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HYPEBEAST MAY 20018
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HYPEBEAST JUNE 2017
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UNIVERSE MAGAZINE   JANUARY 2017
HOUYHNHNM  JANUARY 2017
EYESCREAM JANUARY 2017
HOUYHNHNM OCTOBER 2016
EYESCREAM OCTOBER 2016
RIVET  JULY 2016
 
Made in USA brand Expansion Inc. released a new collection that combines smart tailoring and intricate detail with athleisure silhouettes executed in soft fabrics.
The line is made up of a palette of neutral blues and greys and is characterized by careful design details like a T-shirt with a dropped gusset, hidden button panels and an oxford with a diagonal pocket that covers the entire left breast.
The line maintains its military roots with a camo coach jacket in double-facing mesh, made in the Garment District, and camo shorts made with military fabrics.
A measure of sophistication in the otherwise boyish line is added with Japanese shirting fabrics in floral and paisley patterns. This season also includes a handmade chambray shirt made in collaboration with Japanese vintage store A-1 clothing.
Cleo Levin
 
CAZICAZI MAGAZINE APRIL 2016
 
 
HOUYHNHNM JANUARY 2016 
ノースキャロライナで編んでペンシルバニアで縫製した、こだわりのスウェットコレクション。
12オンスのオリジナル肉厚ボディはノースキャロライナで編み、縫製はペンシルバニアの工場に依頼。古き良きメイド・イン・USAを彷彿とさせる味わい深さをキープしながら、都市名を文字ったユニークなフェルトのプリントがブランドとしてのシニカルなスタンスを主張しています。
 
なお、販売は〈エクスパンション〉のオフィシャルサイトにて。寒さの厳しい真冬をスタイリッシュかつ快適に乗り越えられる魅惑のスウェットで、きっちりと暖を取ってみてはいかがでしょう。
Text_Hiroshi Yamamoto
 
DOPECREATIVE AUGUST 2015 #BPMW #LauraGammel
A collection of 4 tees, derived from the art of Hip Hop music, sampling and remixing the old with the new. Expansion NYC was inspired by appropriating Engineered Garments most popular T-shirt to lend their own spin on EG’s standard Cross Crew Neck T-shirt. Expansion NYC re-appropriated the shirt by mixing their authentic T-shirt fabrics with Engineered Garments typeface and style of T-shirt for a contemporary classic. 
 
 
SLAM X HYPE AUGUST 2015  #Edwin Tetteh
Think of the quintessential Hip-Hop sound: sampling; pulling bits and pieces from sounds that already exist and creating something fresh. Inspired by this dated art form, Expansion has teamed up with Engineered Garments to produce a beautiful tee inspired by the latter brand’s revered Cross Crew Neck t-shirt. Expansion taps Engineered Garments for their font and Cross Crew Neck pattern, laying both atop a tee produced in Pennsylvania from original fabric sourced from North Carolina. Enjoy a look at the collaborative effort below. Head here to purchase.   Via Edwin Tetteh
 
HIGHSNOBIETY AUGUST 2015  #BPMW #LauraGammel
 
 
FRESHNESS JULY 2015     #BPMW #LauraGammel
 
 
COMPLEX JULY 2015     #BPMW #LauraGammel
 
 
 
We Are The Market  JULY 2015   #BPMW #LauraGammel
 
 
COMPLEX  JULY 2015   #BPMW #LauraGammel
 
EYESCREAM  JUN 2015  #SHIPS #tsujiy #takamura1172
NY育ちの日本人デザイナーHiroshi “Kirk” Kakiageが手掛けるブランド[EXPANSION(エクスパンション)]。数少ないReal Japanese New Yorkerとして、肌で感じてきたカルチャーの原体験をバックグラウンドとした彼のクリエイションは、NYのリアルな空気感の表現と細やかな服作りで知られている。そんな同ブランドの新作コレクションが[I LOVE NY(アイ ラブ ニューヨーク)]と[SHIPS GENERAL SUPPLY(シップスジェネラルサプライ)]のトリプルネームで新登場。

グラフィックデザインは故・D.L a.k.a BOBO JAMES 周辺のアートワークや、国内外のBLACK MUSIC系アートワーク、最近では[UNDERCOVER(アンダーカバー)]高橋盾のマニピュレートもこなすTSUNEによるもの。フォトはこちらもNYを拠点に活躍するドキュメンタリーフォトグラファーDAVID SCHMIDLAPPが担当している。

是非この機会に[EXPANSION]のコラボラインを実際に手に取ってその世界観を感じてもらいたい。

【お問い合わせ先】
SHIPS渋谷店
東京都渋谷区神南1-18-1 神南1丁目ビル B1-4F
TEL:03-3496-0481
http://www.shipsltd.co.jp/brand/mens/9/index.html
 
 
milk magazine Taiwan  May 21 2015 #reputation #MK 
 
 
 
SLAM X HYPE   MAY 2015
 
Expansion has just launched a major collaboration two years in the making. Teaming up with I Love NY and Japanese retailer Ships General Supply, Expansion produced a series of tees that feature graphic work from TSUNE and photos from David Schmidlapp. TSUNE is a Japanese illustrator for Lowbrow art. Having started his career in 1995, his aptitude for computer graphic design led him to collaborative projects with R. Kelly, DEV LARGE and Jun Takahaski from UNDERCOVER. David Schmidlapp photographed the streets of New York since 1972, with his work exhibited and projected in innumerable international venues. David is also responsible for the street/subway art publication IGTimes from the 1980s. The I Love NY design dates back to the 1970s, conceptualized by Wells, Rich and Greene to revitalize the NY economy. Now an international icon, the I Love NY design finds its way to some of Expansion’s latest tees – all of which were produced in the USA. You can pick the tees up here.
Via. Slam X Hype    EDWIN TETTEH 
 
