YOKOHAMA 信

The Yokohama collection is the 5C5V range built on 信 (shin), the kanji for trust. It is one of five city collections, each paired with one virtue.

Yokohama was a small fishing village until its port opened to foreign trade on 2 June 1859. By 1872 it had Japan's first daily newspaper, its first gas street lamps and the country's first railway, which ran to Tokyo. Today it is the second most populous city in Japan, with about 3.7 million people on Tokyo Bay.

I paired Yokohama with trust because, in the 5C5V telling, the city stands for openness and reliability: a harbour that faces outward. 信 also covers sincerity and faith, so it is a wider word than the English one.

In the collection now: organic cotton hoodies in black and French navy, embroidered T-shirts in black and white, a cuffed beanie, fisherman beanies in petrol blue, walnut, cypress, athletic heather and ecru, an unstructured cotton cap in black, navy or white, an acrylic and wool snapback, the Pale North cap and a bomber jacket. The KIROKU Sumi 004 tee, First Light, is about those 1872 gas lamps. Everything is made to order.

Questions people ask

What does 信 mean?

信 is read shin and means trust. The same character also covers sincerity, fidelity and faith. It is the virtue 5C5V pairs with Yokohama.

Why is Yokohama paired with trust?

In 5C5V's Five Cities, Five Virtues, Yokohama stands for openness and reliability. Its port opened to foreign trade on 2 June 1859, and it has been a harbour city that faces outward ever since.

Is 5C5V a Japanese brand?

No. 5C5V is a UK brand, registered in England and Wales. The designs are Japanese-inspired and every piece is made to order.