Founded in 2011, Understudy began as a menswear boutique with a focus on providing globally-sourced, high quality clothing and accessories. Since then, Understudy has continued to evolve with the addition of a women’s department that echos the shop’s longtime commitment to celebrating individual style through an appreciation of design, culture and community.

There’s a saying that speculates if you want to break the rules, you need to know them first. The team behind Japanese label Needles clearly knows this adage well. Needles is forward thinking in a way that doesn’t hit you over the head—they may use premium fabrics you’ve never felt before to craft a parka that looks otherwise familiar, or add a few subtle, unexpected details to a pair of trousers. But beneath it all is a keen understanding of construction and quality that inspires trust that the Needles team knows what they’re doing. That—and the enthusiastic world of devoted Japanese fashion fanatics—is enough to elevate Needles to cult brand status.