Nanamica
Japan
Nanamica is a Japanese urban outdoor label founded in 2003 by Eiichiro Homma and designer Takashi Imaki, both from the Japanese outdoor industry. It is known for technical fabrics such as Gore-Tex used in everyday clothing, and sells in Japan, the United States and other markets.
| Founded | 2003 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Eiichiro Homma and Takashi Imaki |
| Country | Japan |
| First store | Daikanyama, Tokyo (2004) |
| US operation | nanamica USA inc. |
| Segment | Luxury and designer houses |
| Website | us.nanamica.com |
What is Nanamica?
Nanamica is a Japanese fashion label that applies technical outdoor fabrics to city clothing. The name means "house of the seven seas", and its motto is "One Ocean, All Lands". The brand's US site is operated by nanamica USA inc.
History
Eiichiro Homma worked in the ski industry and then at Goldwin, the Japanese company that holds The North Face licence there, where he was brand manager for Helly Hansen. He left in 2001 and founded nanamica in 2003 with designer Takashi Imaki. The first Daikanyama store in Tokyo opened in 2004, and the company began promoting the nanamica brand more actively around 2007. It entered overseas markets in earnest in 2010 at Pitti Immagine Uomo in Florence.
Products and positioning
Nanamica's signature piece is the Gore-Tex Soutien Collar Coat, alongside the ALPHADRY Club Jacket and non-wrinkle suit jackets for business wear. The current range covers coats, jackets, shirts, knitwear, sweats, dresses, trousers, bags, hats and footwear for men and women. Collaborations listed on the brand's US site include Regal Shoe & Co. and A Kind of Guise.
Business model and distribution
Nanamica sells through its own stores and through retailers. Its US site lists a New York store as its second after Tokyo, with further stores in Daikanyama, Kyoto, Kobe, Fukuoka and Shanghai. A Japanese feature from the early 2010s said the label was sold in 24 countries. Homma also led The North Face Purple Label, a separate urban outdoor line made in a licence arrangement.
Why it matters
Nanamica is an example of a Japanese label that grew out of the outdoor industry and moved performance materials into designer menswear, a route later followed by other brands in the same space. Public sources do not state who owns the company, so ownership is not described here.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Nanamica?
Nanamica was founded in 2003 by Eiichiro Homma, a former Goldwin employee, and designer Takashi Imaki. The name means "house of the seven seas".
Where is Nanamica from?
Nanamica is a Japanese brand, with its first store in the Daikanyama district of Tokyo. It later added stores in New York and Shanghai.