With a new label launched in 2023, the apparel manufacturer is looking to establish a stronger international presence as it celebrates a half century in business.
By Cian O Neill
An apparel manufacturer with a global presence, Tomorrowland was first established in 1978 as a wholesale business specializing in men’s jerseys. Today the company not only plans, produces, sells and imports general apparel for both men and women, but has a growing sideline in restaurant and bar management.
Company President Yuhei Sasaki is on hand to explain what sets Tomorrowland apart from its competitors: “We have a phrase, ‘Only at Tomorrowland’, which embodies the unique quality of our products, styling, store interiors and staff.” A firm believer in the phrase ‘less is more’, Mr. Sasaki’s stated aim is to pursue “elegance while emphasizing restraint and eliminating excess.”
To this end, recent additions to the company’s burgeoning portfolio include the label MAISON ET VOYAGE, which was developed during the Covid pandemic. “During Covid,” Mr. Sasaki explains, “I started learning pattern making, a longstanding interest of mine. I sat next to a master pattern maker and painstakingly created a shirt, followed by shorts.” Envisaged as a small store specializing in shirts, the idea soon grew legs, resulting in a 200-meter squared concept store that included shirts, jackets, bottoms and shoes. Mr. Sasaki takes up the thread: “Although I lacked design experience, I collaborated part-time with the Tomorrowland menswear design team, forming an eight-member creative unit. My father, the company’s founder, bought many items from the store and expressed his approval of the interior design, which made me genuinely happy.”
Looking to the future, and with existing relationships with factories in China, Europe and Thailand, Mr. Sasaki is open to further collaboration. “We want to combine with suppliers who are passionate about their work,” he states. “For us, where the product is made is less important than the look, texture, fit and feel. Understanding what a factory can do and its strengths is more important than its location. We value the characteristics of different regions and prioritize long standing relationships over sticking to specific areas.”
At the root of these core principles is an internationalism long embedded in the company’s DNA. Mr. Sasaki again: “My father often speaks proudly about being from Yokohama and spending time with friends of various nationalities at the military base.” With Japan experiencing a well-documented demographic transition that is resulting in domestic labor shortages, maintaining a global outlook is arguably more important than ever as the company moves towards its 50th anniversary in 2028.
As Mr. Sasaki is quick to confirm: “By 2028, we are aiming to establish a strong presence in the global market and to challenge new markets with our unique identity.”
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