Drawing inspiration from a vintage piece, Needles' track pants evolved into a cult classic. With their side stripes and butterfly emblem, they became a worldwide streetwear essential. But they didn't get there overnight.

The story begins with designer Keizo Shimizu’s childhood in Japan, where he first witnessed the cool, rebellious allure of wearing track pants low on the hips. Years later, while managing the legendary Redwood store in Tokyo, Shimizu helped bring hip-hop style to Japan, drawing inspiration from groups like Run-DMC in their Adidas ATP suits.

But the direct inspiration struck in a vintage store in Berkeley, California. Shimizu found a child's track suit with a bold five-stripe design—a daring departure from the standard three. This vintage find, combined with his love for the film Papillon (which inspired the iconic butterfly logo), became the blueprint for the first NEEDLES track pant in 2008.

The initial response? Terrible. "It caused no buzz," Shimizu admits.

Undaunted, he kept making them simply because he loved wearing them. He wore them daily with everything from tailored blazers to clogs, proving their versatility. It was a slow burn, taking nearly a decade for the world to catch on. Today, they are a staple of the brand, loved for their unique vintage-inspired fabric, never-repeated colorways, and style.