Brands like WTAPS: 7 alternatives, from Ura-Harajuku peers to workwear and military-surplus labels

The closest matches to WTAPS, in our view, are NEIGHBORHOOD, Maharishi and READYMADE. END. says WTAPS arrived just after peers like NEIGHBORHOOD, BAPE and UNDERCOVER in the Ura-Harajuku movement, Wikipedia says Maharishi's founder began his career buying and selling military surplus, and Feature describes READYMADE as known for upcycling and reworking vintage military gear. Highsnobiety calls WTAPS a guerrilla military-influenced streetwear label. No reputable source we found compares these brands to WTAPS directly, so the ranking is our judgement.

WTAPS is a Tokyo label whose own site and Heddels date it to 1996, while Highsnobiety and END. say 1997; both name Tetsu Nishiyama, known as TET, as founder. We found no strictly like-for-like price. As a rough pointer only, WTAPS's BDY 01 tee is €155 on Overkill, while Carhartt WIP and Norse Projects list T-shirts at lower euro prices, but those are different designs at different retailers. Beyond that, the other picks mostly list dollars, pounds, yen or sale prices, so we say 'no like-for-like price' wherever the currency or the item does not match.

Last verified · 54 sources checked · how we chose

The short answer

  • The Ura-Harajuku peer

    NEIGHBORHOOD

    Highsnobiety describes American military, biker and rock and roll influences, and Hypebeast says Tetsu Nishiyama, later a WTAPS designer, joined it as creative director.

  • Military surplus, reworked

    Maharishi

    Its own About page describes a pacifist reinterpretation of military aesthetics using hemp, organic cotton and upcycled military fabrics.

  • Vintage military gear remade

    READYMADE

    Feature describes upcycling and reworking vintage military gear.

  • The cheaper workwear route

    Carhartt WIP

    Its newsroom says it adapts and modifies the core products of the American workwear brand Carhartt.

  • Scandinavian workwear and skate roots

    Norse Projects

    Wikipedia describes blending streetwear and classical workwear influences with high-end fashion.

  • Italian field-jacket heritage

    C.P. Company

    MAM-e and Wikipedia date it to 1971 in Bologna under Massimo Osti.

  • Badge-led outerwear (the dearer end)

    Stone Island

    BSTN describes a removable compass patch showing a wind rose.

What 'like WTAPS' usually means

In our view, people searching for alternatives usually want one of three things: military-coded outerwear and trousers (M-65 jackets, ripstop, camouflage), a Japanese label from the Ura-Harajuku generation, or something more affordable that covers the same workwear ground.

Heddels reports that WTAPS's early collections leaned on olive drab, camouflage and ripstop, with later work adding traditional workwear, Ivy League style and 1980s-1990s sportswear. Highsnobiety lists Jungle Stock shirts, trousers, M-65 military jackets and Design T-shirts among the brand's pieces, and names GPS coordinates, a sickle logo and the tagline 'visualuparmored' as signatures. Hypebeast reports a Vault by Vans partnership reignited in November 2022.

Overkill listed the BDY 01 cotton T-shirt at €155, the Ghill sweater at €179 and the SDDT2001 ripstop trousers at €235 in October 2026, each with a single price and no sale label. StockX gives retail prices of $125 for the Vans Vault x WTAPS hoodie (December 2022) and $150 for the WTAPS x New Balance Academy long-sleeve tee (August 2021). We call a pick cheaper only where it lists a comparable item at a regular price in the same currency; otherwise we say 'no like-for-like price' and show its own prices instead.

7 brands like WTAPS, ranked by how close they get

  1. #1 · $$–$$$$

    NEIGHBORHOOD logo

    NEIGHBORHOOD

    1994Tokyo, Japan

    The nearest match in our view. Highsnobiety, Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo and Hypebeast date NEIGHBORHOOD to 1994, founded by Shinsuke Takizawa. Hypebeast says Tetsu Nishiyama, later a WTAPS designer, joined as creative director.

    What it shares

    • The Ura-Harajuku scene: Highsnobiety lists NEIGHBORHOOD among brands associated with Ura-Harajuku, and the WTAPS site names Ura Harajuku
    • Military and workwear touches: Harresoe lists M-65 jackets among NEIGHBORHOOD's best-known categories, and Highsnobiety lists M-65 military jackets for WTAPS
    • Collaborations: Highsnobiety lists a WTAPS collaboration with NEIGHBORHOOD, and Highsnobiety lists NEIGHBORHOOD's Supreme collaboration from 2007

    Where it differs

    • Biker and rock roots: Highsnobiety describes a blacked-out, skull-adorned aesthetic, and Hypebeast says it was created to fill a gap in technical motorcycle apparel
    • A Japanese webstore, neighborhood-store.jp, plus END. in the US
    Price vs WTAPS
    No like-for-like price. END. (US) listed dollars in October 2026: a pigment-dyed logo tee at $125, a logo zip hoodie at $245 and a zip work jacket at $299. The WTAPS dollar prices we found are StockX retail prices for collaborations released in 2021 and 2022, and its Overkill prices are euros.
    Best for
    The same Tokyo scene, with biker and skull graphics instead of military patches.

