Needles Japan
Needles Japan is the Tokyo label from the Nepenthes group, and its track pants are cut on Japanese sizing. Below the grid I explain the label's Tokyo roots, how to convert your size and how to order from abroad.
NEEDLES JACKETS
NEEDLES PANTS
NEEDLES — ALL PRODUCTS
-
NEEDLES H.D. TRACKPANTS - BLACK -
NEEDLES H.D. TRACKPANTS - BLACK & WHITE -
NEEDLES H.D. TRACKPANTS - NAVY -
NEEDLES H.D. TRACKPANTS - PURPLE -
NEEDLES H.D. TRACKPANTS - OLIVE -
Needles H.D. Track Pants - Dark Green -
NEEDLES TRACK JACKET - NAVY -
NEEDLES H.D. TRACKPANTS - POLY SMOOTH -
Needles H.D. Track Pants - Navy Blue -
NEEDLES TRACK JACKET - BLACK & WHITE -
Needles Track Jacket - Black with Purple -
Needles Poly Smooth Track Pants - Black Brown -
NEEDLES TRACK JACKET - BLACK -
Needles Track Jacket - Dark Green -
Needles Poly Smooth Track Pants - Black -
Needles x Studious Mohair Papillon Cardigan - Natural Ivory -
NEEDLES TRACKPANT - ROYAL BLUE -
Needles Narrow Track Pants - Navy Velour -
Needles Narrow Track Pants - Grey Velour -
NEEDLES H.D. TRACKPANTS - SAX -
NEEDLES H.D. TRACKPANTS - TAUPE -
Needles H.D. Track Pants - Azure -
Slam Jam X Needles Track Pants -
Needles x Beams Fleece Track Pants - Navy Purple -
Needles x Beams Fleece Track Pants - Brown Green -
Needles x Beams Fleece Track Jacket - Navy Purple -
NEEDLES x AWGE Velour Track Pants -
NEEDLES x AWGE Velour Track Jacket -
Needles x AWGE Narrow Track Pants - Neon Pink -
NEEDLES TRACK PANT - DARK GREEN -
Needles Narrow Track Pants - Black Velour -
Needles Narrow Track Pants - Black Velour -
Needles Boot-Cut Track Pants - Navy Velour -
Lapstone X Needles 76ers Track Pants -
Watch Cap - Black - Merino Wool -
V Neck Cardigan - Black - Poly Mesh -
String Cowboy Short Poly Slub Sateen - Black -
Shetland Knit Vest - Red - Plaid -
One-Up Shirt - Blue - Wool Shadow Plaid -
Scarf - Red - Printed Silk Crepe -
Scarf - Purple - Printed Silk Crepe -
Rebuild by Needles Flannel Ribbon Shirt -
Peace Buckle Narrow Bracelet - Brown - Steer Lthr -
Peace Buckle Narrow Belt - Brown - Steer Lthr -
Peace Buckle Narrow Belt - Black - Steer Lthr -
Peace Buckle Bracelet - Brown - Steer Lthr -
Peace Buckle Belt - Brown - Steer Lthr -
Over Parka - Leopard - Alpaca Shaggy -
One-Up Shirt - Purple - Printed Flannel / Plaid -
Needles x Tie A Knot - Crystal Beads Long Necklace - Yellow x Purple -
Needles x Tie A Knot - Crystal Beads Long Necklace - Black x Purple -
Needles x Tie A Knot - Crystal Beads Double Row Ring - Pink x Purple -
Needles x Tie A Knot - Crystal Beads Double Row Ring - Blue x Purple -
Needles x Rocky Mountain Featherbed - Vest - Black -
Needles x Rocky Mountain Featherbed - Vest - Beige -
Needles x Rocky Mountain Featherbed - Jacket - Black -
Needles x Rocky Mountain Featherbed - Jacket - Beige -
Needles x Beams Fleece Track Jacket - Brown Green -
Needles Track Jacket - Navy Velour -
Needles Velour Rib Collar Track Jacket - Navy -
Needles Track Pants - Sax -
NEEDLES H.D BDU SHORTS - BLACK -
NEEDLES TRACK JACKET - TAUPE -
Needles Track Jacket - Sax -
NEEDLES TRACK JACKET - PURPLE -
Needles Track Jacket - Charcoal -
String Cowboy Short Poly Slub Sateen - Beige -
Needles Poly Smooth Track Pants - Olive -
Needles Piping Cowboy Jacket - Black -
Needles Narrow Track Pants - Charcoal -
Needles Mock Neck T-shirt Short Sleeves - White -
Needles Mock Neck T-shirt Short Sleeves - Black -
NEEDLES H.D. TRACKPANTS - WINE -
Needles Cowboy One-Up Poly Slub Sateen S/S Shirt - Beige -
Needles Cowboy One-Up Poly Slub Sateen S/S Shirt - Black -
Needles × Charcoal TOKYO Poly Sports T - White -
NEEDLES 12OZ GLITCH STITCH DENIM JACKET -
Lapstone X Needles 76ers Track Jacket -
L/S Mock Neck Tee - White - Poly Waffle Jersey -
H.D. Pant - Black - 6oz Denim -
H.D. Jean Skirt - Black - 12oz Denim -
H.D. BDU Pant - Black - Victorian Sheer -
Girls Don't Cry X Needles Track Pants -
Fringe Track Pant - Gold - Tricot Jersey -
Flannel Shirt -> 7 Cuts Wide Shirt / Over Dye - Black -
Field Skirt - Olive - C/N Oxford -
Faux Fur Jacket - Beige - Acrylic Pile -
China Shirt - Rust - Abstract Jacquard -
China Shirt - Olive - Abstract Jacquard -
Cabana Shirt - Purple - Victorian Sheer -
Cabana Shirt - Grey - Victorian Jacquard -
C.C. Vest - Brown - Embroidery Satin -
Bandana - Red - Square -
Bandana - Red - Rectangle -