 
 
 
RIVET  APRIL 2015 
CLICK TO READ INTERVIEW
 
 
The traditional image of a fashion designer may be a well-coiffed man suited up in his atelier fanatically sketching, but realities have changed. There is a new wave of designers who make their lines in the U.S. and place a premium on closely monitoring their production and maintaining their quality.
Hiroshi “Kirk” Kakiage is an example of this type of designer. After a career as a successful buyer for Japanese stores in the ’90s, he launched his brand, Expansion Inc., in 2002. The men’s sportswear brand is inspired by military uniforms and the outdoor aesthetic. It is completely made in the U.S.
 
Kakiage’s design process starts with the inspiration he culls from his fabrics, all of which he has made from scratch. He sees menswear as an equation, starting with a strong fabric, such as Cone Denim or the sweatshirt fabrication he has made in North Carolina. Then he adds his “spice,” something to make the garment unique, like a specific placement of a pocket or a special pattern.
In order for the equation to be carried out properly, Kakiage feels he must be present in the process. Once manufacturing starts, he will work back and forth with the factory until the item is exactly right. He has a piece with a knit collar, which he has changed 3 to 4 times. “If something is a quarter-inch off, I am going back to the pattern maker,” he said.
As communication between designers and manufacturers can be very difficult, Kakiage regularly travels to factories to sit down with the people who are sewing. “If I go to the factory, everybody knows me,” he said. “I don’t think Expansion is only me. It’s everybody.” He believes there is an eventual pay-off for the careful monitoring of his designs, “My customer, once they buy it, they are kind of attached to it. It’s not a one time only thing.”
Besides fabric, a second source of inspiration is cinematic style. Kakiage closely connects certain garments with iconic characters. He said, “If I’m thinking about the m65 jacket, I’m thinking about Robert DeNiro, or Taxi Driver.” He continued, “When I think about the A2 leather jacket, I think of Jack Nicholson and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. That jacket is his jacket.” Building off a concept, he goes to a thrift or vintage shop to get more ideas for designs.
For the Spring/Summer ‘15 collection, designs are relatively simple with unforgettable details. Classic items like cargo shorts, cloth vests and button-up shirts are updated with outlined pockets and bold patterns.
The looks come together as outfits that could, themselves, be worn by characters in films. In his lookbook, Kakiage styles his line in a quirky, boyish way with bandana neckties, patterned ankle socks, and bright sandals and sneakers. The styles morph from 19th Century railroad engineer, to boy scout, to a Mark Twain character. The retail range for the line is from $60-$300.
The line has been sold to Japanese stores Beans, Ships, and Green Angle. In the future, Kakiage looks to grow distrubution in the U.S.
Which pieces are currently getting the most wear in your own closet?
I’ve been wearing this undercover jacket, down with leather sleeves.
Which designer(s) do you find inspiring?
This season, Derek Lam. But I always like Yohji Yamamoto, Junya Wantanabe, Takeshi Ohfuchi of Post Overall’s, and Daiki Suzuki from Engineer Garments.
If you weren’t designing apparel, what would you be doing?
Psychology. That was my major in college.
What are your favorite blogs or magazines to read?
New York Times, Slamxhype, Hype Beast, Highsnobiety, Grind Magazine, CNN.
Online, or in-stores: How do you tend to shop?
In stores. Kakiage said the clothing he makes has a lot of detail to it, which makes it hard to see on a website.
 
 Via. Rivet Cleo Levin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GRIND MAGAZINE 2014 OCTOBER    "EXPANSION X BEAMS"
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SNEAKERS: THE COMPLETE LIMITED EDITIONS    2014 MARCH
 
Thanks goes to Russell from UDOX, Kuni from Mita, Tongari Paisen and Kase.
 
 
 
 
HOUYHNHNM 2014 JANUARY
 
 
 
 
STADIUM  WEB  2014 JNUARY
Article written by Maruro Yamashita.  
 
 
 
HIGHSNOBIETY 2014 JANUARY
 
 
 
 
HYPEBEAST 2014 JANUARY
 
 
 
 
Hayabusa.bz 12/4/13
 
 
SHIPS MAG  11/22/2013
 
DESIGNER HIROSHI "KIRK" KAKIAGE 
INTERVIEW ON SHIPS MAG .  (JAPANESE ONLY)
 
 
 
SHIPS JET BLUE  2013 FALL AND WINTER
 
 
 
GRIND  2013 JUN
HOUYHNHNM 2013 MARCH
 
HAYABUSA 2013 MARCH
 
HYPEBEAST 2013 MARCH
 
HAYABUSA 2013 MARCH
 
MEN`S NON NO 2013 FEBRUARY
 
 
livedoor 2012 OCTOBER
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HOUYHNHNM 2012 OCTOBER
 
 
 
 
EYESCREAM 2012 OCTOBER
 
 
 
 
 
 
COMPLEX 2012 OCTOBER
 
 
 
HAYABUSA 2012 SEPTEMBER
 
HOUYHNHNM 2012 AUGUST