Tomoyuki Sasaki with AURORA LIGHT DOWN JACKET
PROFILE
. Born in 1982. . After studying under Katsuyuki Honjo, he became independent in 2011. He is active in styling for men's fashion magazines , advertisements, and catalogs. He is also known for his deep knowledge of outdoor activities such as camping and mountain climbing, and started working as a videographer in 2018. His hobby is skateboarding, and recently he has been obsessed with surfing.
instagram@stylistsasaki
Gentle downs that are updated every year.
Mr. Sasaki, did you first become aware of "Nanga" through sleeping bags?
Sasaki: Actually, it started with wear. 10 years ago, a select store "Urban Research" was making special-order items, and that may have been the first time I saw them there. I think they were also making items for "Rampage". That was when I was still an assistant.
What is your impression of Nanga?
Sasaki: My impression is that people who like camping use Nanga. And not for clothing, but for sleeping bags. I don't think there is anyone in the outdoor scene who doesn't know about Nanga. In the past four or five years, the number of collaborations has increased, and I hear about it more and more. It is no longer a standard brand.
Ms. Sasaki, do you own any items from "Nanga"?
Sasaki: A few years ago, I heard from people around me that a Japanese brand of down wear that makes sleeping bags was pretty good! I bought a down vest specially ordered by Means Weil and a pair of down pants from the exclusive "White Label" line with Moon Lloyd, a store in Hokkaido, just in time. They are very warm.
The "Aurora Light Down Jacket" you will be wearing this time is a new model that combines lightness and warmth at a high level. The main fabric is Aurora Tex Light, a waterproof, breathable, and lightweight fabric used in sleeping bags, and with a fill power of 860, it is second to none.
Sasaki: The fact that it looks compact for its 860 fill power is probably due to the quality of the down. Personally, I liked the side zips at the neck for ventilation, the drawcord at the hem, the raised fabric inside the waist pocket, and the double-layered fabric on the shoulders, all of which give it a gear-like appearance. Even with such serious specifications, I can sense Nanga's craftsmanship in the way the design hides the down packing on the surface, making it easy to fit in as street wear.
Q. There are many outdoor brands, both domestic and international, but what do you think makes Nanga's down so special?
Sasaki: . It is the quality and the price. The quality of the sleeping bag is directly incorporated into the clothing, making it a truly wearable sleeping bag. . It's almost like wearing a high-end down comforter. Also, the "TAKIBI" series is ideal for campfire scenes, and the water-repellent finish on the down itself is a unique feature. This is something that has only recently been seen in other brands, but I believe that Nanga was the first to do so. Also, since they are made in our own factory, the lightness, quality, and price setting cannot be imitated elsewhere. Moreover, they are updated every year, so I think this is a down style that is kind to the people who wear it.
Speaking of being gentle to the wearer, Nanga recommends washing down, and even posts instructions for washing down on its website. Do you often go camping these days?
Sasaki: . I haven't been able to get there very often.... Since bonfires are a must in winter camping, the "TAKIBI" series is more suitable than this new one, but if you think about using it differently, I think the "Aurora Light Down Jacket" is also a possibility. . It can be packed up small in the hood part, so it is easy to carry around.
What did you think of this year's variations?
Sasaki: Nanga also makes special orders for parts of our products that are not originally made by Nanga, so I feel that we have almost everything covered. I think the main attraction is the quality of the sleeping bag.
Do you know anyone around you who wears "Nanga"?
Sasaki: . I see a lot of people wearing special-order items. Moreover, most of them basically own a sleeping bag and know how good Nanga is. By the way, Nanga sleeping bags contain a lot of air and the down is of good quality, so unlike other sleeping bags, when you put it away, it is hard to put it back in the bag because it is so flat. Sleeping bags often need to be left in the bag for a while before they inflate, but the Nanga inflates very quickly. This is one of the charms of the Nanga sleeping bag.
You are a stoic person when it comes to wearing down.
Sasaki: . maybe it's an old habit. . but it feels right to zip it up tight to the top. Today I simply wear it with my usual outfit.
Do you have any particular points to keep in mind because of the simplicity of the styling?
Sasaki: If you wear only outdoor brands all over your body, you tend to look like an "outdoorsman. I don't mean to deny that, but if you are going to wear it around town, I think it would be easier to match it with items from a different category, such as work or sports brands. . It's also good to create a bit of a difference by making it look simple, but the sneakers you are wearing with it are actually made of GORE-TEX material.
AURORA LIGHT DOWN JACKET ¥68,000+TAX（ eachONLINE STORE)
This is a top-of-the-line down jacket that encapsulates high-quality SPDX down (Polish goose down) to provide another dimension of warmth. All zippers are watertight , and the distinctive neck also functions as ventilation. Hooks on the back of the hood control movement, while the jacket can be folded and secured for compact portability. The shoulders are made of a double layer of fabric to increase friction resistance, making it safe for activists who carry a sack on their back. A stand collar is also available, in four colors.
