This time, we spoke to Matsuoka Gloves, a world-famous glove brand known for developing the "Ergo Grip," a glove that curves to fit the shape of the human hand, at the "SNOW SPORTS Joint Exhibition" (held February 14-15 at Pacifico Yokohama)
Matsuoka Gloves' trademark ErgoGrip
Matsuoka Gloves was founded in 1957 in Kagawa Prefecture, a famous glove production area that accounts for over 90% of the national market share. The company produces thin gloves for skiing and snowboarding, baseball and golf, as well as motorcycle and fishing gloves, and has a 63-year history of manufacturing gloves for other manufacturers on an OEM basis. This Japanese brand became known worldwide with the development of "ErgoGrip" in 2005
Matsuoka Gloves developed the "ErgoGrip" technology based on ergonomics, which stitches the knuckles together to fit the natural curvature of the human hand. Gloves in Japan have a history of over 200 years, but this technology is the first of its kind in that long history. Matsuoka Gloves is the only company that holds this patent
If you compare the palm of a glove made with ErgoGrip with your own hand, the difference is immediately clear. The leather parts are sewn together just like the lines on your palm. The thumb is the easiest to see. Because it grows in 3D, it is sewn together to match its curve. A staggering 100 parts are combined to faithfully reproduce the curve that occurs when the hand is in the most relaxed position. This incredible process is infused with Matsuoka Glove's passion and outstanding craftsmanship
Until now, the Matsuoka Gloves brand has not been very active in the ski and snowboard scene, but in recent years, there has been a growing voice from professional shops and riders who use the gloves saying, "Matsuoka Gloves are amazing." The gloves' outstanding performance and neo-Japanese atmosphere have earned them a reputation for matching the trends of the times, and their popularity is skyrocketing
The hot new product of the 2023-2024 season, "ESK-2330D"
ESK-2330D
Size: XS, S, M, L, XL
Color: 2 colors available
INDIGO RAINBOW/UMBER (pictured)
INDIGO /UMBER
￥23,100
The biggest topic of the 2022-2023 season is the arrival of the new three-finger "ESK-2330D." As you can see, it has a unique design that makes you wonder if the outside is denim?! At first glance, it looks like denim fabric, but it's actually "leather" with a denim look
These gloves are made of domestically tanned cowhide with a denim-embossed goat leather finish, boasting the finest quality and elegance. The ErgoGrip ensures easy grip, operability, and warmth. The interior of the gloves is lined with HIPORA® breathable and waterproof film, and features lightweight, warm, and highly functional padding
There is a hidden pocket on the instep where you can put a small heating pad or other items. It even comes with a small cloth pre-packed, which is convenient for cleaning your goggles and smartphone screens
The stitching on the denim pattern comes in two colors: solid and rainbow. The design is focused on functionality in the fine details, while also offering a unique texture and style. The mitten shape and denim combined with the stitching create a perfect match, and the somewhat cute look is sure to appeal to women and young people
The most popular powder type, "ESK-2130," comes in four colors
ESK-2130
Size: XS, S, M, L, XL
Color: All 4 colors
OLIVE/IVORY ・CORK/BROWN ・BLACK/NAVY ・GRAY/DARKGRAY
￥20,350
According to the staff at the exhibition booth, the best-selling item among powder and freeride skiers and snowboarders has been the three-finger type "ESK-2130" since its launch. Made from cowhide/goat leather, it has a soft, supple, and luxurious feel. The index finger, which is used the most, can move freely, making it almost as easy to use as a five-finger glove. And yet, the remaining three fingers are completely wrapped in a mitten style, providing excellent warmth. This is the ultimate item that combines the best of both worlds: ease of use and warmth
The carabiner loop on the index finger is convenient for hanging the gloves on your outerwear when drying them or when it's hot in early spring. You can also use the hand strap. This is very convenient because you don't have to put the gloves in your pocket or drop them on the snow when you take them off to use your smartphone or goggles
In terms of colors, the OLIVE/IVORY and CORK/BROWN shown in the photo are by far the most popular. While these are currently trendy glove colors, the texture and image of Matsuoka Glove's embroidered kanji logo really pops against the natural brown and olive colors. These two colors remain standard every year, and two new colors, BLACK/NAVY and GRAY/DARKGRAY, will be added for the 2023-2024 season, bringing the total color range to four
Official website: http://matsuoka-glove.co.jp/