Iron Heart

Shinichi Haraki founded The Works Inc and the "Iron Heart" brand in 2002 after working for 20 years in the apparel industry in Japan. He started as a pattern maker for Edwin and then rose to become a designer and director of the company. After that, he decided to combine his work in fashion with his passion for motorcycles. With his wealth of experience, he founded his own clothing brand with a focus on heavy denims and durable fabrics. The Works Inc is based in Japan and has offices in Shibuya in central Tokyo and Hachioji, Haraki-san's hometown on the outskirts of Tokyo Prefecture.

Iron Heart creates classic and timeless clothing, made from the best materials to the highest standards. It is not reproduction clothing. Rather, it is about studying classic denim and workwear styles and constructing them for today's lifestyle. No attention is paid to fashion trends, nor to the fact that other denim manufacturers have jumped on the heavy denim bandwagon in recent years. From the selection of the type of cotton used to the weave of the denim, Iron Heart is actively involved in the entire production cycle of the garment. This includes designing and manufacturing custom fabrics. The weaving mills and workshops are mostly small family businesses, whose pride in their craft is transferred to Iron Heart products.

Iron Heart was originally developed for bikers. Even today, this focus determines the design and construction of the clothing. Haraki-san is convinced, however, that the clothing appeals to a wide variety of owners. Iron Heart garments are mainly made of heavy fabrics that are durable and offer motorcyclists a certain degree of protection. Iron Heart clothing is classic in terms of materials and style, with flannel, denim, and chambray mainly used for shirts. Some designs – for example, the 25oz XHS (Extra Heavy Selvedge) denim jeans – push the boundaries of what can actually be woven and sewn: "Over-engineered is our starting point."