THE BLACKYOTO BRAND WAS CONCEIVED IN 2013 FOLLOWING AN INSPIRATIONAL VISIT TO THE KYOTO MONTSUKI COMPANY. FOUNDED BY KINNOSUKE ARAKAWA IN 1915, THE COMPANY IS CELEBRATING IT`S CENTINARY IN 2015. IN 2014, TORU ARAKAWA, THE 4TH AND CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THIS FAMILY RUN COMPANY, AGREED TO COOPERATE WITH JEREMY McALPINE, A MUNICH BASED BUSINESSMAN WITH A PASSION FOR JAPAN AND IT´S TRADITIONAL, ARTISINAL MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUES AND STANDARDS. A CENTURY OF EXCELLENCE ACHIEVING THE „BLACKEST BLACK“, KYOTO MONTSUKI CONTINUES TO DEVELOP ECOLOGICALLY SOUND, BLACK OXIDE, DYEING PROCESSES. A GENUINE MONTSUKI DYED GARMENT IS RESISTANT TO THE ELEMENTS AND WILL RETAIN IT`S UNIQUE BLACK COLOUR LONGER THAN MASS-PRODUCED, CHEMICALLY DYED, APPAREL. THE COLLECTION COMPRISES „UPCYCLED“ ICONIC VINTAGE DENIM, RAINCOATS AND CLASSIC POLOS. THE BEST OF EUROPEAN MILITARY SURPLUS FROM FRANCE, ITALY, BELGIUM, GERMANY, GREAT BRITAIN, SWITZERLAND, SERBIA, NORWAY AND SWEDEN. JAPANESE WORKWEAR OVERALLS, CARPENTER PANTS, GLOVES AND SOCKS. BRITISH „SHEPHERD BOOTS“ AND STERLING SILVER ACCESSORIES. KENDO BAGS, SHIBORI SCARVES, WOOLEN BLANKETS, ITALIAN OFFICER`S MESS LINEN TABLE CLOTHS AND CANVAS TOTES RECUT IN ITALY FROM CAMP BED GROUND SHEETS COMPLETE THE COLLECTION.