KOSHO & CO. Collector-Grade Alaska Souvenir Jacket with Arctic Child, Polar Bears, Dog Sled Teams and “The 49th State” Map Artwork

An exceptionally rare Tailor Toyo KOSHO & CO. Special Edition reversible sukajan, model TT12679-119, combining a deep black velveteen exterior with a vivid red-and-gold quilted acetate reverse.

Officially catalogued in 2012 as “ESKIMO BOY × MAP OF ALASKA” and also archived as “ALASKA BOY × ALASKA MAP,” this extraordinary model revives one of the most imaginative subjects in the historic Alaska souvenir-jacket tradition. The black face presents a warmly dressed Arctic child running through an icy landscape beneath bold ALASKA lettering, while the front carries lightning-struck polar bears and elaborate dog-sled teams extending along both sleeves.

Turn the jacket inside out and the visual language changes completely. The reverse becomes a brilliant diamond-quilted red-and-gold tour jacket centered upon a detailed illustrated map of Alaska beneath the banner “ALASKA THE 49th STATE.” Twin polar bears stand on floating ice across the chest, while the printed map is populated by aircraft, wildlife, Arctic scenery, place names and playful travel imagery.

Released as part of Tailor Toyo’s historically exacting KOSHO Special Edition program, TT12679 was made in Japan with cotton velveteen, acetate satin, cotton filling and wool ribbing. Its original Japanese retail price was ¥69,300, positioning it among the premium collector-grade sukajan of its period.

This is not simply a reversible bomber with an alternate colorway. It is a two-part embroidered and illustrated narrative about Alaska, Arctic travel, statehood and the wonderfully eccentric visual imagination of the 1950s souvenir-jacket era.

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Opening Story

The finest souvenir jackets carry the atmosphere of journeys that may never be fully reconstructed.

They preserve names, destinations, dates and distant landscapes in thread, turning a garment into a portable postcard. This Tailor Toyo Special Edition takes that idea to its most playful extreme.

On the black face, a bundled child in an orange winter suit runs through an Arctic landscape. A fur-trimmed hood surrounds the smiling face, while blue mittens, a pale igloo, evergreen trees, drifting ice and stylized aurora lines establish the setting. Above the scene, large red-and-white ALASKA lettering curves across the shoulders like the title of an illustrated storybook.

The front broadens the scene beyond a single central character. White polar bears roar beneath lightning bolts, while processions of sled dogs descend along the sleeves. The embroidery transforms the entire garment into a moving panorama rather than confining the artwork to one square panel.

The reverse functions like a vintage tourism map unfolded across the body. Alaska appears in yellow against a glowing red field, accompanied by animals, aircraft, mountains, coastal imagery and the declaration that it is “The 49th State.”

Alaska officially entered the United States as its 49th state on January 3, 1959. The lettering therefore connects the artwork with souvenir culture surrounding statehood and the late-1950s Alaska designs produced for military-base markets.

One face is soft, dark and heavily embroidered.

The other is bright, quilted and densely illustrated.

Together, they form one of the most distinctive Alaska jackets in the Tailor Toyo archive. ❄️🐻❄️

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Identification

Brand

Tailor Toyo

Manufacturer

Toyo Enterprise Co., Ltd., Japan

Heritage Line

KOSHO & CO. / 港商 Special Edition

Model Number

TT12679-119

Archival Number

NO-365

Release Period

2012

Official Archival Design Names

ESKIMO BOY × MAP OF ALASKA

Also catalogued as:

ALASKA BOY × ALASKA MAP

The first title is the wording used in surviving 2012 Japanese retailer archives. “Alaska Boy” is used throughout this listing as a more neutral reference to the historic product design while retaining the original archival terminology here for accurate identification and collector searchability.

Original Retail Price

¥69,300 including tax

Country of Manufacture

Made in Japan

Garment Type

Reversible sukajan
Japanese souvenir jacket
KOSHO Special Edition jacket
Padded velveteen bomber
Quilted acetate tour jacket
Alaska souvenir jacket
Amekaji heritage outerwear
Collector-grade Japanese reproduction
Unisex wearable textile art

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Design Character

TT12679 is unusually compelling because neither face behaves like a secondary lining.

The black side offers the tactile depth of velveteen and the drama of multicolor embroidery. Its artwork has an almost animated personality: a running child, roaring polar bears, lightning bolts and dog-sled teams occupy the body and sleeves.

The reverse is flatter, brighter and more graphic. The red quilted body becomes the background for a printed map filled with miniature narrative details.

