Why Nakata hangers are a must-buy for style aficionados

Why Nakata hangers are a must-buy for style aficionados | The Gentleman's Journal

Among all the chat about winterwear and the clothes to buy ahead of the coming spring months, we’d like to emphasise one thing: care for the items you already have. Of late, as we reassess our Oxford shirts and various wardrobe staples, we’ve been particularly drawn to Nakata hangers – widely considered the best of their kind by those in the know, and curated by Arterton, the leading atelier to Savile Row.

Specifically, these beautiful menswear accessories are precisely cut from European beechwood (reputed for its durability and its smooth finish when polished properly); machined; and then shaped with traditional Japanese hand tools. They eschew the use of resin (which can often warp and ruin fabric) and the final result is an item formed to imitate the silhouette of the body – the intention, ultimately, is to allow the item of clothing to retain the shape and structure it has when being worn. Moreover, a sizeable surface area maximises support, thus minimising stretching.

When it comes to stocking up on these hangers, we turn to Arterton, a London-based menswear atelier that offers a considered selection of style essentials – what the company calls ‘desiderata’, the Latin word for ‘something to be desired’. Among the lineup is the classic AUT-03 Suit Hanger, made with extra contouring around the neck and shoulder to preserve the garment’s shape; the AUT-07G, a clamp-style trousers hanger whose felt lining provides a smooth grip; and an Arterton Signature Shirt Hanger, which we rather like for its bold red palette. Heads of state, royalty and revered tailoring houses are known to be fans, and each piece can be engraved, allowing for a personal touch.

Moreover, of particular note are the Wajima Urushi Hangers, which pay homage to a 500-year-old form of lacquer art; these models are produced from a single plank and are instantly recognisable for their hand-painted illustrations, including of Mount Fuji. Creating the wonderful schemes is Okagaki-san, a master of the art who crushes local seashells to create unique paint powders.

Then, closer to home, some Wajima Urushi Hangers exhibit the famed signs of Jermyn Street and Savile Row, and feature gold foil. The result is a beautiful blend of two craft cultures.

When you pop by the Arterton atelier for a few Nakata pieces, we recommend you also beeline to 19 Savile Row, where Arterton’s art display, ‘The Service’, featuring an installation of hangers, further emphasises the craft that will soon carry the weight of your beloved wears.