Battenwear SS21 – American Outdoor, Made in Japan

Battenwear SS21 – Made in Japan

»American Outdoor, Made in Japan«

Words: Caiza Andresen

The reason for Battenwear’s coherent vibe steams from the fact that everybody who is responsible for the craftsmanship behind this brand comes from a totally different background. People from all over the world come together with a vision to create something new. Something of high quality and value. That’s their common vibe.

The team is always ready to face a new challenge in making their next collection the best and most durable to date. There is no approach to just release a collection and randomly fill it with items to have a big collection for the sake of it. Battenwear is a brand driven by the concept of American outdoor gear in a romantic way, with the additive »American« being the icing on the cake of outdoor gear. The cherry on top.

We live in a world of being constantly surrounded by advertisements, whether in form of ads we see while scrolling through Instagram, huge ads plastered in our streets or just ads in form of a big logo plastered on the guy next to you at the train station. The visibility of the logo is key. But key to what? Better quality? Nah… Battenwear does not need that. Quality is king.

I bought my first Battenwear piece in Stockholm, when I used my free time from working at a sneaker convention to stroll through the city and do my favorite thing: Consuming. Consumption in a learning way, taking home with me a new taste for Scandinavian cuisine, some historical knowledge or by browsing through the boutiques of the Swedish capital. And by buying a new piece of garment. So out of all places in the world, yours truly and Battenwear met in this Scandinavian metropolis. And it was love at first sight. The simplicity and the classic cool the brand showcased really got to me and as it is with a good old school rap song I noticed the cuts. The cut of a garment (or »jawn« as we fashion enthusiasts like to call it) is the breaking point of every purchase. It definitely should be.

To dive deep into the story of this brand that I really admire you should definitely check out the interview »Battenwear – Timeless Functionality and Dedication« with founder Shinya Hasegawa by my friend Adrian Bianco.

Hasegawa grew up in Japan, studied in New York, where he started the brand and then settled in California. One characteristic that makes this timeless brand stand out, is their label »Made in North America«, a fact that they value since their beginnings in 2011. Fast forward to ten years later, Battenwear is now ready to present their »Made in Japan« pieces for Spring/Summer 2021. »Made in Japan« meaning that they used Japanese Fabrics and sewing tables. No new cuts, just another way of producing.

Fabrics such as Japanese milled Cool Max® Stretch were used in garments like the PACKABLE WINDSTOPPER, the STRETCH CLIMBING PANTS or the WEEKEND SHORTS. Cool Max® Stretch is a stretchy and perfectly breathable engineered fabric to keep the wearer cool, but also dry through it‘s sweat wicking prosperities.

Let‘s take a look at some pieces of the collection:

PACKABLE WINDSTOPPER

A layer to keep you protected from the wind is a must have. Whether you are strolling through an urban environment or experiencing Mother Nature, this drop tailed jacket is your perfect armor. With the Cool Max® Stretch drying five times faster than cotton and the possibility to pack the whole jacket into its own pocket, there is no need to think twice about the need to have this gem.

STRETCH CLIMBING PANTS

Battenwear is not a stranger to making pants, but by releasing this pair they might have dropped their magnum opus. Perfectly suited to climb rocks, they will certainly mean business when worn in daily use. Can a garment be to good? To lasting? If you say yes, the STRETCH CLIMBING PANTS are guilty as charged. Their zippered hand pockets, adjustable nylon belt and crotch gusset are the proof. Their above ankle length cut makes them look good too.

WEEKEND SHORTS

One of my favorite topics while working in retail was to justify prices of shorts. Because even though the lack some fabric in comparison to pants, that by no means makes them technically inferior. Take a look: These 90‘s inspired shorts have everything… Pleats, an elastic waistband and of course an interior drawstring. The back pockets have buttons, while the hand pockets are angled, just as they should be. We talked about the fabric before, but let me assure you that a pair of quick drying, wide legged shorts are a must have for Summer. Especially if they are crowned by a nice Battenwear stitching.

BEACH TEE

Sounds crazy but I think for like 5 years I wore only blank tees. Stylewise I saw it as a crazy cultural mixture of Marlon Brando in »A Streetcar named Desire« (just google him and fall in love) and Dem Fanchize Boyz, when they released the anthem »In my white Tee« (google it and get crunk). That said: I have a soft spot for the timeless cool of a clean T-Shirt. This one is a contender for everyone’s summer wardrobe. The cotton terry is to die for and the fit is retro with a dropped shoulder and a boxy fit. Every tee gets ten times cooler by adding a chest pocket. So, no wonder that Battenwear took care of this as well.

Speaking from my personal view, every wardrobe needs a few basics between sensational Hawaiian shirts and spicy colorful pants. That’s where Battenwear comes into play. Giving you the best fabrics and timeless cuts, this brand is definitely one to look out for and of course one to dress in. With this season’s »Made in Japan« capsule collection and without the need to go to Scandinavia to cop them (like I had to…), you can get Battenwear at HHV:

Battenwear | HHV

Visual Content: Daniel Tran