＜Release Dates＞

In store: November 13th (Fri) 12:00 PM JST 

Online: November 16th (Mon) 7:00 PM JST

Once again, we have teamed up with Wild Things for an exciting project, all thanks to your positive feedback.

Wild Things was born in the USA as a outdoor brand and created tough and tech gear for a very long time.

It all started when they joined our fabric recycling project in 2020, which led to the creation of a versatile softshell jacket that can be worn year-round. Then, last year, we had the opportunity to make a warm active insulation jacket together.

Alongside the jacket, we also made a fleece balaclava, which turned out to be another fantastic piece.

For this year’s collaboration, I had the opportunity to be the director of the project (with Max’s help of course!). I had so much fun deciding what we shall create and designing the small details of the products.

The most important thing was to create something different from anything we’d made before, something that, to me, works even better on a bike than our previous pieces.

I also wanted it to be something you could wear for a long time, both across seasons and regardless of changing moods or trends.

Of course, it had to look good, too. I think we’ve created something that genuinely appeals to everyone, regardless of age or gender.

Introducing the “Bike Shell Jacket.”

We’ve taken our previous Wild Things shell jacket, which we adapted to be more bike-friendly, and given it another round of updates.

Packed with plenty of my personal requests and thoughtful details that make it even better for riding, this year’s version is a lighter shell jacket than last year’s.

This time, it comes in two colors: navy and olive.

Having multiple color options was an absolute must for me. There’s something really nice about being able to choose, and both colors turned out beautifully. I’m glad they let me have my way on this one, too. Personally, olive is my pick.

The nylon fabric has a premium feel with just the right amount of structure, but what I really love is its slightly nostalgic, laid-back vibe that reminds me of ’90s outdoor gear. It’s got that charmingly old-school, casual look.

And because it doesn’t scream “cycling apparel,” it blends effortlessly with just about any pair of pants, outfit, or occasion, just like our previous jackets.

Reflective materials are essential for bike friendly gear and for this jacket, we adopted it with reflective prints, which is my favorite feature of this jacket.

This detail also draws inspiration from vintage outdoor wear, featuring a printed grid pattern that captures that old-school vibe without looking too dated.

While the pattern does help with visibility, what I really love is the contrast it creates. By switching up the design between the upper and lower sections and keeping the grid pattern only on the upper half, we’ve given the jacket a distinct look that I think is super sick.

A big part of why I wanted to incorporate reflective printing is simply because I’ve always loved it. But I also like the fact that it offers better all-around visibility than reflective tape.

With reflective tape, there’s a good chance it’ll get covered up when you’re wearing a backpack. But with this printed pattern, at least some part of it will always be visible and catch the light.

Another small detail worth mentioning is that we even used reflective cords for adjusting the fit of the hood.

The generously sized hood features two adjustment points, making it easy to wear over a cap or the balaclava I’ll introduce shortly.

It’s also designed to stay out of your line of sight when you turn your head to look behind you while riding, which is a pretty important detail on a bike.

Oh, and yes, the back pocket is still there, which is one of the key details from the early collaboration jackets. This double sided pocket comes in clutch, even though you might forget that it’s there sometimes.

If you ever need to stash a bottled drink in one of your pockets, this is definitely the one to use.

It eliminates that annoying feeling of having something heavy weighing down your front pockets while riding your bike.

Of course, we’ve kept the brand’s signature oversized front pockets. The flap-style design helps keep water from getting inside, which is a really handy feature.

And since I believe you can never have too many pockets, we’ve added some on the inside as well. With this much storage, the jacket practically doubles as a small bag.

A single layer of nylon felt a little too thin and flimsy, so we added a mesh lining.

The combination works beautifully, helping reduce that hot, clammy feeling when it’s warm while providing a little extra warmth when the temperature drops.

It’s a great balance of comfort and practicality, and one of MAX’s favorite details of the jacket.

We’ve also put openings under both of the arms for ventilation, when things get steamy in there.

I’ve been going on about all the little details we’ve packed into this jacket, but when it comes to the overall look, simplicity was always at the heart of the design.

In fact, we’ve kept the branding to an absolute minimum. The Blue Lug logo is tucked away inside one of the inner pockets, keeping things deliberately understated.

Rather than drawing attention with flashy logos, I want people to appreciate the thoughtful details and design that make this jacket special.

Moving onto the Alpha Hood.

I’m introducing this one later simply because of the order of things, but personally, I love it so much that it might actually be my favorite piece of the entire collaboration.

From the moment we first started discussing this project, I knew I wanted to bring this collaboration to life with a combination of a shell jacket and an Alpha Direct balaclava.

The Polartec® Alpha Direct fabric has become more common in the Ultralight outdoor scene and for daily wear. We chose the 90 thickness, which is not too thick or too thin. I absolutely love this fabric.

The fleece fabric we used on the previous collections are surely warm, but I felt like it was causing overheat which made it feel more cold when you start to sweat. I also felt it was too bulky on my face.

Alpha Direct keeps you warm when you’re standing still, yet its excellent breathability allows air to flow through, preventing sweat from building up and helping you maintain a comfortable temperature.

It’s also incredibly lightweight, to the point where you almost forget you’re wearing it.

And it really shines when paired with the shell jacket.

When it’s cold, wear it under the jacket’s hood for maximum warmth. When you need more airflow, simply take the jacket’s hood off. And if you’re still too warm, you can pull the balaclava down and wear it like a neck warmer.

On a personal note, I often wear Alpha hoodies from various brands when hiking, but I’ve always thought they’d be even more versatile if the body and hood were separate pieces.

I’ve also felt that having just the hood on its own would be incredibly useful for everyday wear around town.

Seriously, I want everyone to give this thing a try. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

Another detail I’d like to mention is the use of reflective piping instead of reflective tape.

I love how it adds a subtle accent without being too flashy.

We’ve also reworked the pattern from our previous fleece version, updating the shape to provide better coverage around the face.

And just like the jacket, it features an adjustable fit, so you can dial it in exactly how you like it.

The balaclavas come in gray, light blue, orange and black. A total of four colors! It would be awesome if you could grab another one, after getting one and liking them.

Once again here are the release dates…

 

＜Release Dates＞

In store: November 13th (Fri) 12:00 PM JST 

Online: November 16th (Mon) 7:00 PM JST

Big shoutout to Hyuga and Lana from Gramicci Harajuku and our staff member Llama for modeling!

Check em’ out.