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COTÉ MER Reconstructed Bandana Denim Jacket with Exposed Zippers Harajuku Streetwear Wearable Art
COTÉ MER Reconstructed Bandana Denim Jacket with Exposed Zippers Harajuku Streetwear Wearable Art
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Black-and-Ivory Bleach-Wash Trucker with Paisley Back Panel, Paint Splatter and Deconstructed Sleeves
Description
An individually reconstructed COTÉ MER denim jacket built around collision and contrast: classic trucker construction disrupted by severe bleaching, raw openings, scattered paint, hanging zipper hardware and an oversized black paisley bandana panel across the back.
The denim has been transformed into a mottled field of smoke grey, charcoal black, aged ivory and intermittent cobalt blue. Across the front, the familiar geometry of twin chest pockets, vertical seams and metal buttons remains visible beneath layers of bleaching, abrasion and painterly marks. The back becomes more architectural, framing the monochrome bandana textile between two long exposed metal zippers that continue below the hem as loose graphic extensions.
This is contemporary Japanese reconstruction fashion rather than an untouched vintage denim jacket. Its value lies in the purposeful dismantling and reassembly of an everyday garment into a singular piece of wearable art.
Visual Presence
The jacket carries a compact, hard-edged silhouette with the atmosphere of an artist’s studio garment, underground concert piece and experimental runway jacket folded into one.
The surface treatment is intentionally irregular. Blackened areas drift across pale denim, while white and blue paint marks break through the neutral palette. Distressed openings appear across the chest, sleeves, shoulders and back, creating depth through exposed threads and softened raw edges.
The upper sleeves are dramatically interrupted by large frayed openings. These cuts loosen the conventional trucker structure and give the shoulders a partially detached, reconstructed appearance. Additional holes, abrasions and pulled threads continue down the sleeves and body, making the garment visually active from every angle.
Identification and Subject
Brand: COTÉ MER / コートメール
Garment Type: Reconstructed denim trucker jacket
Style: Japanese remake fashion, deconstructed streetwear, wearable art
Color: Smoke grey, charcoal black, aged ivory, white and cobalt blue
Front Closure: Metal button front
Pockets: Two pointed flap chest pockets
Back Detail: Oversized paisley bandana textile panel
Hardware: Exposed vertical metal zippers with extended fabric ties
Silhouette: Compact, waist-length unisex trucker shape
Origin: Japan
COTÉ MER is a Japanese ready-to-wear label established in 2008 and associated with designer Norio Sato. The label’s official presentation emphasizes handmade, individually constructed garments combining reclaimed clothing, mixed textiles and contemporary Japanese street fashion.
Bandana Motif and Graphic Language
The black paisley panel introduces a recognizable bandana vocabulary associated with workwear, Western dress, rock, punk, skate and street culture. Its monochrome printing creates a dense ornamental counterpoint to the spontaneous bleaching and paint across the denim.
Rather than appearing as a small appliqué, the bandana occupies most of the back body. Folded and overlapping sections interrupt the original printed symmetry, giving the panel a collage-like composition. The surrounding zipper tracks create a metallic frame, making the textile read almost like a poster or fabric artwork mounted onto the jacket.
Touches of blue and white paint continue across the paisley surface, visually binding it to the treated denim around it.
Style, Materials and Construction
The foundation is a traditional denim trucker jacket with a pointed collar, buttoned front, shaped chest pockets, vertical front seams, buttoned cuffs and adjustable metal buttons at the rear waistband.
COTÉ MER’s reconstruction radically alters that familiar structure through:
- Extensive black-and-ivory bleach treatment
- White, black and cobalt paint splatter
- Purposefully frayed holes and raw openings
- Large distressed upper-arm sections
- Monochrome bandana textile reconstruction
- Long exposed zipper tracks framing the back panel
- Hanging zipper ends and knotted fabric extensions
- Abraded seams and irregular surface finishing
- Asymmetrical placement of distressing and color
The decorative zipper tapes extend below the jacket hem and are finished with loose textile ties, adding movement when worn. The back panel, bleach pattern and damaged surface are deliberately non-uniform, preserving the individuality central to reconstructed fashion.
