DEVISE FACTORY began in 2002, originally as a children’s clothing brand.

At that time, we loved the texture and character of vintage sweatshirts and T-shirts from the 1950s and 60s.
We simply thought, “We want to create simple, durable children’s clothes with that kind of feeling.”

The brand was started by two people:
my partner, who had experience as a vintage clothing buyer, and myself, who had spent many years working in the children’s clothing industry.

In the beginning, the brand started from something like a parent’s ego, we simply wanted to make clothes we wished our own children could wear.

However, in less than two years, our thinking changed dramatically.

In our pursuit of durability, we made the fabric too strong and structured. As a result, the clothes became a little stiff for children.

Every time the children put the clothes on or took them off, they said,
“It hurts my ears.”

That simple comment made us realize something important.

Children are honest.
If something feels uncomfortable, they won’t wear it. But if it feels good, they naturally reach for it.

Through this experience, we learned to trust the power of the material itself.

Of course, appearance and color are important in clothing. But clothes only have meaning when they are actually worn. So we began to think more simply, comfort should come first.

For small children, what really matters is simple:

Does it feel good to wear?
Does it feel pleasant to touch?
Do they want to wear it every day?

We came to believe that this is the true essence of clothing.

From that moment on, our long struggle to develop the right materials began, and it continues even today.

During that journey, we met craftsmen who operate old knitting machines.

In China, there are craftsmen working with Tompkins knitting machines.
In Wakayama, Japan, there are artisans running traditional loopwheel knitting machines.

They understood our somewhat demanding ideas and helped us create fabrics by making the most of each region’s machines and techniques.

Fabric made on Tompkins machines carries the charm of old American knitting technology,
combined with the craftsmanship of Chinese artisans and our own interpretation.

Meanwhile, fabrics produced on loopwheel machines reflect the careful and high-quality craftsmanship that is typical of Japan.

Through these experiences, we came to adopt a simple philosophy:

“If something truly good can be made, it doesn’t matter where it is produced.”

And now, 24 years have passed.

When we recently looked again at the clothes that children had worn for years, the fabric had developed a beautiful character, and the neckline had hardly stretched.

When we saw that, we felt quietly happy.

It almost looked like a vintage sweatshirt from the 1950s or 60s.

One T-shirt worn by three siblings over 12 years.

Even today, we continue to use fabrics made on traditional knitting machines.
For our sweatshirts, we incorporate vintage details such as flat-seam construction.

However, we do not simply reproduce vintage clothing. Instead, we reinterpret it so it fits naturally into modern life.

Our clothes are not defined by genre, age, or gender.

Genreless.
Ageless.
Genderless.

That is the kind of clothing we strive to create.

As time passes, clothing does not simply become old. It develops character together with the life of the person who wears it.

We want to continue creating garments like that.

And there is one more thing we have realized.

Even as adults,
when we wear comfortable clothing,
it simply makes us feel a little better.