The emotional register also changes when the jacket is reversed.

The black face feels nocturnal and wintry, with white, blue and gold thread emerging from the dark pile.

The red face feels celebratory and touristic, recalling period maps, postcards, travel pennants and statehood memorabilia.

This contrast gives the wearer two entirely different interpretations of the Alaska souvenir theme while preserving the compact silhouette of a classic padded sukajan.

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Black Velveteen Alaska Boy Face

Central Arctic Child Embroidery

The principal back artwork centers upon a child dressed for an Arctic winter.

An oversized fur-trimmed hood encircles the face, embroidered in cream, gold, brown and pale yellow thread. The orange snowsuit is accented with mint-green trim, blue gloves and gray footwear.

The figure appears to be running or sliding forward, with one leg raised and a small burst of snow behind the foot. This gives the design a humorous sense of motion rarely seen in traditional tiger, dragon or eagle sukajan.

The child is not presented as a static portrait. The entire figure has the energy of a mid-century cartoon or illustrated postcard translated into embroidery.

ALASKA Lettering

Bold ALASKA lettering curves across the shoulders.

The red letter faces are bordered or shadowed in pale thread, helping them stand away from the deep black ground. Their irregular, lively shape complements the playful central artwork rather than introducing a formal military typeface.

The lettering immediately establishes the garment as part of the highly collected Alaska-jacket, or アラスカジャン, tradition.

Aurora and Northern Sky

Horizontal gold and pale lines hover beneath the lettering.

These may be read as stylized aurora, clouds or Arctic wind currents. They create a visual threshold between the title and the figure below while adding a sense of northern atmosphere.

Igloo and Evergreen Trees

A small pale-blue igloo appears behind the child.

On the opposite side, two narrow evergreen trees rise from the black background. These compact details establish the landscape without crowding the central figure.

The sparse placement is especially effective against velveteen because the surrounding darkness functions almost like a winter night sky.

Ice and Snow

Blue and white embroidery forms a jagged shelf of ice beneath the child.

The embroidered snow burst behind the foot strengthens the impression of running movement, while the limited icy-blue thread ties the background to the gloves and igloo.

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Black-Face Front Embroidery

Polar Bears and Lightning

Two pale polar bears occupy the front chest.

Each bear rises upright from an icy base while gold lightning bolts radiate behind its body. The pose is fierce and almost heraldic, transforming the polar bear from a natural-history subject into an emblem of Arctic strength.

Lightning-and-polar-bear imagery is among the best-known and most desirable themes within surviving Alaska souvenir jackets. Tailor Toyo’s own archive identifies polar bears, lightning and dog-sled sleeve embroidery as signature elements of rare Alaska designs.

The opposing chest placement creates a strong symmetrical front, especially when the jacket is worn closed.

Dog-Sled Sleeve Embroidery

Long formations of white sled dogs extend down both sleeves.

The animals are arranged vertically, connected by fine reins that give the embroidery the appearance of an active sled team moving along the arms. Their small orange facial accents and pale bodies remain highly visible against the black velveteen.

Sleeve embroidery of this scale is one of the jacket’s most important features. It expands the artwork beyond the torso and creates movement whenever the wearer raises or turns an arm.

Red Pocket Accents

Slender red pocket welts introduce small flashes of color across the lower black body.

Their placement quietly anticipates the vivid red reverse without disrupting the dark, primarily monochrome front.

Black Velveteen Surface

The black cotton velveteen absorbs light differently according to the direction of its pile.

Areas may appear deep black, charcoal or softly silvered as the fabric moves. This natural tonal movement gives the garment richer visual depth than a flat synthetic satin bomber.

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Red and Gold Alaska Map Face

“ALASKA THE 49th STATE” Banner

The reverse back begins with a sweeping banner reading:

ALASKA THE “49th” STATE

The lettering transforms the jacket from a general Arctic fantasy into a statehood souvenir. Alaska became the 49th U.S. state in 1959, making this phrase an important period marker within the historic visual language reproduced by the jacket.

A small flag-like emblem appears above the banner, strengthening the commemorative character of the design.

Illustrated Alaska Map

A large yellow map of Alaska occupies the center back.

Place names are scattered across the interior, while miniature figures and landmarks populate different regions. The map does not aim for modern cartographic precision. It belongs to the illustrated souvenir-map tradition, where geography is combined with humorous images and memorable regional symbols.

