Skip to main content

Dress Like the Japanese with Ring Jacket and Its Perfect Professional Wardrobe

Fuse Italian sartorial elegance and Japanese precision and the result is Ring Jacket, a 60-plus-year-old Japanese suiting and men’s brand that is now sold in North American debut in top-notch specialty stores that range from The Armoury in New York and  A.K. Rikk’s in Grand Rapids to Supply & Advise in Miami. The entire collection is made in-house at the brand’s Osaka workshop from high-quality and proprietary fabrics such as the brand’s 100 percent “Balloon” wool that is as comfortable and wrinkle-resistant as jersey.

Nick Ragosta, who is the director of wholesale at TAIWA Ltd, and who runs Ring Jacket’s North American business, shared what makes this Japanese export a favorite of  style-conscious professionals both at home and abroad.

What is the story behind Ring Jacket?

Recommended Videos

It is a new brand to the majority of the world because it hadn’t expanded outside of Japan but it actually started in 1954 in Japan. In true Japanese fashion they kind of grew very measured and very carefully. Now we are spreading out across the U.S. and they have opened up in Korea and things like that as well.

Grey Solaro Suit/Ring Jacket Image used with permission by copyright holder

How extensive is the collection?

It is primarily tailored clothing but it has sportswear as well. We generally keep the collection quite tight but we also collaborate with some of the best fabric mills in the world such as Loro Piana. But Ring Jacket develops its own cloths and we really try to concentrate on those and they are quite strong and tell the story very well.

Where does the name come from?

It has dual meanings. The current president of the company says that we always wanted to consider that anyone who was involved in the process was very important to the process. So it’s the idea that everyone from the person on the factory line to someone selling it and the person wearing it is a kind of holistic approach to clothing. The other idea is that a ring is eternal and they look at themselves as something that would be very longstanding.

What is the Japanese aesthetic to the brand versus the Italian one?

A lot of that comes from the manufacturing and the quality. The Japanese approach to design is often very measured and can take from the best, but the make is often very, very precise. And I think that’s what you get with Ring Jacket. It’s a little bit different and there’s a slightly different feel when you put it on.

grey nailhead suit ring jacket japan
Grey Nailhead Suit/Ring Jacket Image used with permission by copyright holder

Who is the Ring Jacket customer?

The way they look at it in Japan, it’s anybody who loves clothing and who loves wearing clothing. I think here in the States it’s quite appropriate for a slightly younger customer, a youngish professional. I think Monday through Friday, the clothing really works for that guy. Being a Japanese product, the silhouettes are a little slimmer, more updated and modern but are still rooted in a really elegant and classic idea.

What sets Ring Jacket apart from similar brands?

The brand is rooted in classic but it really takes a fresh approach to it. We like to say that we are a little more edgy than the most classic of classic brands but a little more relaxed than the most modern ones. We like to think that we sit somewhere in between classic and modern, in that middle ground. And we develop a lot of our own fabrics, which is a really unique thing.

Editor’s Note: This article is part of The Manual’s larger Journey to Japan travel guide. Over the course of a month, our writers had the pleasure of experiencing Japan in all its forms, from high-rise bars in Tokyo to traditional tea ceremonies in Kyoto. We hope this series will not only inform, but inspire you to take your own trip to the Land of the Rising Sun.
Christopher Blomquist
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Christopher is a native New Yorker who lives and works (mostly) in Manhattan. A longtime fashion journalist, he served as…
SKEPTA and PUMA reunite for a ‘tech-luxe’ new sneaker
PUMA, Skepta reunite for new Skope sneaker
model wearing puma x skepta sneaker

After joining forces in February, Skepta and Puma are coming together again for another collaboration. Last time, the pair took on the Skope Forever Mid and gave it a sleek, street-style twist. For this new collaboration, Skepta and Puma are going for a lower height with the Skope Forever Low. Donning a darker color palette, this new sneaker is a chunky and oversized silhouette that’s equal parts statement and techy. Inspired by the original model, this new Skope Forever Low receives a modern refresh with an edgy twist, featuring numerous details that add chic accents to the design. Just as with their previous partnership, this sneaker is practical, techy, luxe, and a fashion statement, meaning it’s an all-around addition to your wardrobe. 

PUMA x Skepta Skope Forever Low

Read more
Engineered Garments and Reebok collaborate to take on the hybrid shoe trend
Engineered Garments, Reebok release a new hybrid shoe
brown and black reebok sneakers

Everyone from New Balance to Converse has taken part in the hybrid trend, with their respective versions of a sneaker-loafer. While the initial release of this eclectic design was met with some divisive opinions, more brands are embracing the hybrid trend. This time around, Engineered Garments and Reebok are collaborating on their take on the trend that combines elements of a Brogue shoe with Reebok’s Instapump Fury silhouette. While each brand has made major efforts in eye-catching collaborations in the past, this new design is unlike anything either has released. The third installment in their collaboration, this new sneaker is one of their most unique, combining its retro look with formal dress shoe accents. Dropping in two colorways, this new shoe dresses up your favorite rugged Reebok sneaker in a way that can’t be duplicated. 

Reebok x Engineered Garments meet for a third time

Read more
Spring style: The blue dress shirt is the secret weapon of the season
This is the shirt every man needs in his closet, especially in the spring
Man in blue shirt and suit fixing his collar

There is the four-legged stool for men that refers to the four tailored garments every man should have in his closet. The charcoal suit, the blue suit, the gray suit, and the blazer. These allow you to be ready for everything, from the big meeting in the boardroom to the after-hours event, without spending a ton of money on a dozen suits. Versatility is key. The same concept exists for shirts. You need a handful of shirts that can be worn when pitching the big proposal in the office or grabbing drinks with friends. While the white shirt is the baseline shirt every man should have, there is one shirt that is even more important; the blue dress shirt for men is the secret weapon. It is versatile, attractive, and easy to wear. Here's what you need to know about the most vital shirt in your wardrobe.

The secret weapon for your tailored wardrobe

Read more