A Conversation with KANEMASA PHIL.

There are some brands we come across that instantly feel at home within our ever-growing roster. Yet it’s only when you spend time with the product, feeling it, wearing it and living with it, that you begin to understand its true place. For us, KANEMASA PHIL. has become one of those brands, quietly establishing itself as a standout within our collections this season.

Founded in 1964 in Wakayama City, home to Japan’s largest production region for knitted fabrics, KANEMASA PHIL. is built upon a deep understanding of fabric and craftsmanship. The brand expresses a distinct sense of quality through precise silhouette construction, impeccable fabrication and a meticulous attention to detail.

Across the collection, luxuriously soft textures and fluid, silk-like fabrics bring an elevated feel to generously cut shirting, relaxed shorts and loose-fit trousers. Each piece embodies a subtle elegance, balancing premium fabrication with understated sophistication, comfort and effortless wearability.

We recently spent some time with the KANEMASA PHIL. team to discuss the SS26 collection and where the brand finds itself this season.

There’s a natural lightness to the new collection. Silhouettes feel easy, fabrics move beautifully, and each piece sits comfortably within the rhythm of warmer days. The collection feels considered without ever appearing overworked, refined in its simplicity and confident in its restraint.

Our conversation touched on everything from fabric development and construction to the smaller details that often go unnoticed, as well as how the garments are intended to be worn and lived in over time. It offered a deeper understanding of how the collection has come together and how it continues to build upon the foundations of the brand season after season.

Q&A

We love the SS26 collection, the Cupro Pants and Shorts a highlight in particular. Can you tell us more about the construction and silhouette of the Cupro?

This densely knitted fleece uses cupro yarn as the face yarn. Through a specialised fabric treatment known as fibril processing, it achieves a unique lustre and a silky smooth texture that feels exclusive to KANEMASA PHIL.

It is characterised by a soft velvety feel. Sitting somewhere between a sweatshirt and a jersey in weight, it can be worn comfortably throughout the year.

How has the shift into SS26 felt for you compared to previous seasons?

The theme for the Spring Summer 2026 collection is “explorers”.

Inspired by the clothing and equipment worn by explorers in the Egyptian desert, who faced harsh climates and environments, we created this collection around the idea of functionality and practicality. Drawing from this essence, we reinterpreted it through a uniform inspired style that also carries the English aesthetic of refined craftsmanship and dignity.

What are the key characteristics of KANEMASA PHIL.?

KANEMASA has its roots in a circular knitting company based in Wakayama, where our head office is still located.

Everything we produce is original, from the materials and knitting to the dyeing and finishing processes. We started the brand to preserve and evolve the unique skills behind our specialised machines and craftsmanship for the future.

Your fabrics always feel like they sit at the centre of the collection. How did that process begin this time?

We focus on reconstructing traditional materials through knitting techniques.

It is important for us to respect historic fabrics while adapting them in a way that feels modern.

What kind of customer do you see wearing KANEMASA PHIL.?

People who appreciate the essence of things. Those looking for everyday clothing that feels refined and elegant while still being comfortable to wear.

There is a lightness and natural drape to the pieces this season. Was that something intentional from the start or did it come through as you worked?

The drape and lightness of the fabric are central to our brand identity. We always begin with a clear vision of how we want the fabric to feel and move.

How do you think about how the clothes are worn in everyday life when you are designing?

We place great importance on creating clothes that people naturally reach for in their daily lives.

We want to make pieces that are not only for special occasions, but clothes that lift your spirits the moment you put them on in the morning without a second thought. Pieces that blend naturally into your routine while still bringing a small sense of excitement.

Are there any small details in this collection that you feel people might not notice straight away but are important to you?

I believe that when we wear clothes in daily life, we inevitably wash them often. Because of this, we develop our fabrics with daily care in mind, making sure they resist shrinking, dry quickly and are less prone to wrinkling.

And more generally, how do you feel the brand is evolving as you keep working season to season?

As technology continues to advance, I want to keep creating clothing using materials and techniques that I have never seen before.

Thanks for chatting with us, lastly, when someone picks up a KANEMASA PHIL. product from this collection, what do you hope they’ll notice after a few months of wear?

After wearing it for a few months, I hope the first thing they notice is how often they reach for it.

Even without flashy designs, we hope the pieces gradually become an indispensable part of daily life through their comfort, the way the fabric shapes itself to the body, and how naturally they move with you throughout the day.

We also hope people enjoy how the fabric and silhouette slowly take on their own character through wear.

For us, the appeal is not only when the garment is brand new. Its character deepens as it is worn over time, and we believe that is part of the essence of KANEMASA PHIL.

Ultimately, we would be happy if the pieces came to feel less like simply “clothes you wear” and more like something that naturally exists within your everyday life and sensibilities.