Label and Brand Details
A woven COTÉ MER neck label is visible beneath the collar. No separate size marking is visible in the supplied garment photographs, so the actual laid-flat measurements should be used as the primary guide.
The garment does not present itself as pristine factory denim. Its paint, bleaching, frayed construction and exposed hardware form an integrated design system rather than later attempts to restore or disguise wear.
Period Assessment
This is a contemporary COTÉ MER reconstruction produced after the label’s establishment in 2008. The precise collection year is not confirmed.
Its aggressive bleach work, bandana insertion, long exposed zippers and deliberately destroyed trucker silhouette are consistent with the label’s modern remake and art-streetwear vocabulary. It should not be classified as an original mid-century denim jacket, although the reconstruction language draws heavily from vintage workwear and distressed archive fashion.
Condition
Presented in intentionally distressed, painted and reconstructed condition.
The jacket features extensive bleaching, blackened coloration, paint splatter, frayed holes, raw edges, exposed threads, opened upper-arm sections, abrasions and hanging zipper components. These elements are central to the garment’s intended appearance.
The bandana back panel also carries paint marks, punctured areas, abrasions and deliberately irregular edges consistent with the rest of the composition. Natural softening and additional wear from previous ownership blend into the designed finish.
Metal buttons, chest-pocket flaps and visible zipper hardware remain present. This is an expressive destroyed-finish garment and is not suitable for a buyer seeking clean, minimally distressed denim.
Dimensions and Fit
Approximate laid-flat measurements:
Body length: 60 cm / 23.6 in
Chest width, armpit to armpit: 55 cm / 21.7 in
Sleeve length from shoulder seam: 52 cm / 20.5 in
Underarm sleeve length: 46 cm / 18.1 in
Relaxed hem width: 50 cm / 19.7 in
The proportions suggest an approximate unisex S–M fit with a compact, slightly cropped trucker silhouette. The chest is moderately roomy, while the body and sleeves are relatively short. Fit will vary according to body shape, layering and preferred silhouette.
Please compare these measurements with a jacket that fits comfortably rather than relying only on general international sizing.
Styling and Collecting Appeal
This jacket works naturally with black denim, wide trousers, distressed cargos, layered monochrome clothing, boots or experimental designer pieces. The compact shape also allows it to sit over a longer shirt or hoodie, emphasizing the hanging zipper extensions and fragmented hemline.
Its visual language crosses several collecting categories:
- Japanese reconstructed fashion
- COTÉ MER archive and brand collecting
- Deconstructed denim
- Punk and grunge styling
- Harajuku and Tokyo streetwear
- Sustainable and upcycled design
- Bandana and paisley fashion
- Wearable contemporary textile art
Displayed flat or mounted on a garment form, the back functions almost as a textile composition in its own right. Worn, the zipper tails, exposed threads and fractured sleeves give the piece movement and a strong three-dimensional profile.
Offers, Shipping and Store Policies
Respectful and reasonable offers may be considered. Some pieces allow limited flexibility, while others are offered at firmer prices according to design complexity, condition and international demand.
This is a pre-owned reconstructed garment sold in its existing condition. The photographs form an important part of the description and show the intentional distressing, coloration, construction and visible wear. Please review all images and measurements carefully before purchase.
Returns and exchanges are not ordinarily accepted, subject to applicable Etsy policies, purchase protection and mandatory consumer law.
Worldwide shipping is available through Japan Post EMS where service is available. The parcel will include tracking and will normally be prepared within 3–5 business days. Delivery time varies by destination and customs processing. Import duties or local taxes remain the buyer’s responsibility where applicable.
