It's funny to think that SOUTH2 WEST8 was born as more of a fishing label than a fashion label because the NEPENTHES-operated imprint is by now far more on the fashion side of things. To be sure, the Japanese brand's Fall/Winter 2026 collection is capable of outfitting for stylish anglers for a day of fishing but there's so much stuff here that anyone could get dressed for the great outdoors. Or indoors.

By now, SOUTH2 WEST8 has been riding a wave of... well, maybe not "hype" but certainly "cultural awareness" that came from a host of recent collaborations that range from Reebok to Supreme. Is it a certified cool-guy brand? Sure. But it's not a household name.

Not that you'd know that from SOUTH2 WEST8's enormous seasonal offering, though.

Here, you'll find dozens of cargo-pocketed jackets and vests, a Bass Pro Shop's worth of brushed cotton shirts, enough self-belted pants to dress a battalion of boulderers and even some original shoes possibly of SOUTH2 WEST8's own design. That's quite a shift considering that previous SOUTH2 WEST8 footwear was provided by partners like Suicoke and On.

At the heart of the collection, true believers will find all the familiar fare that they've come to expect, like the absurdly useful Tenkara shirt (named for traditional Japanese fly fishing) and thick-knit headwear. It's just that there's also plenty of less-expected stuff on tap.

Like all Nepenthes-operated labels, SOUTH2 WEST8 has long since expanded into all manner of casual clothes only slightly adjacent to its core collection but it's still unusual to behold velour tracksuits and pre-faded sweats in the campaign imagery of a brand better known for hunting jackets. At least the technical insulated items, including puffed-up winter jackets and quilted mid-layer zips, make sense along those lines.

It's not a downgrade, either way. This is SOUTH2 WEST8 sprawling out and getting funky with it. The classics are intact but they've got ample company.

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