A Gentleman in Perpetual Motion
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KOZO KAWAMURA
Colony Clothing
”My style is a mix of 20th century mid-century American and European, adapted to the lifestyle of Southeast Asia,” says Kozo Kawamura, speaking about how he designs pieces for his label, Colony Clothing.
For Kozo, style is a deeply personal thing. It isn’t simply about material or cut or look — but how all of these come together to create a way to experience the world.
He’s spent over 30 years wearing exceptional brands and vintage pieces from the US and Europe, and travels regularly from his home in Singapore to everywhere else. And from this experience comes his unique insight of what style should be: “clothing you can wear anytime, anywhere in the world.”
Kozo calls his designs New Colonial Style. But for his vision to work, he needed a material that wouldn’t be out of place in an airport lounge in London or a dive bar in Thailand.
And so he found what he needed in Ultrasuede — a soft, velvety fabric that’s as easy to wear as denim; hard wearing and with an unmistakable sense of refinement. But most of all, Ultrasuede is particularly suited to layering, with its breathability adapting well to all sorts of weather.
“I have never seen a material as functional as this one, while also being so luxurious and elegant,” he says of the fabric. “When moving between places with drastically different climates — such as from Singapore or the Philippines to winter destinations like Korea or Italy — wearing this Ultrasuede allows me to move seamlessly around the world, no matter where I am.”
Kozo’s collections lean toward the classic side, with a bit of a modern touch—safari jackets, overshirts, and harringtons, with suits, blazers, shirts, and trousers to match. And while the pieces might get a small update here and there, each one remains true to his original idea: to create a wardrobe that would suit a man about the world.
“I design this collection the way a DJ mixes records — blending those experiences into designs that fit perfectly with the new era."
Coasting along the Italian Riviera, navigating the wineries of Lisbon, heading deep into the Hokkaido winter — with so much of the world to explore, Colony Clothing’s pieces will endure whatever your travels will throw at it.