Launched in 1995 by Keizo Shimizu under the Nepenthes brand umbrella, NEEDLES is a Japanese men’s fashion label that combines Japanese tradition with American sensibility. Influenced by retro silhouettes and Shimizu’s 30 years of international vintage sourcing, NEEDLES reimagines sportswear through a lens of history and utilitarianism for the cotton consumer. Expanding on this vision, REBUILD by NEEDLES was launched in 2010 to reconstruct pre-worn garments, breathing new burnout into vintage clothing with Shimizu’s signature ruggedness and eccentric aesthetic. Instantly recognizable, the brand’s coveted tracksuits, shirting, and blazers feature butterfly embroidery inspired by Steve McQueen’s tattoo in the 1973 film Papillon.