Hashtags
#CoteMer #CoteMerJacket #JapaneseStreetwear #RemakeFashion #ReconstructedDenim #UpcycledFashion #DenimJacket #DesignerDenim #BandanaPrint #PaisleyFashion #DeconstructedFashion #WearableArt #ArtJacket #ExposedZippers #DistressedDenim #BleachedDenim #PaintSplatter #GrungeFashion #PunkStyle #AvantGardeFashion #HarajukuStyle #TokyoStreetwear #UnisexFashion #OneOfOneFashion #SustainableStyle #StreetCouture #ArchiveFashion #JapaneseDesigner #StatementJacket #Japonista
Etsy Search Tags
cote mer jacket, remake denim jacket, bandana jacket, distressed denim, japanese streetwear, deconstructed coat, zipper back jacket, wearable art jacket, upcycled streetwear, grunge denim jacket, punk denim jacket, unisex denim coat, one of one fashion
Material Tags
denim, woven bandana textile, metal zippers, metal buttons, paint, embroidery thread, reconstructed textile
Suggested Pricing
Recommended international listing price: US$625
Target negotiated selling range: US$500–US$575
Suggested minimum offer floor: US$450
Suggested promotional price at approximately 10% off: US$565
The price positions this piece above ordinary pre-owned COTÉ MER denim because of its extensive reconstruction, dramatic back composition, exposed hardware and unusually complete destroyed-finish aesthetic, while keeping it below the label’s more textile-intensive kimono, obi and indigo works. COTÉ MER’s current official jacket offerings range from ¥55,000 for some denim constructions to substantially higher prices for elaborate indigo pieces; more complex COTÉ MER textile-remake jackets are also positioned higher within Japonista’s international collection.
SEO
Page Title: COTÉ MER Reconstructed Bandana Denim Jacket with Zippers
Meta Description: One-of-one COTÉ MER reconstructed denim jacket with a paisley bandana back panel, exposed zippers, bleach wash, paint splatter and distressed sleeves.
URL Handle / Product Slug: cote-mer-reconstructed-bandana-denim-jacket-zippers
COTÉ MER Kimono Obi Patchwork Denim Jacket with Exposed Zippers
Light-Wash Japanese Reconstruction with Gold Brocade, Kiri Crests and Graphic Logo Sleeves
Description
A richly reconstructed COTÉ MER denim jacket combining pale, heavily washed workwear with a mosaic of Japanese kimono and obi-style textiles in gold, ivory, vermilion, green, silver and black.
The front retains the recognizable architecture of a classic trucker jacket: pointed collar, metal-button closure, twin flap chest pockets and shaped vertical seams. From the shoulders outward, however, the garment transforms into something far more theatrical. The original denim sleeves have been rebuilt with metallic brocade, embroidered Japanese motifs, graphic black COTÉ MER panels and rib-knit cuffs.
Across the back, a large rectangular patchwork composition is framed by two exposed black zipper tracks. Gold textile fields, paulownia crests, radiating fan-like geometry, floral brocade and stylized wave patterns form a textile collage that reads almost like a modern Japanese folding screen translated into streetwear.
This is not an untouched vintage trucker jacket. It is a contemporary Japanese reconstruction whose irregular textile placement, unfinished transitions and contrasting materials are integral to its design.
Visual Presence
The pale blue denim provides a quiet, weathered foundation for the jacket’s exceptionally vivid textile work.
From the front, the composition is comparatively restrained through the torso, allowing the reconstructed sleeves to dominate. One sleeve moves through orange-red, antique gold and ivory brocade before meeting a black logo panel. The opposite sleeve combines pale lavender, metallic embroidery, green wave geometry and another boldly printed COTÉ MER section.
The back delivers the principal visual statement. A patchwork panel occupies most of the body between the shoulder yoke and waistband, bordered by long metal zippers that continue below the hem. The vertical hardware introduces a hard industrial line against the ceremonial richness of the woven textiles.
The result balances several seemingly contradictory languages:
- Japanese ceremonial textile
- Washed American workwear
- Harajuku street fashion
- Punk reconstruction
- Graphic sportswear
- Contemporary textile collage
Rather than smoothing those contrasts away, the design places them side by side and allows each material to keep its own history, sheen and visual rhythm.