Visible details include:

Aircraft
Mountains and snowfields
Indigenous-inspired figures
Wildlife
Coastal scenes
Fishing and marine imagery
Small settlements and place names
The adjacent word CANADA
Aleutian island forms
A walrus resting on floating ice

The map rewards close inspection. From a distance, it reads as a bold yellow silhouette against red. At closer range, it becomes a miniature travel narrative.

Walrus on Ice

A walrus appears below the map, resting upon a floating white ice sheet surrounded by blue and red water.

Its position outside the main landmass adds depth to the composition and gives the lower back a visual anchor.

Aircraft Imagery

A red aircraft appears to one side of the map.

Aviation is central to the popular imagination of Alaska, where vast distances and difficult terrain historically made aircraft an important symbol of exploration and movement. Within the jacket, it reinforces the theme of travel and the souvenir experience.

Red Diamond Quilting

The red acetate body is covered with broad diamond quilting.

This quilting secures the cotton filling while creating the padded structure associated with winter-weight souvenir jackets. Light catches the raised and recessed areas differently, shifting the red surface between scarlet, coral and deeper crimson.

The stitching also gives the printed map a distinctive grid-like background, blending illustration with textile structure.

Gold and Cream Sleeves

The reverse sleeves are finished in pale gold or warm cream acetate with red shoulder and side stripes.

This lighter sleeve color prevents the red body from becoming visually overpowering and harmonizes with the yellow map, polar bears and illustrated details.

Blue, Cream and Black Ribbing

Striped rib-knit trim surrounds the neck, cuffs and waistband.

Blue is particularly effective against the red body, recalling cold water, ice and northern skies. Cream and black lines connect the trim to the reverse sleeves and black velveteen face.

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Red-Face Front Embroidery

Twin Polar Bears on Ice

Two polar bears stand on individual ice formations across the chest.

The bears bend forward toward the water or ice, creating a quieter and more naturalistic scene than the upright lightning bears hidden on the opposite face.

Their placement mirrors the symmetrical chest structure of the black side while offering a completely different mood.

Angled Pockets

Two angled pockets sit beneath the polar bears.

Their pale borders visually link the openings to the cream sleeves and the ice beneath the animals.

Quilted Front Panels

The diamond quilting continues across the front body, giving the jacket a warm, rounded profile.

This is not a thin summer souvenir jacket. The cotton filling produces visible volume and makes the reverse feel closer to a genuine cold-weather bomber.

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KOSHO & CO. Special Edition Construction

Tailor Toyo’s KOSHO Special Edition series was created to reproduce early souvenir-jacket construction with unusually close attention to historic materials, dye behavior, rib knitting, filling and zipper architecture.

The exact TT12679 archive identifies:

Black cotton velveteen exterior
Red-and-gold acetate satin reverse
100% cotton filling
100% wool ribbing
Embroidered artwork on the velveteen face
Printed artwork on the quilted acetate face
Made-in-Japan construction
Fully reversible configuration
A KOSHO label attached at the velveteen-side pocket

Archival documentation further explains that KOSHO Special Edition fabrics were deliberately woven and dyed according to vulnerable vintage-style specifications. The wool ribbing was produced on old knitting machinery, the filling used cotton batting, and the reproduction zipper was made using restored historic equipment with cotton zipper tape. These details were intended to age more like an original period garment than a conventional modern bomber.

Reversible Construction

Both faces are designed as legitimate exteriors.

The jacket includes pockets, complete decoration and finished seams on each side. Neither surface should be understood simply as an inner lining.

Cotton Filling

The cotton interlining gives the jacket its padded winter profile.

It also means the garment should not be compressed unnecessarily during storage and should never be treated like an ordinary machine-washable fashion jacket.

Wool Ribbing

Cream ribbing frames the black face, while blue, cream and black stripes become more prominent when the red face is worn outward.

The ribbing is part of the historically inspired construction and should be protected from moths, moisture and prolonged tension.

Reproduction Zipper

KOSHO Special Edition zippers are deliberately modeled after early hardware and require gentle use.

The slider should be aligned carefully before closing, and force should never be applied if the teeth or pin do not engage immediately. The archival retailer specifically warned that the recreated cotton-tape zipper is more delicate than a typical modern closure.

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Period Assessment

2012 Collector Release

TT12679 was released in 2012 as a Tailor Toyo KOSHO Special Edition.

The garment is therefore now an established Japanese streetwear and Amekaji archive piece rather than a current seasonal release.

Historic Design Language

The artwork reproduces Alaska souvenir-jacket imagery associated with the late 1950s and the transition to statehood.