Bandana - Purple - Square -
Bandana - Purple - Rectangle -
Balloon Track Skirt - Black - Bright Jersey -
Balaclava - Grey - Merino Wool -
Balaclava - Beige - Merino Wool -
AWGE X Needles Track Pants
Quick Answer
Needles Japan refers to Needles, a Tokyo label founded in 1995 by Keizo Shimizu and run inside the Nepenthes group. Its clothes are designed and sized for Japan, so they run roughly one size smaller than US sizing. Buying from outside Japan simply means sizing up once and checking which sizes are stocked.
- Home base: Tokyo, within Nepenthes alongside Engineered Garments and South2 West8.
- Sizing: Japanese, roughly one size small; most people go up one.
- Price here: H.D. Trackpants $210 to $245, Track Jackets $220 to $245.
Key Takeaways
- It is a Tokyo label: Needles began in Tokyo in 1995 and still sits in the Nepenthes group that also runs shops in Tokyo and New York.
- The sizing is Japanese: a Needles medium fits closer to a US small, which catches most first-time buyers out.
- The waist is forgiving: a drawcord elastic waist means sizing up rarely leaves you with a pant that slides off.
- Fit names matter more than size letters: H.D. and Narrow in the same size wear completely differently.
- Plan for the delivery window: estimated delivery is 6 to 27 business days depending on location and customs, with tracking emailed on dispatch.
Quick Links
- A Tokyo label in the Nepenthes world
- How Japanese sizing works on Needles
- Fitting Tokyo sizes on non-Japanese builds
- Ordering from abroad
- Sizes stocked by piece
- Where to buy
- Frequently asked questions
Needles Japan: A Tokyo Label in the Nepenthes World
Needles was founded in Tokyo in 1995 by Keizo Shimizu. It belongs to the Nepenthes group, a Japanese company with a long habit of looking at American clothing closely and then making it stranger and better. Its sister labels are Engineered Garments and South2 West8, and the group runs Nepenthes shops in Tokyo, New York and elsewhere.
That family context explains a lot about the clothes. Nepenthes labels share a respect for workwear, military and sporting garments, but each one bends them differently. Needles bends them toward sportswear and western dress: track pants with a butterfly on the thigh, cowboy shirts in shiny poly sateen, jackets covered in piping. When someone searches "Needles Japan" or "Needles Tokyo", they are usually looking for that specific handwriting.
It also explains why the label feels consistent across decades. The track pant has appeared every season in collection-specific colours, cut in a small set of fits. You can buy one this year and one five years from now and they will sit together in a wardrobe. For a longer history of the founder and the papillon, read the Needles brand history guide.
How Japanese Sizing Works on Needles Japan Pieces
Japanese sizing is cut for a slighter frame than most US brands assume. In practice, Needles runs roughly one size smaller than US sizing. A US medium usually becomes a Needles large, and a US large usually becomes an XL. Most people size up one for a relaxed fit.
The size letters on the tag look familiar, which is the trap. S, M, L and XL mean something different on a Tokyo pattern. I never quote garment measurements for Needles, because they shift between fabrics and seasons, and a number without context misleads more than it helps. Instead I rely on two things: the fit name and the drawcord.
The fit name tells you where the volume sits. The drawcord elastic waist tells you how much room for error you have. Together they make Japanese sizing far less risky than it sounds. My detailed notes by fit are in the Needles size chart and the Needles track pants size guide.
Fitting Tokyo Sizes on Non-Japanese Builds
For twelve years I have sourced Tokyo labels and fitted them on clients who were not built like the fit models in a Japanese showroom. Needles has been a constant in that work, and a few patterns repeat so often that I can predict them before the client puts the pants on.
Tall, lean clients are the easiest. They size up one in the H.D. Trackpants in Black ($210) and the length lands with a slight break over the shoe. The volume at the knee looks exactly as intended, because there is enough leg for the darts to show their shape.
