Nest Robe / Confect, who’ve been operating an apparel sewing factory since 1950, faced a challenging scenario in 2005. The apparel industry was experiencing a recession due to the production shift to countries like China, where labor costs were low. This shift led to price competition, causing a decline in the unit price of clothes. Even if companies produced excellent products, they struggled to sell them at profitable prices. Consequently, production sites faced financial strain, resulting in a gradual impoverishment of these areas.
NR made a strategic decision to break free from this negative spiral and stabilize its production sites. They opted for an integrated approach, conducting everything from planning to manufacturing and retailing in-house. Now, with years of experience, NR has developed sewing skills and accumulated expertise in patternmaking, fabric sourcing, and design techniques. During this period is also when CONFECT was born, creating menswear styles with the same ethos.
Today, their commitment to sustainability is seen throughout their UpcycleLino collections and as one of the few brands with a complete in-house production and recycling process. For example, this 70/30 linen/cotton B.D shirt is a part of UpcycleLino, with the pink version dyed from onion skins sourced from Awaji Island and black utilizing carbonized plum seeds from Kishu. Another collection standout is this 100% linen Panama weave chore jacket; Panama weave is known for having moderate gaps in the grid pattern, allowing for greater wind ventilation, quick drying, and overall lightness.
Check out full collection below and view their online store here.