The “49th State” wording indicates a design concept tied to 1959 or later, while the KOSHO construction program recreates the materials and manufacturing character of early postwar souvenir jackets.

Tailor Toyo’s historical material explains that Alaska designs were produced for U.S. military-base PX markets, using regional imagery inspired by photographs and postcards available to Japanese embroiderers.

The present jacket should not be represented as an original 1950s military souvenir.

It is a highly specialized 2012 Japanese reproduction of that historical tradition.

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Alaska-Jacket Collecting Context

Among sukajan collectors, Alaska imagery forms a distinctive category sometimes referred to as Alaskajan or アラスカジャン.

These jackets differ from more familiar Japan-map, dragon and tiger designs through their use of:

Polar bears
Dog sleds
Arctic wildlife
State flags
The aurora
Alaska maps
Totem-inspired imagery
Statehood lettering
Mountain and glacier scenes

Tailor Toyo describes original Alaska motifs as scarce within the vintage market, with lightning-and-polar-bear compositions and dog-sled sleeves enjoying particularly strong recognition among collectors.

TT12679 is more unusual still because it adds the animated Alaska Boy scene and pairs embroidery with a lavish printed statehood map.

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Vintage Condition

This is a genuine pre-owned collector garment with natural age and material character.

Based upon the supplied photographs, the jacket appears visually well preserved overall, particularly considering the intentionally delicate construction of KOSHO Special Edition garments.

Black Velveteen Face

Visible characteristics include:

Natural directional movement in the velvet pile
Soft creasing through the body and sleeves
Minor impressions associated with folding and storage
Subtle tonal variation under light
Gentle shaping through the padded body
Light surface dust or lint that may adhere naturally to dark velveteen

The central Alaska Boy embroidery remains vivid and clearly defined.

The red-and-white lettering, fur-trimmed hood, orange suit, igloo, trees and ice retain strong contrast against the black ground.

No large holes, severe velvet loss or major structural tears are evident in the supplied back photograph.

Embroidery

The principal embroidery appears visually strong.

The dog-sled, polar-bear, lightning and Alaska Boy designs retain substantial thread coverage and remain immediately readable. Minor thread movement, loosened ends or vintage-style irregularities may be present within such dense embroidery.

The period-style embroidery should be protected from jewelry, bag straps, rough seating and other surfaces capable of catching thread.

Red and Gold Quilted Face

The acetate face displays:

Natural wrinkling and rippling
Quilting compression
Light tonal movement
Possible small age-related marks or surface variations
Gentle softening associated with wear and storage
Visible changes in sheen according to the direction of light

The map artwork remains colorful and detailed, with the ALASKA THE 49th STATE banner, yellow landmass, wildlife and travel illustrations retaining good visual presence.

Wool Ribbing

The rib-knit trim displays natural age character, including:

Soft surface fuzzing
Gentle waviness
Possible light tonal aging
Relaxation associated with previous wear
Minor variation at the cuffs and waistband

Because the wool ribbing was intentionally produced without modern moth-proofing, careful inspection and protected storage are recommended.

Overall Structure

No obvious large tears, catastrophic seam failures or major missing sections are visible in the supplied full-garment photographs.

Smaller marks, minor thread pulls, spot discoloration, rib irregularities or handling wear may be present. Please examine every available image closely, as the photographs form an essential part of the description.

The garment should be approached as a delicate collector jacket rather than rugged daily workwear.

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Size and Measurements

The tagged size is not visible in the supplied photographs.

Please contact us for the current flat-lay measurements before purchase.

Archived sizing for TT12679 was offered in Japanese Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large equivalents. Approximate archival chest widths ranged from 50 cm to 60 cm, with body lengths from approximately 55 cm to 59 cm. Because the jacket contains cotton filling and non-stretch velveteen, period retailers noted that it may feel approximately 1–2 cm smaller than its exterior measurements suggest.

The most useful measurements are:

Chest width measured from armpit to armpit
Back length measured from the base of the collar
Hem width measured across the ribbed waistband
Sleeve length measured from the center back collar to the cuff

Japanese padded sukajan typically have:

A short bomber body
Full raglan sleeves
A rounded chest
A fitted ribbed waistband
Compact layering room
A closer fit when the velveteen face is worn inside

For the most reliable fit, compare the jacket’s actual measurements with a padded raglan-sleeve bomber that already fits comfortably.