Clients with bigger thighs or a fuller seat need more thought. The H.D. is actually kind to them, since the room sits where they need it, but the Narrow is not. In the Narrow Track Pants in Grey Velour ($249) I often go up two sizes for these builds, then pull the drawcord in. Velour also has a little give, which helps.
Shorter clients worry about length. With the H.D., the hem darts gather the fabric back in at the ankle, so extra length stacks rather than drags. I have seen five foot six clients wear an L comfortably for that reason. With a straight or slim fit, the extra length is more visible, so I stay closer to their true size.
Jackets follow the same rule but with less drama. The Needles Track Jacket in Navy ($220) is meant to layer, so going up one gives you room for a hoodie or knit underneath. The sleeve taping is the giveaway if a jacket is too small: the stripes should run clean down the arm, not twist toward the elbow.
The last pattern is about fabric over time. After a few washes, the jersey on an H.D. relaxes and softens. The fit does not grow, but it drapes more. Clients who bought a size that felt just right on day one often end up loving it after a month.
Ordering Needles Japan Pieces From Outside Japan
- Start from your usual US size. Write it down before you look at any Needles product page.
- Add one size. Japanese sizing runs roughly one size smaller, so a US M becomes a Needles L for most people.
- Adjust for the fit. H.D. is forgiving; Narrow is not. For Narrow on a heavier build, consider two sizes up. The guide to Needles track pant fits explains each cut.
- Check the sizes stocked. Most pieces here run S to XL; a few, like the Charcoal Track Jacket, stop at L.
- Allow for the delivery window. Estimated delivery is 6 to 27 business days depending on location and customs, and the tracking number arrives by email when the order ships.
- Keep the tags on until you are sure. Unused, unwashed items with tags can be exchanged or swapped for store credit within 7 days of delivery.
- Ask before ordering if you are unsure. Orders are processed straight away and cannot be changed after placing, so email [email protected] first.
Sizes Stocked by Piece
| Piece | Fit / Silhouette | Waist | Sizes stocked | Price here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H.D. Trackpants (Black, Navy, Purple, Taupe) | Wide, darts at waist and hem | Drawcord elastic | S, M, L, XL | $210 |
| H.D. Trackpants (Olive, Sax, Wine) | Wide, darts at waist and hem | Drawcord elastic | S, M, L, XL | $220 |
| H.D. Track Pants (Azure, Dark Green, Navy Blue) | Wide, loose and structured | Drawcord elastic | S, M, L, XL | $245 |
| Narrow Track Pants (Velour) | Slim fit | Drawstring elasticated | S, M, L, XL | $249 |
| Track Jacket (Charcoal) | Sporty, easy to layer | Not applicable | S, M, L | $220 |
Two pieces I would point a first overseas order toward: the H.D. Trackpants in Olive ($220), which is the most versatile of the brighter colours, and the H.D. Track Pants in Dark Green ($245), which pairs with the Track Jacket in Dark Green ($245) for a full set.
Where to Buy Needles Japan Pieces
The grid above holds the Japanese-cut pieces I recommend most. For more depth, open the Needles H.D. track pants collection, the narrow track pants or the Needles jackets collection. Everything else sits in the full shop, and the Needles tracksuit collection groups matching tops and bottoms.
Standard shipping is free worldwide on every order. Tracking is emailed once the order ships, and estimated delivery runs 6 to 27 business days depending on location and customs, as the shipping policy sets out. Exchanges or store credit are available on unused, unwashed items with tags within 7 days of delivery under the refund policy; there are no cash refunds. Wrong or defective items reported with photos within 48 hours of delivery get a replacement or store credit.
On H.D. Track Pants, the Two-Pair Set brings two pairs to $336 and three to $472.50. Support is at [email protected], with replies usually within 48 hours, or through the contact page. If you want the plain facts about ordering from this site, read the Needles Japan store guide and why Needles Japan prices differ abroad. The guides here are written by me; my background and testing method are on the Ren Aoki bio page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Needles a Japanese brand?
Yes. Needles is a Japanese label founded in Tokyo in 1995 by Keizo Shimizu. It is part of the Nepenthes group, which also runs Engineered Garments and South2 West8 and operates Nepenthes shops in Tokyo, New York and other cities. The clothes are designed in Japan and cut on Japanese sizing, which is why they run small for most US and European buyers.
How do I convert Needles Japan sizes to US sizes?
Go up one size from your usual US size as a starting point, because Japanese sizing runs roughly one size smaller. A US medium usually lands as a Needles large. Then adjust for the fit: the H.D. is roomy and forgiving, while the Narrow is slim and may need another size up on a heavier build. The drawcord elastic waist takes care of any looseness at the top.
Can I buy Needles Japan pieces without ordering from Japan?
Yes. You can order Needles track pants and jackets here with free standard shipping worldwide, a tracking number emailed on dispatch and an estimated delivery of 6 to 27 business days depending on location and customs. The sizing is the same Japanese sizing you would find in Tokyo, so the one-size-up rule still applies. Check the sizes stocked on each product page before ordering.