C.A.B. CLOTHING

C.A.B. CLOTHING is a Japanese apparel brand specializing in military-inspired clothing, launched in 1995 by C.A.B. Co., Ltd. (キャブ株式会社), an apparel manufacturer founded in 1930 and headquartered in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. The brand grew out of the company's long experience with military surplus and replica production, and became one of the labels that supported Japan's military fashion boom in the 1980s and 1990s. C.A.B. CLOTHING is known for faithful reproductions of U.S. military flight jackets, the Castro coat, and other utilitarian outerwear, often using restored materials such as 66 nylon. The parent company, C.A.B. Co., Ltd., traces its origins to 1930 as Tsuji Gomei, a bidding business dealing in released goods from the Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Communications. After World War II it restarted as Tsuji Kihachiro Shoten in 1947, handling U.S. military surplus. In 1983 the company changed its name to C.A.B. Co., Ltd. In 1995 it launched the military brand C.A.B. CLOTHING. The company later became widely known for its blank apparel brand United Athle, registered as a trademark in 1998, and for other labels such as J.G.S.D.F. (for Japan Self-Defense Forces personnel), Free style, rucca, United Athle Works, and United Athle Sports. C.A.B. CLOTHING products are sold primarily in Japan, with the parent company also operating subsidiaries in China (Qingdao C.A.B. Clothing Trading Co., Ltd., established 2010), Taiwan (CAB Taiwan Co., Ltd., established 2016), and South Korea (CAB Korea Co., Ltd., established 2025). The brand is positioned as an authentic military replica label, offering detailed reproductions at accessible prices. While C.A.B. Co., Ltd. is a private company, its United Athle brand has become a major supplier of blank T-shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies to businesses across Japan, with approximately 150 items and 6,000 SKUs stocked domestically.

The history of C.A.B. CLOTHING is tied to its parent company, C.A.B. Co., Ltd., which was founded in 1930 as Tsuji Gomei, a bidding business dealing in released goods from the Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Communications. After a wartime interruption, it restarted in 1947 as Tsuji Kihachiro Shoten, handling U.S. military surplus. The company was captivated by the quality of "Made in U.S.A." apparel and began its own manufacturing. In 1965 it built its own factory in Miyoshi, Aichi Prefecture, producing cold-weather workwear and military products; the "Castro coat" became a major hit. In the 1970s it began producing cut-and-sewn items in China. In 1982 the company was reorganized as Tsuji Kihachiro Shoten Co., Ltd., and in 1983 it changed its name to C.A.B. Co., Ltd. (キャブ株式会社). In 1995, amid a military fashion boom in Japan, it launched the military brand C.A.B. CLOTHING. The brand produced faithful replicas of U.S. military flight jackets and Castro coats, purchasing deadstock and surplus in the United States and studying them in detail. To reproduce nylon flight jackets, the company worked with fabric makers to restore "66 nylon," which had become scarce in Japan. It exhibited at international trade shows such as MAGIC in Las Vegas and the Sem Show in Paris. Around the same time, C.A.B. began direct sales at Self-Defense Force bases, and in 2002 launched the J.G.S.D.F. brand for Self-Defense Force personnel. In 1998 the company registered the trademark for United Athle, which became its major blank apparel brand. Other brands followed: Free style (2001), rucca (2011), United Athle Works (2019), and United Athle Sports (2021). The company also expanded internationally, establishing Qingdao C.A.B. Clothing Trading Co., Ltd. in China in 2010, CAB Taiwan Co., Ltd. in 2016, and CAB Korea Co., Ltd. in 2025. C.A.B. CLOTHING remains an active military-inspired brand within the company's portfolio.

• 2025

  Established CAB Korea Co., Ltd. in South Korea.

• 2023

  Closed Tohoku Sales Office and opened Kanto-Tohoku Sales Office; closed Aoyama-dori Office and opened Sales Headquarters.

• 2022

  Started ethical project United Athle GREEN.

• 2021

  Launched activewear brand United Athle Sports.

• 2020

  Opened Aoyama-dori Office.

• 2019

  Launched workwear brand United Athle Works.

• 2016

  Established CAB Taiwan Co., Ltd.; Tokyo Branch reorganized into Tokyo Headquarters.

• 2015

  Opened Tohoku Sales Office.

• 2011

  Launched girls' brand rucca.

• 2010

  Established Qingdao C.A.B. Clothing Trading Co., Ltd. in China; ISO self-declaration.

• 2009

  Opened Fukuoka Sales Office.

• 2007

  United Athle Style No.5001-01 was born.

• 2006

  Tokyo Sales Office reorganized into Tokyo Branch; opened Kansai Sales Office; acquired ISO9001:2000.

• 2002

  Established quality control department; United Athle Style No.5942-01 was born.

• 2001

  Launched J.G.S.D.F. brand for Self-Defense Force personnel; began production of COOLMAX®; launched casual brand Free style; opened Tokyo Sales Office.

• 1998

  Registered trademark for United Athle.

• 1995

  Launched military brand C.A.B. CLOTHING.

• 1983

  Changed company name to C.A.B. Co., Ltd. (キャブ株式会社).

• 1982

  Reorganized as Tsuji Kihachiro Shoten Co., Ltd.

• 1965

  Built own factory (Miyoshi Factory) in Miyoshi, Aichi Prefecture; mass production of cold-weather workwear and military products began.

• 1947

  Restarted as Tsuji Kihachiro Shoten, handling U.S. military surplus.

• 1930

  Founded as Tsuji Gomei, a bidding business for released goods from the Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Communications.

Authentic military replica apparel at accessible prices

• Military flight jackets

  Replicas of U.S. military flight jackets, including nylon models using restored 66 nylon.

• Castro coat

  A cold-weather outerwear that became a major hit and an iconic product.

• J.G.S.D.F. training wear

  High-function, cost-effective training wear and accessories for Self-Defense Force personnel.

1. 1【公式】キャブ株式会社 / United Athle(ユナイテッドアスレ) | 1930年創業のアパレルメーカーcorp.united-athle.jp
2. 2沿革 | 会社情報 | キャブ株式会社 / United Athle(ユナイテッドアスレ)corp.united-athle.jp
3. 3キャブの歴史 | キャブ株式会社 / United Athle(ユナイテッドアスレ)corp.united-athle.jp
4. 4会社情報 | キャブ株式会社 / United Athle(ユナイテッドアスレ)corp.united-athle.jp
5. 5C.A.B. CLOTHING - Wikidatawikidata.org