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Styling Possibilities

Black Velveteen Face

The black side pairs naturally with:

Raw or faded indigo denim
Black straight-leg jeans
Military chinos
Engineer boots
Work boots
High-top sneakers
Plain white T-shirts
Cream knitwear
Japanese Amekaji
Rockabilly styling
Vintage motorcycle clothing
Minimal monochrome streetwear

The soft black ground makes the embroidery appear especially vivid without requiring additional patterned garments.

Red and Gold Map Face

The reverse works particularly well with:

Black denim
Dark navy trousers
Cream work pants
Brown leather boots
Vintage sweatshirts
Varsity-inspired layers
1950s casualwear
Heritage sneakers
Bold color-blocked streetwear

The bright map side already contains a dense visual program, so restrained supporting pieces allow the jacket to remain the center of the outfit.

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Display and Collecting Appeal

This jacket has exceptional display value because each face tells a different version of the same Alaska story.

Displayed with the black face outward, it becomes an embroidered Arctic character scene framed by polar bears and sled dogs.

Displayed with the red face outward, it becomes a quilted illustrated statehood map.

It would sit naturally within collections focused on:

Tailor Toyo
KOSHO & CO.
Toyo Enterprise
Vintage-style sukajan
Alaska souvenir jackets
Polar-bear clothing
Dog-sled embroidery
Japanese Amekaji
1950s reproduction fashion
Military-base souvenirs
Statehood memorabilia
Japanese streetwear archives
Velveteen jackets
Quilted acetate jackets
Wearable textile art

A broad padded hanger is recommended. Long-term folding may compress the cotton filling and create fixed creases.

The garment should be stored away from direct sunlight, high humidity, moth activity and rough surfaces.

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Why This Model Stands Apart

TT12679 is distinguished by a combination rarely found within one jacket:

Verified 2012 KOSHO Special Edition identity
Exact TT12679-119 model number
Archived NO-365 designation
Made-in-Japan construction
Black cotton velveteen face
Red-and-gold acetate quilted reverse
100% cotton filling
100% wool ribbing
Alaska Boy back embroidery
Polar bears and lightning across the chest
Dog-sled teams embroidered along both sleeves
Illustrated Alaska map reverse
“The 49th State” banner
Original ¥69,300 premium retail position
Discontinued production
Strong two-sided display appeal

Most modern jackets would select one of these ideas and enlarge it.

TT12679 gathers them all into a complete visual ecosystem.

The black side feels like an animated Arctic tale.

The red side feels like a statehood travel poster.

The jacket’s true power lies in the conversation between them.

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Rarity and Market Context

Final value depends heavily upon:

Confirmed tagged size
Condition of the wool ribbing
Zipper operation
Velveteen pile condition
Preservation of the acetate
Completeness of the map print
Embroidery stability
Presence of the KOSHO label

Larger sizes generally support stronger overseas positioning because many original Japanese-market examples have compact proportions.

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Purchase, Shipping and Vintage Policy

This is a genuine pre-owned collector garment offered in its present as-is condition.

Natural velvet-pile movement, satin creasing, quilting compression, rib fuzzing, thread variation, small surface marks, hardware patina and other signs of storage or previous use are inherent characteristics of a delicate vintage-style jacket.

Please review every photograph and written detail carefully before purchasing. The photographs form an essential part of the description and provide the clearest representation of the colors, textures, embroidery, printed map, ribbing and overall condition.

Color appearance may vary slightly according to lighting, display settings and the reflective direction of the velveteen and acetate.

Vintage and Japanese-market sizing may differ substantially from contemporary Western sizing. Please compare the final flat-lay measurements with a similar padded jacket before purchase.

Due to the collectible, pre-owned and internationally shipped nature of this item, returns, exchanges and claims based upon fit, previously disclosed condition, expected vintage-style characteristics or minor color variation cannot be accepted, subject to applicable Etsy policies and consumer law.

Reasonable and respectful offers may be considered.

The jacket will be carefully protected, folded without unnecessary compression and packed for international transit.

Worldwide shipping is normally provided through Japan Post EMS or another suitable tracked international service where required.

Preparation, shipping and handling normally takes 5–10 business days or earlier. Tracking information will be supplied after dispatch.

Any customs duties, import taxes, local handling fees or destination-country charges remain the responsibility of the buyer.

If you are looking for this design or model in another size, please feel free to message us. Although availability cannot be guaranteed, we may be able to locate the same or a closely matching piece in a different size through our sourcing network.

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Material Tags

cotton velveteen, acetate satin, 100% cotton filling, 100% wool ribbing, rayon embroidery thread, printed acetate textile, reproduction metal zipper, cotton zipper tape, woven pocketing