Identification and Subject
Brand: COTÉ MER / コートメール
Object Type: Reconstructed denim trucker jacket
Style: Japanese remake fashion, deconstructed streetwear, wearable textile art
Color Palette: Light blue, gold, ivory, silver, vermilion, orange, green and black
Front Closure: Metal buttons
Front Pockets: Two pointed flap chest pockets
Sleeves: Multi-textile reconstruction with branded graphic panels
Back: Large kimono and obi-style patchwork panel
Hardware: Twin exposed metal zipper tracks
Cuffs: Black rib-knit cuffs
Marked Size: No readable size marking visible
Origin: Japan
COTÉ MER was established in 2008 under designer Norio Sato and is presented within Tokyo’s fashion sector as a Japanese men’s and women’s ready-to-wear label.
Iconography and Meaning
The most recognizable repeated emblem is the kiri mon, or paulownia crest, appearing as a white flowering form against green geometric grounds.
Paulownia has a long history in Japanese decorative art and heraldic design. Museum collections document the crest across lacquerware, metalwork and textiles, including historic associations with Toyotomi Hideyoshi and later official usage.
The patchwork also incorporates:
- Radiating ivory-and-gold geometry resembling an opened fan or rising light
- Black cloud or wave-like forms
- Green repeating arcs related to traditional wave-pattern vocabulary
- Chrysanthemum-like floral roundels
- Metallic botanical brocade
- Fragmented circular and cartwheel forms
- Red-and-white cords or curved bands
- Gold fields associated with formal Japanese textile design
Because the original textiles have been cut and reconstructed, individual motifs no longer form a single continuous ceremonial narrative. Their visual power instead comes from fragmentation: formal symbols are removed from their original garment structure and recomposed as modern streetwear.
The paulownia and chrysanthemum families of motifs have both appeared extensively in historic Japanese textiles and decorative objects.
Style, Materials and Construction
The foundation appears to be a light-wash denim trucker jacket with a pointed collar, button front, chest pockets, front welt pockets, waistband and metal adjustment hardware.
Its original structure has been extensively rebuilt.
Front Body
The front body remains primarily denim, preserving the trucker jacket’s familiar seams and pocket configuration. The wash ranges from pale sky blue to deeper indigo shadows along folds, seams and pocket edges.
The collar and selected denim edges show intentional or naturally developed fraying, reinforcing the garment’s reconstructed, worn-in character.
Reconstructed Sleeves
Both sleeves are assembled from multiple textile systems rather than a single matching fabric.
Visible elements include:
- Metallic gold brocade
- Vermilion and orange satin-like textile
- Pale lavender figured textile
- Green woven wave-pattern panels
- Ivory and silver floral sections
- Graphic black fabric
- Large white COTÉ MER lettering
- Black rib-knit cuffs
- Exposed seams and deliberately abrupt textile transitions
The sleeves are asymmetrical. Corresponding sections do not mirror one another exactly, giving each arm its own composition.
Back Panel
The back is dominated by a rectangular grid of mixed Japanese textiles. Some pieces retain recognizable crest or floral imagery, while others contribute color, sheen and woven texture.
The panel is not a simple printed reproduction. Individual textile fragments have been joined into a patchwork composition with visible seam lines and changes in weave direction.
Two long black zipper tapes frame the back panel. The silver-toned teeth contrast sharply with the gold textiles, and the zipper ends extend below the denim waistband to create loose, moving vertical accents.
The zippers appear to function primarily as reconstruction and design elements rather than as an ordinary garment closure.
Material Assessment
The jacket visibly combines denim, woven brocade-like textiles, satin-like panels, printed fabric, rib-knit material, metal buttons and metal zippers.
The exact fiber composition of the repurposed Japanese textiles is not confirmed. They should therefore be described as kimono or obi-style woven textiles rather than guaranteed pure silk.
Branding and Labels
COTÉ MER branding is prominently integrated into the lower sleeve panels in oversized white lettering.
The original neck label is not present or is no longer readable, although a rectangular area of tonal variation is visible inside the collar where a label may previously have been attached. The integrated sleeve branding remains a defining part of the garment’s design.
The reconstructed textiles, graphic panels and zipper framing are consistent with COTÉ MER’s documented practice of combining denim jackets with Japanese kimono textiles. The brand’s official shop describes its kimono denim jackets as individually constructed garments using kimono textiles over reconstructed and hand-treated denim foundations.
