PROFILE
A cutting-edge brand launched in 2026. It specializes in sportswear. The design team has not been disclosed.
@somewhat__official
—I think is doing some really interesting work, but since there’s virtually no information about it available to the public, I’d like to ask you about various aspects of it this time.
SOMEWHAT (hereinafter referred to as S): Best regards.
—Your Instagram profile says just one word: “Sportswear.” So, what kind of brand is it, exactly?
S: It’s kind of hard to explain, but personally, I’ve been really into tennis for the past few years and play pretty seriously. I tried wearing all kinds of clothes from so-called sports brands, but they just didn’t feel quite right. So, in the end, I ended up wearing Polo Ralph Lauren shorts or swim trunks, paired with vintage T-shirts.
—In what way didn't it feel right?
S: It just didn’t fit into my daily life. I don’t just play tennis—I also go for walks and hit the gym—so I wanted something that could cover all those activities. I wasn’t looking for tennis clothes or running clothes specifically. But since nothing like that existed on the market, I thought, “Why not try making it myself?” And that’s how *Samwat* got started.
—So, by “that kind of thing,” do you mean an item that’s reasonably functional and, of course, fashionable?
S: That's right. I've tried wearing all sorts of things—like the Calvin Klein Performance line and lululemon—but for some reason, they just never quite felt right.
What do you mean?
S: Sportswear is basically designed with athletes' bodies in mind. I don't know what nationality they are, but one thing is for sure: they're not Asian. You can tell just by wearing it.
—I see. So they’re different in terms of how they’re made.
S: Yes. They’re slim and long. So I tried out various sizes, but they just didn’t fit me at all—I’m about 170 centimeters tall. Even with just a pair of shorts, the balance between the rise and inseam, as well as the fit, just didn’t feel right. Since the position of my hips and hip bones is completely different from what they presumably use as a standard body type, there’s no way the same item would work for me.
—So, the items from are created by addressing that sense of dissonance. By the way, what kind of production process do you use?
S: We’ve brought together professionals from various fields. We have a patternmaker who has created clothing across all genres, someone with many years of experience in both sportswear and fashion, and myself—the founder—who ran a brand before launching *Samwat*.
— (After hearing about the projects the team members have worked on so far) What an incredible group of people. No wonder their work is so good.
S: I have to say, I think we’ve been fortunate to have such an exceptional team. So, while the actual process of creating something isn’t that difficult, we spent about a year discussing why we were creating it in the first place.
—That sounds like a truly fulfilling time.
S: It feels like things really took off once the term “wellness” came into use. From there, it seems like the concepts developed in that order—first health, then sports, and so on.
—So that’s how it became “Sportswear.”
S: Yes. The idea isn't to incorporate sportswear into everyday life, but rather to see if we can add functionality to the clothes we already wear.
—Clothes you can wear to play sports that are an extension of your everyday wardrobe. It’s definitely a concept that seems like it should exist, but doesn’t, does it?
—From here on, I’d like to ask you about the items.
S: I have a padded jacket that I used to wear all the time, but I wasn't really happy with the fit, so I had it redesigned and made. It comes in both sleeved and sleeveless versions. It's made of nylon ripstop fabric, but it's not designed to be particularly functional.
—Does it feel like it’s kept in check just enough?
S: That's right. It's somewhat water-repellent, but it's really more about the look. It has a bit of a sheen, I guess. I chose a style that I like. I used to really like Patagonia's "Puffball," so it might have a bit of that vibe.
—It comes in two colors, black and white, but I thought the white one was really nice.
PADDED VEST ¥49,500
S: It's great, isn't it? You just don't find white like this anywhere else. Plus, this fabric is something sports and outdoor brands could never use. It's too thin, and if it catches on something, it'll tear right through.
—Those manufacturers generally have strict standards, don't they?
PADDED PARKA ¥ 64,900
S: Yes. The standards for physical properties—the physical characteristics of materials—are extremely strict, so we tend to end up using the same materials. While there are many items we can’t create because of these constraints, from a fashion perspective, the range of choices for fabrics and colors actually expands significantly. On top of that, since we have people on the team who are skilled at crafting high-quality sportswear, I believe this gives our designs a certain level of credibility.
