Monkey Business

Japan has a rich history of faithfully and un-ironically appropriating outside influences, from gangster movies, to scratch DJing, to inhaling 60 hot dogs. Get worshipfully kicked-back clothing, from Monkey Business.Tokyo's MB incorporates British and American influences into an aesthetic they describe as "new clothing matches used clothing" -- an unfortunate mistranslation that sounds like the '08 gear is going pyro on your dad's Panama Jack. Since its birth in '04, they've branched into three distinct lines, each drawing from its own inspiration: Silver Label (US casual/street), Gold Label (UK rock), and Indepensense, which is based strictly on Japanese trends, like asymmetrical design, and ridiculous words. The down-filled Striped Wool Jacket rocks a detachable Hoth-hood, the 3/4-sleeve "Michigan 69" tee makes reference to juvenile Rust Belt perversion, and the rockers-only Poplin Buckle Tab buttondown's epaulets loop through D-rings -- like a trench coat belt you're not tempted to unbuckle every time you pass a game of hopscotch.The most interesting piece is probably the Zip-Up Hoodie w/ Zipper Detail, which features removable sleeves, as well as non-functioning zippers on the front of the hood and ringing the waistband -- because along with the above, Japan's clearly captivated by America's useless crap that doesn't work.