Period Assessment
This is a contemporary COTÉ MER reconstruction dating from after the label’s establishment in 2008. The exact collection and production year are not confirmed.
The washed denim foundation, oversized logo graphics, mixed kimono textile sleeves and exposed zipper architecture are consistent with the label’s modern Japanese remake vocabulary rather than an original twentieth-century ceremonial garment or untouched vintage denim jacket.
The underlying denim may incorporate earlier or pre-owned clothing, but the completed reconstructed jacket should be classified according to its later COTÉ MER transformation.
Condition
Presented in pre-owned reconstructed condition with intentional rawness and visible signs of wear.
The jacket displays:
- Heavy fading and tonal variation throughout the denim
- Fraying along the collar and selected denim edges
- Irregular and exposed patchwork seams
- Raw textile transitions
- Minor pulled threads within the brocade sections
- Localized surface marks and discoloration
- Small abrasions around the front pockets and body
- Light wear to the printed sleeve graphics
- Minor marks on the black COTÉ MER panels
- Unevenness around the reconstructed hem and zipper extensions
- Natural creasing and softening from previous wear
Much of the irregularity is integral to the reconstructed design. The mixed textiles were not intended to appear factory-uniform, and the exposed seams, fragmented motifs and loose zipper ends form part of the jacket’s visual language.
The major patchwork sections, metal buttons and visible zipper components remain present. Buyers should expect the complex surface character of an individually reconstructed fashion garment rather than pristine conventional denim.
Dimensions and Fit
Approximate laid-flat measurements:
Body length: 58 cm / 22.8 in
Chest width, armpit to armpit: 54 cm / 21.3 in
Approximate chest circumference: 108 cm / 42.5 in
Sleeve length from shoulder seam: 50 cm / 19.7 in
The jacket has a compact, slightly cropped trucker silhouette with a moderately generous chest and comparatively short body and sleeves.
It may correspond approximately to a unisex S–M depending on body shape, shoulder width, layering and preferred fit. It could wear more relaxed on a smaller frame or more fitted on a broader frame.
Please compare the measurements with a jacket that fits comfortably. General size conversions should be treated only as a guide.
Display, Styling and Collecting Appeal
This piece can be styled as either a statement jacket or a central work of wearable textile art.
The pale denim works especially well with:
- Black wide-leg trousers
- Distressed or coated denim
- Minimal white or black layers
- Leather boots
- Platform footwear
- Japanese designer streetwear
- Punk and grunge silhouettes
- Avant-garde layered clothing
- Contemporary kimono-inspired fashion
The cropped body emphasizes the reconstructed sleeves and allows the hanging zipper ends to remain visible. The brilliant gold, red and green textiles become especially pronounced against an otherwise monochrome outfit.
From a collecting perspective, the jacket crosses several specialist categories:
- COTÉ MER archive fashion
- Japanese reconstructed clothing
- Kimono and obi textile reuse
- Designer denim
- Harajuku streetwear
- Sustainable remake fashion
- Deconstructed apparel
- Contemporary textile art
- East-West fashion fusion
Displayed flat, the back reads as a framed patchwork composition. On the body, the contrasting sleeves and suspended zipper ends introduce movement and three-dimensional texture.
Offers, Shipping and Store Policies
Respectful and reasonable offers may be considered. Some pieces allow limited flexibility, while others are offered at firmer prices according to design complexity, condition and international demand.
This is a pre-owned reconstructed garment sold in its existing condition. The photographs form an important part of the description and document its fading, raw construction, textile variation, surface marks and signs of wear.
Please review all photographs and measurements carefully before purchase. Questions are welcomed prior to ordering.
Returns and exchanges are not ordinarily accepted, subject to applicable Etsy policies, purchase protection and mandatory consumer law.
Worldwide shipping is available through Japan Post EMS where service is available. The parcel will include tracking and will normally be prepared within 3–5 business days. Delivery time varies by destination and customs processing. Import duties and local taxes remain the buyer’s responsibility where applicable.
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Material Tags
denim, woven brocade textile, kimono textile, obi-style textile, printed fabric, rib-knit cuffs, metal zippers, metal buttons, sewing thread