It doesn't end up just feeling like that.
S: That's right. Even though sportswear has been moving more toward fashion, it still can't quite become fashion.
3L PARKA ¥ 74,800
S: I'm not really a fan of outerwear made with "GORE-TEX." It's kind of stiff, isn't it?
—Opinions may be divided on whether it feels a bit stiff.
S: It’s actually pretty hard to find a three-layer version made from that kind of soft fabric.
—It's light, isn't it? Very light.
S: That's right—it's soft, lightweight, and has a proper three-layer construction. Another key feature is the ventilation panels on the back. If we were using something like "Gore-Tex," for example, complete waterproofing would be a must, so we couldn't use this design. Aside from its functionality as ventilation—including breathability—I just really love the way it looks.
—It doesn't look flat; it has a sense of depth.
S: This is just my personal opinion, but it gives me the same vibe as the back of a trench coat. It’s functional, but it also has a certain charm.
—A touch of allure, I guess.
S: I think this is what makes clothing so great. There’s a certain purity to designing something based purely on “how it looks.” Of course, functionality is important, too.
3L PANTS ¥47,300
S: These are pants you can wear just like sweatpants.
—This is another comfortable and stylish model, and it’s also suitable for sports.
S: Normally, I think you’d add a drawstring or a zipper at the hem, but since I was aiming for the look of the sweatpants I usually wear, I left those out and just added a ribbed hem.
—It has a slightly roomier fit, and the fabric is the same as the three-layer shell.
S: Yes. It's incredibly simple.
S: The shorts are made of lightweight nylon.
—The length is just perfect.
S: It's advertised as a 5-inch model, but to be precise, it's actually somewhere between 5 and 6 inches.
—That length really doesn't seem like something you'd find in existing products.
S: Exactly. You can hardly find any 6-inch shorts if you look for them. And—this is just my personal opinion—if you’re playing sports, 7-inch shorts are too long. 5-inch shorts are just right, but they’re too short for everyday wear.
—That’s why I went with this length.
S: That's right. The reason I was wearing those Ralph Lauren swim trunks is that they're 5.75 inches.
—So it worked out just right, didn't it?
5” SHORTS ¥14,300
S: The baggy shorts from are nice, too, but they really look cool when someone with a good figure wears them in a snug fit.
—The fit is a little loose.
S: The key features are that they’re roomy and have just the right length. Also, the laces are made of cotton. I use them because I think they look cuter that way.
—I guess you could say it’s standard—most items use nylon or similar materials, after all. But the design intent comes across clearly. It’s not too sharp, and the finished product is very charming.
SWEATSHIRT ¥ 41,800
—What’s the story behind that sweatshirt with all the holes that really stands out?
S: Someone was wearing a sweatshirt with holes in it. The holes had been mended, and based on that, I made a sample a few years ago. Mr. Kaneko, who was working at “L’ECHOPPE” at the time, liked it, so they carried a small run of it.
I see.
S: Actually, I had already given it the name “SOMEWHAT” at that point.
—By the way, what does “SOMEWHAT” mean?
S: It means something like “to some extent” or “just a little.” I didn’t want to attach too much emotional significance to the brand name.
—I see. Still, this looks like it would be really hard to make.
S: It's a ton of work (lol). I have to cut holes with a laser and then re-sew them by hand. A few years ago, I was able to get someone to sew them for me, but this time I couldn't find anyone to do it, so in the end, a family member did it.
—Really?
S: So, I'm wondering what I'm going to do next season (laughs).
—By the way, this sweatshirt is considered sportswear, right?
S: Yes. I wear this when I play tennis. It’s made of T/C (a polyester-cotton blend), so it’s incredibly light. But isn’t that exactly how sportswear started?
—That's true. After all, even Rocky used to run in clothes like this (laughs).
S: Oh, right. I wear it when I'm running and when I'm boxing, so if you ask me what it's for, it's just sportswear, isn't it? Of course, I could make it look more trendy, but for me, this is plenty. If I'm going to wear it in my everyday life, it has to be this simple—otherwise, I can't pair it with jeans.
—That kind of fine-tuning is meticulously applied to all of 's items, isn't it?
