The Craftsmanship Aspiration of the Innovative Brand "Tomo＆Co."

Launched in 2014, Tomo＆Co. became widely popular after key figure in men's fashion, Nick Wooster, was seen wearing their distinguished air sole shoes. The brand now collaborates with street brands and has solidified its status in the industry. We reached out to the brand's designer Tomotaka Onozaki to understand the concept and craftsmanship behind "Tomo＆Co."

Rebranding & Restart Based on a Son’s Question

Designer Tomotaka Onozaki founded "ARTYZ" in 2003 when he was 23 years old. As the brand approached its 10th anniversary, he decided to rename it to "Tomo＆Co." Entering the 11th year, Onozaki shared his emotions from that time:
 
"The days when brand designers can just be 'designers' are few. There are fabrics to select, pattern meetings, and various tasks that differ from my imagined 'designer role.' When playing with my son in the park, he asked, 'What do you do for work, Dad?' I couldn’t immediately answer 'clothes designer.'
 
"While finalizing the 11th-year plans, I felt uncertain about the next decade. Thus, I decided to focus on my strengths (hats, shirts, shoes) and rebranded in 2014. That’s how 'Tomo＆Co.' began."