Studio Visit: BUAISOU, Brooklyn

How the Japanese artisans create natural indigo dye from scratch

Here at CH, indigo is our muse (we’ve even dedicated a Gift Guide to it this year) but sometimes, the final product can’t tell the entire story on its own. Natural indigo blue is not an easy color to achieve, is the takeaway from our conversation with BUAISOU, a unique collective that not only grows and harvests indigo leaves in Tokushima, Japan but also does …

Indigo Ombre Plaid Flannel Shirt

From 100% Japanese cotton, The Hill-Side’s long-sleeve indigo ombre plaid flannel shirt is all about the details. From the button-down collar to the gusset at each side seam and an interior twill tape locker loop, everything has been taken into consideration for a shirt that can be dressed up or worn quite casually. Further, there’s a traditional single-needle construction utilized, manufactured in NYC’s Garment District.

Ear Tote Backpack

Centered around the simple concept of “make happy,” Buddy crafts effortless products for everyday use—and their Ear Tote Backpack is a prime example. It’s as basic as a backpack can get, yet there’s something about the Ear Tote’s design that elevates it to the next level—whether that be its slate grey hue, velour suede bottom paneling or Togichi vegetable-tanned leather detailing. The Japan-made bag’s unique …