This project started from a long friendship between Shoyoroll founder Vince Quitugua and Nepenthes director Tokuro Aoyagi, who has been immersed in jiu-jitsu as part of his life's work since 1997. Over the years, through different projects and shared ideas, it felt inevitable that the two brands would eventually come together.
The capsule is rooted in the early days of jiu-jitsu, a period that deeply shaped both Vince and Tokuro during the 1990s and 2000s, when jiu-jitsu was exploding in the U.S. and Japan and beginning to change the landscape of mixed martial arts worldwide.
The collection blends Nepenthes' signature purple and tie-dye language with the core symbols of both brands. It is bold, but still restrained. Graphic, but considered.
While the inspiration comes from the past, the product is built for right now. The cuts, materials, and construction are designed for modern competitive jiu-jitsu, with a focus on function first, both in training and in competition.
The visuals feature Kade and Tye Ruotolo and their sister Nya, a new generation carrying the art forward, not as an echo, but as a continuation.
