Tokyo • Outdoor • Technical
Tokyo-born outdoor gear built for wandering, not peak-chasing — the origin story, the materials obsession, and the signature pieces behind Japan's most design-literate mountain brand.
Keita Ikeuchi and Mihoko Mori were designing at ISSEY MIYAKE when they realized nobody was making the outdoor gear they actually wanted to wear. Not expedition armor for 6,000-meter peaks, but thoughtful, technical clothing for a weekend in the mountains near Tokyo — the kind of thing you'd reach for on a trail and still feel good in on a Monday. In 2011, they started and wander to build exactly that.
The timeline: from ISSEY MIYAKE to the mountains
- 2011
- Ikeuchi and Mori launch and wander (2011SS). The name signals intent: wandering on foot, not peak-chasing. Source: and wander company profile
- 2013
- Company formally incorporated as and wander inc. (株式会社アンドワンダー). The brand adopts PERTEX Quantum Air for windbreakers. Source: Materials for and wander (Pertex)
- 2016
- Named a TOKYO FASHION AWARD 2016 winner. Showcases at Showroom.tokyo in Paris, putting the brand on the international radar. Source: Rakuten FW TOKYO interview
- 2017
- Opens direct store "M.T." in Motoyoyogi, Tokyo — a physical home base for the brand and the HIKING CLUB community. Source: WWD Japan
- 2019
- TSI Holdings subsidiary Anglobal acquires all shares of and wander, bringing the brand into a larger fashion group while preserving its creative independence. Source: TSI Holdings press release
- 2022
- Three-season collaboration with adidas TERREX launches: FW22 "Micro," SS23 "Macro," FW23 "Connected." Source: and wander journal
- 2025 AW
- Current collection features collaborations with ROA, ALTRA, Paraboot, and Gramicci alongside core technical pieces. Source: 2025 AW lookbook
Design DNA: Tokyo to the weekend mountains
and wander doesn't do theme-driven seasonal "concept collections." Instead, the designers test materials by walking in the mountains, then iteratively update what works. The process yields garments that respect outdoor layering rules — inner quick-dry, mid insulation, outer waterproof — while adding a slight fashion tension that makes each piece city-viable.
A hangtag system communicates this clearly: each item carries 1–3 mountain icons. Three icons means mountain-ready materials and construction. One icon means a daily-use blend with outdoor DNA. It's a simple, honest signal that removes guesswork.
Reflective details
Side stitching and logo prints reflect light for night visibility — functional safety doubled as a subtle visual signature.
Pocket = Vent
Pocket interiors are mesh to aid temperature regulation. Side zips double as ventilation. Function dictates form.
Mobility patterning
Gathered seam construction, 3D calf patterning, and gusseted crotch design — built for range of motion on a trail.
Mountain icon rating
Hangtags carry 1–3 mountain icons to signal field-readiness. No jargon — just a clear, graded system.
Materials: Polartec, Pertex, and why they matter
Technical-material literacy is part of the brand's identity. and wander publishes "Materials for and wander" explainers for its key textile partners, treating fabric education as content rather than fine print.
Pertex Quantum Air balances breathability with wind resistance for high-output use. and wander adopted it in 2013 for windbreakers. Pertex Shield is a multi-layer waterproof-breathable system used in the brand's rain jackets — face fabric, membrane, and optional backer.
Care is performance: the brand says "regular maintenance is essential," especially for rainwear. Washing plus heat treatment sustains water repellency; STORM detergent is recommended.
Signature pieces
and wander doesn't chase hype drops. Its icons are long-running staples that get refined season after season. These are the pieces the brand itself highlights most.
High Loft Fleece Jacket
Polartec High Loft. Long-running "standard" item, officially described as a best-seller loved for years. ¥46,200.
PERTEX SHIELD Rain Jacket
Face fabric + membrane + optional backer system. The technical outer layer anchor of every collection. ¥88,000.
NY Taffeta Hiker Pants
Mobility patterning, mesh-vent pockets, reflective details. Water repellent + UPF50+. Gets its own official deep-dive. ¥27,500.
ECOPAK Backpacks
The 40L is the flagship. ECOPAK material across multiple sizes. A major story in every AW lookbook. ¥57,200 (40L).
CORDURA Typewriter LS Shirt
Technical woven long-sleeve in CORDURA typewriter fabric. A named key item in the 2025 AW catalog. ¥33,000.
ALTRA × and wander LONE PEAK 9+
Recurring trail shoe collaboration highlighted across lookbooks and catalogs. ¥33,000.
