RATS｜NEIGHBORHOOD｜WTAPS

To celebrate the brand's 20th anniversary RATS have tapped Tokyo heavyweights NEIGHBORHOOD and WTAPS for an impressive three-way collaboration. This capsule collection brings together the distinct design and craftsmanship that each brand is renowned for, resulting in a highly anticipated and impressive release.

RATS founder Mano Katsutada played a pioneering role in the early Ura-hara scene, establishing his bar "Hide and Seek" as a hub for creative minds in the 1990s. It was here that influential figures like Jun Takahashi of UNDERCOVER and Shinsuke Takizawa of NEIGHBORHOOD gathered. Mano's early T-shirts gained significant attention, alongside the pioneering work of brands such as GOODENOUGH and BATHING APE. In the early 2000s, searching for fresh inspiration, Mano met with his close friend Tetsu Nishiyama of WTAPS, and together they envisioned a brand that reflected Mano's personal philosophy. In 2004, RATS was born with the simple yet profound concept: “Crawl forward to live and survive,” symbolizing his relentless drive to persevere and keep progressing.

The collaboration, which launched at each brand’s flagship store, sold out in record time. Notable pieces in the collection include two premium varsity jackets, offered in both full leather and a leather-melton hybrid style. These jackets, crafted from cow leather with oil-wax shrink processing and grained textures, feature the signature logos and motifs of all three brands. The intricate Sagara embroidered patches and flare embroidery highlight the bold aesthetic and attention to detail that have become trademarks of the collaboration.

RATS has a strong and longstanding relationship with URAHARA. As part of this collaboration, RATS has provided the store with a limited selection of pieces from the capsule collection. These exclusive items, including heavyweight hoodies and T-Shirts that blend the distinct styles of RATS, NEIGHBORHOOD and WTAPS, will be available at URAHARA in early 2025.