The souvenir jacket, or suka-jan as it is commonly known, originated in the early postwar days when the U.S. servicemen stationing in the Pacific had their own jackets embroidered with their unit names, base names, or even the oriental motifs at the local merchants in order to make their unique mementos. Later on those jackets were commercialized and sold at stores in the military installations (Post Exchanges) throughout the world. Toyo’s predecessor Kosho & Co. was then their principal supplier, and it increased its market share of the particular jacket up to 95% by the 1950s. With profound confidence in such a historical background, TAILOR TOYO has been the leading brand of suka-jan for over half a decade, and they will keep passing down their experience and knowledge for generations to be remaining a genuine and authentic brand.
TOYO Products
Tailor Toyo Lot. TT15520 / 1950s Souvenir Jacket “KOSHO & CO.” Special Edition “DRAGON & LANDSCAPE” × “DRAGON”
In honor of the zodiac sign of 2024, the dragon, the Year of the Dragon collection is a reproduction of a dragon pattern selected from a large number of vintage skajans. This time, as a special edition, Tailor Toyo reprint the "Printed Sukajan", which was only made for a short period of time from the late 1940's to the early 1950's.
The surface is embroidered with two dragons glaring at each other with Mt. Fuji in between. The design is not filled with embroidery, but the black acetate fabric used as the base is used effectively to make the dragon drawn with delicately colored threads stand out. When we look into the materials from the time, we find that it was created by a skilled Japanese embroidery craftsman, and it has a dignified finish that makes it look like a Japanese painting. The original vintage specifications have been reproduced, including the dragon embroidery on the chest, which is larger than usual, and the three lines on the sleeves.
The reversible side has a printed Japan map pattern. Instead of printing using modern machines, printing is done by hand, in which a plate is created one color at a time, and then the plates are printed over and over again by hand.This method requires time, effort, and advanced technology, so it was not possible to print at the time. Very few. Moreover, this design, which features a map of Japan along with castles and landscapes, is especially rare among printed Skajan jackets, and it is no exaggeration to say that it is impossible to obtain on the vintage market. The dragon on the chest is drawn in a size that would be impossible to find on an embroidered Sukajan jacket, and due to its powerful design and vintage rarity, it has been reprinted as a special edition for the Year of the Dragon.
“KOSHO & CO.” SPECIAL EDITION
This special edition is a reproduction of carefully selected masterpieces from Taylor Toyo's collection with great attention to detail. In addition to the detailed designs drawn with horizontal embroidery, the acetate fabric is adjusted to create a vintage-like finish, and the wool ribs are knitted one by one using an old-fashioned flat knitting machine. For the reversible zippers, we restarted the fastening machines that were used more than 50 years ago and recreated the same hand-bending ones that were used back then. Using the label of Kosho Shokai, the predecessor of Taylor Toyo, the finish is reminiscent of the heyday of vintage skajans.
Made in Japan
Tailor Toyo Lot. TT15531 / Souvenir Jacket “Duelling Dragon x Japan”
In honor of the zodiac sign of 2024, the dragon, the Year of the Dragon collection is a reproduction of a dragon pattern selected from a large number of vintage skajans. This time, as a special edition, Tailor Toyo reprint the "Printed Sukajan", which was only made for a short period of time from the late 1940's to the early 1950's.
The surface is embroidered with two dragons glaring at each other with Mt. Fuji in between. The design is not filled with embroidery, but the black acetate fabric used as the base is used effectively to make the dragon drawn with delicately colored threads stand out. When we look into the materials from the time, we find that it was created by a skilled Japanese embroidery craftsman, and it has a dignified finish that makes it look like a Japanese painting. The original vintage specifications have been reproduced, including the dragon embroidery on the chest, which is larger than usual, and the three lines on the sleeves.
The reversible side has a printed Japan map pattern. Instead of printing using modern machines, printing is done by hand, in which a plate is created one color at a time, and then the plates are printed over and over again by hand.This method requires time, effort, and advanced technology, so it was not possible to print at the time. Very few. Moreover, this design, which features a map of Japan along with castles and landscapes, is especially rare among printed Skajan jackets, and it is no exaggeration to say that it is impossible to obtain on the vintage market. The dragon on the chest is drawn in a size that would be impossible to find on an embroidered Sukajan jacket, and due to its powerful design and vintage rarity, it has been reprinted as a special edition for the Year of the Dragon.
“KOSHO & CO.” SPECIAL EDITION
This special edition is a reproduction of carefully selected masterpieces from Taylor Toyo's collection with great attention to detail. In addition to the detailed designs drawn with horizontal embroidery, the acetate fabric is adjusted to create a vintage-like finish, and the wool ribs are knitted one by one using an old-fashioned flat knitting machine. For the reversible zippers, we restarted the fastening machines that were used more than 50 years ago and recreated the same hand-bending ones that were used back then. Using the label of Kosho Shokai, the predecessor of Taylor Toyo, the finish is reminiscent of the heyday of vintage skajans.
Made in Japan