Within the contemporary marketplace, the words heritage, union made, and to some extent vintage American sportswear get thrown around almost too often making it hard for us to differentiate one from the other. Amongst all of this, we’ve seen brands both come and go but very few have taken quite as stronger stance as a staple in contemporary attires as Yuketen.
Founder and designer Yuki Matsuda blends both traditional and contemporary American and Japanese design together, with each pair of Yuketen carefully crafted to embody the perfect balance of heritage craftsmanship and sensitivity toward design.
With standards that can only be adorned by the best, each of Yuketen’s classic styles are embellished with only the highest quality materials and construction that has and will continue to set standards for further generations to come.
Recently Yuketen’s designer and founder Yuki Matsuda had a chance to answer some of our questions regarding his passion for all things heritage, and Yuketen’s journey over the past, present, and future.
Could you provide a little background about yourself and your brands i.e. Yuketen, and Monitaly? Where is Yuketen based?
Yuketen is the original brand of Meg Company established in 1989 in Los Angeles, CA. Meg Company is headquartered in Hermosa Beach, CA. Monitaly was established in 1995.
Being based in Hermosa Beach, Los Angeles, California, is obviously a very different demographic that Yuketen is based around, is there a reasoning behind this all?
Hermosa Beach, California was the first place I visited the beach and touched the ocean when I immigrated to the United States. Hermosa holds a significant sentimental value for me. I like down to earth places and simple living. Aside from being a surf mecca in the 60’s Hermosa Beach was also a hippie town. The California beach culture has thrived in Hermosa for decades. Even today, despite all the reconstruction developments, Hermosa Beach still has a good old beach town feeling. The building that we work from has good “old soul” too. In the 40’s and 50’s it was a car dealership and repair garage. Now it is the home of Yuketen and Monitaly and Meg Company’s other creations.
How long has Yuketen been established and how long have you been involved?
I originated Yuketen. Yuketen always will be my concept.
What was the inspiration behind the name Yuketen?
I created the name Yuketen as a play on words made from my name and mixed up with some old friends together.
How did you become involved in the ‘fashion’ scene and what prompted your involvement in Yuketen?
I began studying and collecting made in U.S.A. clothing and shoes at an early age. I can’t remember exactly how young I was when I became fascinated with heritage products. I just know that it has never left me. The intricacies of clothing and shoes fascinate me. I created Yuketen from my love and passion for enduring footwear. The Yuketen brand is based on comfort and quality with an intelligent/artistic masculine aesthetic. Those are the most important criteria for me. I was motivated by the desire to become involved with design and manufacturing of made in USA products because I love classic made in USA product design and ingenuity. So, it’s important for me to maintain made in USA origins for traditional things and to promote the increasing uniqueness of made in USA wearable products.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
I’m very passionate about what I create so I can confidently say that I draw inspiration from my heart. I think back to my adolescence, longing for many products I loved and which I still love today. After more than twenty-five years of collecting, I have amassed a significant personal collection of footwear, clothing, and other vintage rarities (I have more shoes than my wife). Aside from these musings many great artisans and craft masters inspire and motivate me.
How long does it take to make and develop a season, and what are the outlining processes that go into Yuketen?
All my designs originate from shoes or clothing that I would want to wear myself or would have worn when I was younger. The process has to start from somewhere so this is where I begin. Fundamentally speaking the vast majority of my designs are original. A lot of Yuketen designs are heavily influenced by old American lifestyle. The 1910~1930's era is especially intriguing for me at this moment. As for outlining processes, I’m always challenging myself to think of new ideas or designs. I get many ideas while just walking down the street or reading a book. I talk with great shoemakers, hand sewers, tanners or curriers and ask critical questions about how we can improve our products. Equally important is spending time in the outdoors to relax like when I go hiking and, for example, make a bridge from fallen trees to pass over a stream, to remember where I’ve come from and who I am. All this time, throughout these outlining processes I’m constantly gathering information and challenging myself to create and design something relevant and worthwhile. Then I need to sit down and start to think carefully and filter through which ones I should make.
How would you describe your own personal style? Is that reflected in the designs that Yuketen produces?
My style is a reflection of myself. Sometimes, yes, the designs we produce are my style and sometimes not as much.
What makes Yuketen so different from other brands?
I like things made slowly with care and attention to detail. That’s why I collect a lot of vintage shoes and clothing. As you know, back in the old days people cared and appreciated how to make things by hand and were therefore proud of the products they created with their own hands. I have the same feeling. I care about what we make and I’m always thinking of ways to improve our products and in many respects I think what we are doing is like fine art. But at the end of the day, the most important thing to consider is how much I care for each product we make.
