UPPER HIGHTS
UPPER HIGHTS is a Japanese denim brand founded in Tokyo in 2014. It makes jeans and ready to wear from Japanese fabrics, mostly sourced from Kaihara Denim.
| Founded | 2014, Tokyo |
|---|---|
| Main fabric source | Kaihara Denim |
| Production partner | HOWA |
| Philosophy | Quiet strength |
| Website | upperhights.com |
What is UPPER HIGHTS?
UPPER HIGHTS, often shortened to UH, is a denim brand founded in Tokyo in 2014. The name signals ambition: Upper stands for excellence, while the altered spelling of Hights is meant to suggest higher standards.
Products and positioning
Denim is the foundation of the brand, and the range has expanded into ready to wear pieces. The design philosophy is described as quiet strength, simple yet stylish. Production is based in Japan:
- Fabrics mainly from Kaihara Denim, a Japanese mill with more than a century of history, largely as custom orders
- Sewing and finishing with HOWA, a factory employing skilled artisans
- Washes calculated by artisans
Distribution
The brand has reached an international audience through collaborations, including a capsule collection with Amalie and Cecilie Moosgaard presented at Copenhagen Fashion Week. Tsuyoshi Kikushima serves as Product Development and Sales Manager.
Why it matters
UPPER HIGHTS is part of a wave of Japanese denim labels that build on the country's mill and factory expertise while designing for a contemporary, largely female customer, and it uses European collaborations to build recognition abroad.
Frequently asked questions
Where is UPPER HIGHTS from?
UPPER HIGHTS is a Japanese denim brand founded in Tokyo in 2014.
Where is UPPER HIGHTS denim made?
Its fabrics come mainly from Kaihara Denim, and sewing and finishing are done with the Japanese factory HOWA.