Needle

Quick Answer

Key Takeaways

• It is Needles, not Needle: the label's name is plural, and searching it that way gives far better results.
• "Needle pants" means track pants: the pant with side tape and a butterfly is what most people have seen.
• The H.D. is the famous fit: wide, with volume at the knee from darts at the waist and hem.
• Size up one: Needles uses Japanese sizing, which runs roughly one size small.
• The jacket matches: the Track Jacket shares the tape and the butterfly, so the two make a set.

Quick Links

• Needle or Needles?
• Three pieces worth knowing
• What I hear when clients say "Needle"
• How to find the right pair
• Quick comparison
• Where to buy

Needle Clothing or Needles? Clearing It Up

There is no separate brand behind most searches for needle clothing, needle japan or needle brand. People have seen a pair of track pants with a small butterfly on the thigh, heard the name once, and dropped the s. The label is Needles, founded in Tokyo in 1995 by Keizo Shimizu and part of the Nepenthes group, which also runs Engineered Garments and South2 West8.

If what you remember is striped tape down the leg and an embroidered butterfly, you are in the right place. That butterfly is called the papillon. The Needles clothing collection and the Needles brand guide explain the label in full.

Needle Clothing Mini-Guide: Three Pieces to Know

The H.D. Trackpants. Wide and structured, with darts that push the volume out at the knee. The H.D. Trackpants in Navy ($210) is the safest first pair, and the H.D. Trackpants in Taupe ($210) is the softer colour I suggest for warm weather.

The Poly Smooth Track Pants. A straighter leg in smooth, breathable polyester that drapes as you walk. Try the Poly Smooth Track Pants in Olive ($249), or the Black Brown pair ($229), which is stocked down to XS.

The Track Jacket. The same taping on the sleeves and a papillon on the chest. The Track Jacket in Purple ($220) is the classic colour.

What I Hear When Clients Say "Needle"

I have fitted Needles for years, and "the needle pants" is one of the most common ways people describe them to me. Usually they are holding up a phone with a photo of H.D. Trackpants: purple, wide, tape running down the side. When they try a pair on, the reaction is nearly always the same. The pant looks bigger on the hanger than on the body, because the darts gather it back in at the ankle.

The other thing I hear is surprise at the sizing. Most people pick their normal size, find it snug, then settle one size up. The drawcord waist makes the larger size easy to wear. My H.D. track pants sizing notes go through it build by build.

How to Find the Right Pair

1. Search "Needles" with an s. It filters out unrelated results straight away.
2. Look for the papillon. An embroidered butterfly on the thigh confirms the label.
3. Pick the fit: H.D. for wide, the straight Track Pant for a classic line, Narrow for slim. The Needles track pants guide compares them.
4. Go up one size from your usual US size; the Needles size guide has the detail.
5. Check sizes stocked on the product page before ordering, as orders cannot be changed after placing.

Quick Comparison

The pale blue Track Pants in Sax ($249) pairs well with the Track Jacket in Taupe ($220) if you want two tones rather than a matched set.

Where to Buy Needle Clothing (Needles)

Browse the Needles trackpants collection, the track pants collection, poly smooth track pants or Needles track jackets, or see everything in stock. Buying from the US? The US buying guide and the Needles store guide cover the details.

Standard shipping is free worldwide, with tracking emailed on dispatch and estimated delivery of 6 to 27 business days depending on location and customs (shipping policy). Unused, unwashed items with tags can be exchanged or swapped for store credit within 7 days of delivery (refund policy). The H.D. Track Pants Two-Pair Set is $336 for two or $472.50 for three. Email [email protected] with questions. These guides are written by Ren Aoki.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a clothing brand called Needle?

When people search for needle clothing, they almost always mean Needles, the Japanese label with an s at the end. Needles was founded in Tokyo in 1995 by Keizo Shimizu and belongs to the Nepenthes group. It is best known for track pants and track jackets with contrast side tape and a small embroidered butterfly, called the papillon, on the thigh or chest.

What are needle track pants?

"Needle track pants" is a common way of describing Needles track pants: sport pants with striped tape down each leg, a drawcord elastic waist and an embroidered butterfly on the thigh. They come in several fits, including the wide H.D., the slim Narrow, the classic straight Track Pant and the flared Boot-Cut. Prices here start at $200 for the straight fit.

Do Needles track pants run small?

Yes. Needles uses Japanese sizing, which runs roughly one size smaller than US sizing, so most people size up once for a relaxed fit. The drawcord elastic waist lets you tighten a slightly larger size comfortably. Check the sizes stocked on each product page, since most pairs run S to XL and a few go down to XS.