Made in Japan
Allevol’s DNA is born from Japan. Brand Director Takashi Okabe hails from Fukuoka, where his early years were shaped by a deep exposure to vintage clothing and timeless style. Spending countless hours in local vintage stores, he learned firsthand from old-school vintage collectors.
Through these mentors, Taka developed a deep understanding of American vintage, alongside British and European influences, learning the details, construction, and stories behind each era. This hands-on education formed the foundation of Allevol - an appreciation for authenticity, craftsmanship, and clothing made with purpose.
Japan has a long, deeply rooted history in clothing manufacturing, and much of that knowledge is still alive today, quietly practiced by a small number of highly skilled makers.
Some of the world’s best fabrics come from regions like Okayama and Wakayama, where traditional techniques are still used on vintage machinery that’s become increasingly rare.
Okayama - The Home of Japanese Denim
Okayama is widely known as the heart of Japanese denim. This is where selvedge denim is woven on old shuttle looms - slow, mechanical machines that produce tightly woven fabric with character and durability you simply don’t get from modern high-speed looms.
These shuttle looms take more time, more attention, and more skill to run, but the result is denim that ages beautifully and tells a story the longer it’s worn. Many of these machines are decades old, and only a handful are still operating today.
Wakayama - Loopwheel Excellence
Wakayama is famous for its loopwheel knitting, a traditional method used to produce jersey fabrics used for T-shirts and sweats. Loopwheel machines knit slowly, creating fabric under low tension, which makes it softer, more breathable, and incredibly comfortable.
These machines are no longer manufactured, and there are only a small number left in the world, most of them in Wakayama, operated by craftsmen who’ve spent years mastering the process.