Thom Browne
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One of my favorite brands, Thom Browne, is a luxury American fashion house that began in 2001 in New York’s West Village with just five made-to-measure suits. It redefined the aesthetics of the “grey suit” through refined proportions and meticulous tailoring.
●Minimal yet bold design
By reshaping the traditional suit silhouette—shortening the hems, revealing ankles and wrists—Thom Browne creates a distinctive and unconventional style.
●Signature details – Tricolor ribbon and four-bar stripes
The brand’s identity is embodied in its red-white-blue grosgrain ribbon and the iconic four-bar stripes, typically placed on the left sleeve or the left thigh/calf of pants.
●Gender-neutral and conceptual approach
Breaking gender boundaries, Thom Browne presents cropped suits, kilts, and other pieces for both men and women, often accompanied by powerful storytelling and theatrical runway presentations.
●Global growth and prestige
Acquired by the Zegna Group in 2018, the brand now operates over 100 stores and locations in more than 40 countries.
●Awards and recognition
Thom Browne has earned numerous accolades, including CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year (2006, 2013, 2016) and GQ’s Designer of the Year (2008), establishing his position as a leading figure in the fashion industry.
A Giant Hector Greets You – Thom Browne’s Summer Popup 2025 at Hankyu Department Store’s Umeda Main Branch
Hector is Thom Browne’s signature mascot, a dachshund-shaped dog character.
Named after the designer’s real-life pet, Hector embodies Thom Browne’s sense of humor, emotion, and understated charm. He appears in various forms such as bags, keychains, plush toys, and showroom displays.
Among them, the Hector-shaped bag is one of the brand’s most iconic items.
Thom Browne’s popup store was held for one week only, from Wednesday, July 16 to Tuesday, July 22, 2025, on the first floor of the main building at Hankyu Department Store Umeda Main Branch in Osaka. At the entrance, a giant and adorable Hector greeted visitors with charm.
This giant and adorable Hector is actually for sale.
According to a staff member, it costs a whopping 15 million yen (Exchange rate: 1 USD = approx. 150 JPY as of July 2025, about 100,000 USD)
In addition to the adorable dachshund Hector, Thom Browne also offers a variety of animal-shaped bags.
The hippo bag, which is rarely seen in regular stores, was especially cute. I imagined the whale bag in sky blue—it would be perfect for summer.
The colorful versions of Hector on display were reportedly brought in directly from the United States.
What I Bought at the Thom Browne Popup Store 2025 in Umeda, Osaka
At the 2025 Thom Browne popup store, the brand showcased a variety of items that embodied its signature tailoring aesthetics and were crafted from premium materials. The lineup included sophisticated knitwear, Oxford shirts, polo shirts, T-shirts in seven refined colors, as well as distinctive accessories. The seven colors were grey, deep navy, white, sky blue, light pink, butter yellow, and kelly green.
I rarely wear polo shirts, but I instantly fell in love with this one as soon as I saw it. I was deciding between the sky blue and the white, but I chose the white because it’s clean and easy to pair with other outfits.
The length is short and the overall fit is quite tight, so it works well with bottoms that have a slightly higher rise. I usually wear black slacks. When the weather gets a bit cooler, I think it would look beautiful layered with a navy cardigan.
It is made of 100% cotton, and the size is 38 in womenswear.
¥85,000 + 10% tax = ¥93,500 (≈ $623.33 at ¥150/$1)
The item I was debating with the white polo shirt was this navy T-shirt. In the hot summer, I especially like to wear slightly loose T-shirts paired with jeans. White, grey, navy, and black are colors I have always liked and often wear, so I decided to purchase this one as well because I liked the size and color.
Since it is menswear, it has a comfortably relaxed fit on me, making it great to wear on its own. If layered with outerwear, I think a looser jacket would look better than a tight one.
It is made of 100% cotton, and the size is 1 in menswear.
¥56,000 + 10% tax = ¥61,600 (≈ $410.67 at ¥150/$1)
■Thom Browne Japan
■Hankyu Department Store’s Umeda Main Branch
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