A jacket I want to keep wearing forever: "Tailor Toyo's Vietnam Jacket"

Hello everyone, this is Ichimura from Mr. OLDMAN.

Although it is a regular holiday today, I'm at the shop because I had a few things to take care of.

I actually wanted to go mountain stream fishing for the last time this season, but the weather was bad, so I gave up on it.

I couldn't go last week either, so it’s a bit disappointing to think that might be it for the season, but I suppose these things happen.

With that in mind, I did my usual holiday morning run, listening to Kunichi Nomura's "TUDOR TRAVELLING WITHOUT MOVING" while I jogged for about 6km before heading to the shop.

I’ve finished up some light administrative work and my ordering for the 2027 Spring/Summer season.

For lunch, I had curry udon at Shimadaya Honten, a place I visit regularly.

They were founded in Meiji 23—that's 1890, so they've been around for over 100 years. It’s truly amazing...

If any of you visiting from out of town are stuck on what to have for lunch, I highly recommend it. Feel free to ask me for more gourmet tips.

I always hope that our shop can also become a place like that, loved by the local community and operating for a long, long time.

We don't need to be a "trendy" shop; I think the ideal is to just quietly and consistently provide good products.

TAILOR TOYO TT15980 Mid 1960s Style Cotton Rayon Vietnam Jacket “VIET-NAM PANTHER” (AGING MODEL)

 

 

Now then, here is what I wanted to introduce today.

It’s the Vietnam jacket I love so much, which has just arrived from Tailor Toyo.

For the past few years, the "Aging Model" has been so incredibly cool that it’s the only version I’ve been stocking.

The rayon-blend cotton twill body has undergone a special aging process to replicate the fabric and embroidery thread that have faded over time.

It's hard to convey in photos, but the fabric is supple and soft, and the beautiful drape you get when wearing it is irresistibly cool.

The color is black, but it has that "ink-black" shade as if it has been worn for over a decade.

On standard models, the embroidery colors are usually bright and crisp, but here, even the embroidery threads have faded to a muted, composed atmosphere.

It’s very difficult to achieve this level of fading just through wearing it yourself.

I suppose if you wore it two or three times a week for ten years you might get there, but that’s rarely realistic, isn't it? (laughs)

Regarding the design, this is a piece based on a custom order from a US soldier stationed in the port city of Cam Ranh, Southern Vietnam, between 1965 and 1966.

The back features a stylized panther face, and individual Vietnam jackets with this kind of embroidery are extremely rare.

The right chest features a Vietnamese landscape, and the left chest bears the three characters for "Fukurokuju" (good fortune, happiness, and longevity).

The dragon on the sleeve is also one size larger than your typical Vietnam jacket, reproduced based on an extremely rare vintage piece.

The amazing thing about Tailor Toyo is that they actually possess the original vintage pieces as research material and reproduce them faithfully.

Even when you say "Vietnam jacket," there are all sorts of designs.

There are classic maps and landscapes, as well as tiger or parachute models.

We have sold many different models in the past, but this one is among my top favorites.

Everything from the look of the panther's face to the muted color palette, the feel of the dragon on the sleeve, and even the font for the "Fukurokuju" characters—it's all so cool.

For those of you who have been thinking, "One of these days, I really want a Vietnam jacket."

Don't you think this model is perfect?

It's a rare design, and the overall aesthetic and color are just incredibly sharp.

It already has that look of something worn for over a decade right from the start.

When you reach the level of Tailor Toyo, it’s no longer just fashion—it’s an art form.

You can’t create something like this without vast knowledge and the refined craftsmanship required to pull it off.

The more you look at it, the more impressive it is. Their level of passion is truly wonderful.

I really want to continue adding these kinds of serious pieces to my collection, one by one.

I realize it’s the kind of item that requires a bit of decisiveness to purchase, but this is a jacket worth taking the plunge for.

Please make sure to consider it early so you don't have any regrets.

It’s always a pleasure when such great items arrive at the shop.

We look forward to seeing you!

 

 

TAILOR TOYO TT15980 Mid 1960s Style Cotton Rayon Vietnam Jacket “VIET-NAM PANTHER” (AGING MODEL)