S: It's important not to get too caught up in the specs. I guess I'll just leave it at that.
TIP’n’STAND TOTE / DYNM ¥41,800
S: I had my longtime friend, Yuhi Ozaki, make this bag for me. I used to make a lot of bags for the brand I ran before, but they always ended up being a bit too “proper”—heavy and stiff.
—This bag has a more casual feel to it, doesn't it?
S: I used to take this kind of thing with me when I went to play tennis. It was like an eco-bag.
—The material is “Dyneema®,” right? It’s lightweight and strong.
S: That's right. It's a high-performance fabric commonly used in the outdoor industry, but I didn't want it to look too much like that. My vision for this bag was to create something that builds on the concept of a casual, everyday eco-bag while still paying close attention to the choice of materials.
—It has a casual look, yet it’s still elegant, isn’t it?
S: Another key feature is that it stands on its own when placed on the floor. It isn’t reinforced with any special material; instead, the tape on the handle is arranged to form a frame-like structure, allowing it to stand on its own even though it’s lightweight.
S: All the T-shirts are 100% polyester (%). But no matter how I look at them, they look like cotton to me.
—That's true. It looks like something you'd expect, but it's also kind of unexpected. Another distinctive feature is the neckline. It's quite snug, and with three rows of stitching, it gives off a rugged impression.
S: You're absolutely right—this neckline will never lose its shape. No matter how many times you wash it, its construction prevents it from stretching. There aren't any sports T-shirts with a tight neckline to begin with. A tight neckline feels uncomfortable, so loosening it is the right thing to do—no matter what kind of sportswear it is.
Long-Sleeve T-Shirt SOMEWHAT ¥14,300
—That’s true. We really should eliminate anything that could be even the slightest source of stress.
S: Yes. But if I'm just wearing it as a regular, casual T-shirt, I feel like a crew neck is just more my style.
S/S TEE DAILY ¥ 14,300
—There are several different prints in the lineup, but there isn't a single one that's what you'd call "sporty."
S: Yes. I aimed to create a "photo T-shirt" that didn't look too sporty and that adults could wear.
COTTON CAP ¥7,480
S: The cap is made of cotton, but it's incredibly light. As usual, it's one I used to wear when playing tennis.
—So, was the reason you chose cotton because of the parts that are hard to see?
S: Or rather, when you play tennis seriously, you sweat so much that nylon can’t absorb it all, and the sweat ends up dripping into your eyes. That’s why I stick with cotton.
—So, surprisingly, it was actually due to functional reasons.
—It’s really fascinating that each item from is created for a personal reason.
S: That's right. Since everything comes from within me, it's really hard to convey it to others.
—I haven't posted anything on Instagram or anywhere else, after all.
S: I feel like the more words I add, the less I understand it. But the staff member who created the visuals for this project told me, “This is probably what it would look like if Helmut Lang designed sportswear.” And that just clicked for me.
—It feels like something that’s been weighing on my mind for a long time has finally become a product, doesn’t it?
S: That's right. Even though we make it with a stoic approach, it doesn't feel serious.
—By the way, where can I buy items?
S: online siteI finally made it.
—Aren't there some people who want to see the real thing?
S: That’s right. I plan to tackle those aspects gradually as well. However, I don’t think we’re living in an era where it’s that easy to sell things. So I don’t feel like there’s any need to rush into anything. First and foremost, I believe it’s important to create something I can confidently present to the world, and then share it with people who understand *Samwat* and are interested in it. And I think that’s going well so far.
—Do you have plans for your next collection?
S: Yes. I have a general idea of what it will look like. It’s already moved beyond the conceptual stage in my head and entered the production phase. I won’t release it unless I’m completely satisfied with the result, so I’m in no rush. I’m thinking of holding an exhibition once a year.
—It doesn't really seem like the kind of item that depends on the season, does it?
S: That's right. Since this is sportswear, I'm hoping shorts and T-shirts will be our best sellers. When you're playing sports, you need T-shirts and shorts even in the winter, but surprisingly, they're not widely available.
—That’s true. Sportswear that’s right there as part of everyday life. I think it’s a brand with a really wonderful concept.
