3J Workshop Biography

3J Workshop's Biography

3j Workshop launched it’s first collection with great success in Summer 2004. Created by designer Victor Tanisaka, the concept for the line was to do very special item embroidered shirts done with traditional menswear stripe shirtings. 3j Workshop is owned by the Levite family and Ofer Oz, under the Johnny Was umbrella, which also owns the JW Los Angeles label that Victor designs as well.

For 3j workshop, just making beautiful shirts isn’t enough. Victor pays special attention to the detail and the cut of the shirt. “It’s always important to not just embellish a shirt with pretty embroideries, but to design shirts with a cut that flatters the body”. He manipulates the striped fabric to compliment the body by cutting them on angles in certain places, and vertical in others. Other special details include the trademark striped ribbon locker loop at the back of the neck and down the right side of the shirt.

The embroidery ideas are unlimited. From Asian art, Persian blankets to Art Nouveau paintings or Spanish tiles, Victor doesn’t limit his ideas for where to get inspiration. “The one thing that the shirt must have is it’s own identity. And in that identity, it must convey beauty and originality”, says Victor. “I approach the design of each shirt like I would a piece of art. A piece that the wearer can identify him or herself in, and that they feel unique and special wearing.”

For Fall 2005, Victor introduced exciting new blazer jackets to the collection. These were again inspired by traditional menswear fabrics. In this case it was Cotton Glen Plaids and Herringbones. Victor embroidered the jackets with beautiful florals, birds, poetry, and other motifs. He paid the same attention to detail with the jackets that was given to the shirts by using Rhinestone trimmed antique glass buttons, and frayed seams and edges to convey a deconstructed look.

3J Workshop is launching a new men's collection for Spring 2006. After the success with the women's line and many requests from their retailers, 3J is now expanding their line into the men's market.

For 3J designer, Victor Tanisaka, it has always been a dream to do a men's collection. "The timing is perfect. The women's collection is retailing very well, and so many of them carry men's lines as well. I've always had it in mind to eventually expand 3J into the men's market, so this is very exciting for me", says Victor.

The line will start like the women's line did last year with a small and focused capsule of embroidered shirts offered each month. In addition, 3J is offering the shirts without embroidery, but they will still have the signature details, like the locker loop ribbon and interesting seaming. Eventually, like the women's line, jackets and pants will be introduced into the collection.

Some of the designs that Victor has done for his first season, include embroideries with Western, Celtic, and Crest motifs.

Victor wanted to create a men's line that wasn't afraid of using color, flowers, or other motifs that are usually destined to only be used on a woman's line. "I think that you can do this and still keep it masculine. I pay a lot of attention to the silhouette of the shirt. The cut of the shirt is just as important for a man as it is a woman. Today's fashionable men want their bodies to look good."

For fall 2006 3J takes a step away from the fun kitchy, country girl look and into a more sophisticated style, enriched with colorful motifs, detailed flowers and strong animals such as tigers and horses inspired by asian watercolor paintings. In addition t shirts and pants have been added to the line. The T shirts are thin, long sleeve thermals that run wild with diagonal hems, stray stitching and raw edges. 3J opens it's arms to a more urban look this season, playfully combining spray painted logos, screen printed animals and beatiful finishing touches like brass studs and contrast stitching. Check out 3J Workshop's CoutureCast interview

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