Price positioning
and wander sits in a premium technical tier — more expensive than mainstream outdoor brands, justified by fabric choices, construction details, and a design sensibility that bridges trail and city.
| Category | Example | Price (JPY) |
|---|---|---|
| Shell outerwear | PERTEX SHIELD rain jacket | ¥88,000 |
| Fleece / insulation | High Loft Fleece Jacket | ¥46,200 |
| Shirts | CORDURA typewriter LS shirt | ¥33,000 |
| Pants | NY taffeta hiker pants | ¥27,500 |
| Bags | ECOPAK 40L backpack | ¥57,200 |
| Hats / caps | CORDURA 3L boa cap | ¥17,600 |
| Footwear (collab) | ALTRA × and wander LONE PEAK 9+ | ¥33,000 |
Fit & sizing
The brand uses WS/WM for women and S–XXL for men, with published body-size charts and measurement guidance. Finished-garment measurements are also published, though specs can vary by product and season.
- Match your body measurements to the official size chart (WS/WM for women, S–XXL for men).
- For technical shells and midlayers, confirm finished-garment measurements per item — specs can change between products and seasons.
- If you plan heavy layering, consider sizing up. UK retailer The Sporting Lodge notes: "Most pieces are cut for easy movement with a neat, performance-led silhouette."
- The published "clothing size" is the finished garment measurement, not body size. Individual tolerance exists.
FAQ
"Wander" means to walk around, to roam on foot. The name signals the brand's philosophy: enjoying the outdoors in a relaxed way rather than hardcore peak-chasing. The founders chose it to evoke a looser, more exploratory relationship with nature.
Keita Ikeuchi and Mihoko Mori, both former designers on ISSEY MIYAKE teams. They started the brand in 2011 because they couldn't find outdoor wear that matched their taste. The current corporate president is Genya Oshiki, with Ikeuchi and Mori serving as Executive Officers/Designers.
Since 2019, and wander has been part of TSI Holdings via its subsidiary Anglobal, which acquired all shares of the company. The brand remains creatively led by its founding designers.
Each product's hangtag carries 1–3 mountain icons indicating field-readiness. Three mountains means the item uses mountain-ready materials and construction. One mountain means it's more of a daily-use piece with outdoor DNA.
International orders from the official online store are handled through WorldShopping (an agent purchase service). The brand is also stocked by global retailers including Mytheresa, SVD, The Sporting Lodge (UK), Standard & Strange (US), and Greybird (Tokyo/SF-based, ships Japan-exclusive stock to the US with import duties covered). Check the brand's store finder for authorized stockists.
The brand frames durability as its primary sustainability angle: choosing materials that don't degrade quickly (like Polartec fleece, which pills less and deteriorates slower) as "one way to reduce impact." They also emphasize garment care — washing and heat treatment to maintain performance features — as a way to extend product life.
Where to buy
Prefer official channels or verified authorized retailers. and wander's store finder lists stockists globally.
- Official: and wander online store + store finder.
- International: Overseas delivery is via WorldShopping (agent purchase). Once ordered, cancellation/returns are not accepted. Shop inquiries are handled only in Japanese.
- Trusted retailers: Greybird (Tokyo/SF — ships to the US with import duties covered), Mytheresa, SVD, The Sporting Lodge, Standard & Strange.
- Authenticity cues: Look for the mountain-icon hangtag system (1–3 icons), reflective logo/stitch elements, and buy through retailers verifiable via the brand's store finder.
Care & longevity
and wander positions garment care as performance-critical, not afterthought. Their official after-care guidance emphasizes that sweat and oils degrade water repellency over time, so regular washing is essential — not optional.
- Rainwear: Wash regularly to remove sweat and oils that compromise water repellency. Follow with heat treatment (dryer or iron through cloth) to reactivate the DWR finish.
- Detergent: STORM brand detergent is specifically recommended by the brand for technical fabrics.
- Philosophy: "Regular maintenance is essential" — the brand frames care as a way to sustain function and extend product life.
Who it's for & where to start
and wander is for anyone who wants modern, minimal outdoor gear that works equally well on a trail and in a city context. If you're drawn to technical fabrics but don't want to look like you're about to summit K2, this is your lane.
Start here: fleece
The High Loft Fleece Jacket is the brand's best-seller for a reason. Polartec High Loft, three zip pockets, and a silhouette that works as a midlayer or standalone.
Start here: pants
NY Taffeta Hiker Pants. Mobility patterning, vent-pocket construction, reflective details, water repellent, UPF50+. The technical pant done right.
0 comments