Yokozuna Chiyonofuji
or not, I truly hope you will try it on.
You can lump it in as just a white shirt,
but this is an item that allows you to feel
the history of a Yokozuna who left his mark
on Japanese history.
It transcends the concept of ready-to-wear
and traces a very special legacy.