The Buyer’s Dozen: 12 KAPITAL Pieces That Will Brighten Up Your Wardrobe

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The Buyer’s Dozen: 12 KAPITAL Pieces That Will Brighten Up Your Wardrobe

Words by Ms Francine Heath | Photography by Mr Francesco Nazardo | Styling by Mr Olie Arnold

15 August 2021

Whenever KAPITAL is mentioned, two things spring to mind: great denim and smiley faces. But the label is so much more than that. It’s the perfect marriage of artistry and craftsmanship, of Japanese tradition and American heritage, and of playful design and fabrics that mean business. Above all, it is designer Mr Kiro Hirata’s unwavering, unapologetic vision. Each new collection is brimming with clothes that you cannot take your eyes off (for all the right reasons). So, how do you decide which pieces to go for? We’ve whittled the collection down to 12 pieces that will instantly brighten up your wardrobe, from accessories that will lift an existing outfit to statement overalls and shorts that you can pair with everyday basics.

French artist Mr Yves Klein was so obsessed with the colour blue that he created his own shade. Bandanas are Hirata’s blue. He is so passionate about them he even has his own museum dedicated to them. This cotton one is emblazoned with the label’s familiar four-eyed smiley in egg-yolk yellow.

You might never have thought of yourself as a studs-and-rhinestones kind of guy before you laid eyes on these shorts. From KAPITAL’s Kountry Remake sub-line, they’re wide-cut from indigo-dyed 14oz denim that’s produced in its workshop in Kojima, Okayama. No further adornment is required, but we give you permission to wear them with socks and sandals.

Bucket hats are back and finding the right one needn’t be difficult. Hand-sewn with KAPITAL’s 1985 patch, this breathable cotton design is patchworked together from what look like bandana offcuts. Fair warning: that’s not the last time you’ll read the word “bandana” in this edit.

KAPITAL fans are always totally committed when it comes to style, hence these overalls. Following the Japanese concept of mottainai, which encompasses the idea of respecting resources and reducing waste, they’re made using surplus fabric scraps and have a recycled milk-carton patch in place of a conventional leather one.

Ready to dive into big-cat territory? This leopard-print camp-collar shirt has an oversized fit because this label doesn’t do things by halves. Run with that by teaming it with equally brazen accessories or grab a pair of neutral trousers if you subscribe to the everything-in-moderation school of sartorial thought.

Ah, an accessory with showmanship. Inspired by charity shop finds, this pouch is stitched from the label’s signature premium denim and dotted with candy-coloured embellishments that could have been ripped straight from a cowboy’s belt. Carry it with confidence.

These boots are the very definition of happy feet. Detailed with those recurring smileys at the heels, they’re made in Japan and topped with moccasin stitching. Nervous about the light shade of suede? Don’t be. Just be sure you spray them with a protector before you wear them.

Just when you thought tie-dye couldn’t make a subtle splash, KAPITAL’s sweatshirt shows up with its Smoky Ashbury dye. Of course, it’s not all muted. Feel-good smiley splodges act as unconventional elbow patches on the sleeves.

Influenced by the art of boro, where textiles are reworked and pieced together, these shorts are created using three different fabrics and Tyrolean tape, a ribbon of the decorative sort, to finish. While we encourage bold statements, all they really need is a plain T-shirt and sneakers.

Another nod to Hirata’s bandana collection, this jacket is designed to look like vintage pieces of cloth have been artfully pieced together. It’s made from cotton, so is perfect for taking you from summer to autumn and will certainly attract compliments.

Aloha shirts are guaranteed to get their time in the sun at this time of year, or if you’re planning a holiday. If you follow KAPITAL on social, you might have spotted this one already. It riffs on classic Hawaiian styles, but with a print that’s as loud as you’d expect from KAPITAL.

Whenever you find yourself doomscrolling, you could take a quick break by simply searching #KapitalSmile on Instagram. You’ll then be ready to go forth IRL and spread some happy vibes in these trousers. They’ll flash a cheeky grin to whoever’s walking behind you.