bango

In 1868, the British sailing ship Saioto departed Yokohama Bay, bound for Hawaii. On board were the first group of Japanese immigrants, later known as Issei. Upon arrival at the plantations, they were each assigned a number—bango—as their Japanese names were difficult to pronounce. These numbers were used to manage all aspects of their lives, including wages.

banGo is a brand rooted in the complex identity of the Issei—neither fully Japanese nor American, but existing in the in-between. The collection weaves together history and memory, bridging past and present, Japan and Hawaii, through contemporary fashion.