    Pigment-dyed logo tee $125 (END., Oct 2026) · Staple logo zip hoodie $245 (END., Oct 2026) · Zip work jacket $299 (END., Oct 2026)

  2. #2 · $$–$$$$

    Maharishi logo

    Maharishi

    1994London, United Kingdom

    Wikipedia and the brand's About page say Maharishi was founded in 1994 by Hardy Blechman, and Wikipedia describes a London-based company whose founder began by buying and selling military surplus. The About page describes a pacifist reinterpretation of military aesthetics.

    What it shares

    • Military surplus as a starting point: Wikipedia says Blechman began his career buying and selling military surplus, and Heddels says early WTAPS collections leaned on olive drab, camouflage and ripstop
    • Cargo trousers and field jackets: END. lists Hemp M65 Cargo Pants and a Maha Peace Rally MA2 jacket, and Heddels lists cargo pants and field jackets for WTAPS
    • A camouflage interest: Wikipedia treats camouflage as a theme, via the 2004 DPM book, and Heddels notes camouflage in WTAPS's early range

    Where it differs

    • Peace and sustainability: the About page cites hemp, organic cotton and upcycled military fabrics, and a free lifetime repair service
    • London-based, with influences from Japan and India per Stuarts London
    Price vs WTAPS
    No like-for-like price. END. (US) listed dollars in October 2026: the Alaskan Polar Bears T-shirt at $115, and sale prices such as Hemp M65 Cargo Pants at $164 from $299. The WTAPS prices we found are euros at Overkill and older StockX dollar retail prices.
    Best for
    Military-surplus-derived cargos and jackets with a peace-minded, hemp-and-upcycled angle.

    Alaskan Polar Bears T-shirt (black) $115 (END., Oct 2026) · Organic Logo T-shirt (Olive OG-107F) $79 ($43 sale) (END., Oct 2026) · Hemp M65 Cargo Pants (black) $299 ($164 sale) (END., Oct 2026) · Maha Peace Rally MA2 jacket (olive/khaki) $589 ($265 sale) (END., Oct 2026) · Year of the Fire Kirin Snopants (black) $519 ($311 sale) (END., Oct 2026) · Temple M Okinawa 6 Panel Cap (olive) $115 ($58 sale) (END., Oct 2026)

  3. #3 · $$$$–$$$$$

    READYMADE logo

    READYMADE

    2013Osaka, Japan

    Midwest says READYMADE was launched by Yuta Hosokawa in Japan in 2013, and Openers reports he made the first bag that year and took it to Maxfield in Los Angeles. Our directory lists Osaka; no source we opened states the brand's home city.

    What it shares

    • Military gear as raw material: Feature describes upcycling and reworking vintage military gear, and Midwest says it uses vintage military fabrics for apparel and accessories, where Heddels cites olive drab, camouflage and ripstop for WTAPS
    • Collaborations with large partners: Hypebeast lists Medicom Toy, F.C. Real Bristol and Timberland, and says the list is partial, and Highsnobiety lists Vans Syndicate, Supreme and Carhartt WIP for WTAPS
    • Japanese roots with US interest: Hypebeast says a past READYMADE collaboration took a Japanese staple and made it desirable for American buyers

    Where it differs

    • Bags are a main category and prices are high: Midwest lists the Dorothy bag medium at JPY 176,000 and the overnight bag medium at JPY 286,000
    • A world-peace theme, per Feature; WTAPS's sources describe a guerrilla military-influenced label
    Price vs WTAPS
    No like-for-like price. Midwest listed yen, with each regular price equal to its sale price: the Backpack at JPY 115,500. Hypebeast reported the READYMADE x The North Face homage Blue Bandana Down Jacket at JPY 288,000, without saying whether that was retail or sale. WTAPS's prices we found are euros and dollars, and we do not convert.
    Best for
    Reworked military bags and jackets, at a much higher price tier.

    Dorothy bag medium JPY 176,000 (Midwest, Oct 2026) · Backpack JPY 115,500 (Midwest, Oct 2026) · Overnight bag medium JPY 286,000 (Midwest, Oct 2026) · Blue Bandana Down Jacket (READYMADE x The North Face homage) JPY 288,000 (Hypebeast, Jan 2021; retail or sale not stated)

  4. #4 · $$

    Carhartt WIP logo

    Carhartt WIP

    1994Germany

    Carhartt WIP's newsroom says it was established in 1994 by Edwin Faeh, adapting the core products of the American workwear brand Carhartt. Wikipedia says the parent Carhartt company is privately held and family-owned.

    What it shares

    • Workwear at the core: the newsroom describes a clothing brand that adapts and modifies the core products of a pioneering American workwear brand, and Heddels says later WTAPS work added traditional workwear
    • A direct collaboration: Highsnobiety lists a WTAPS collaboration with Carhartt WIP
    • Street and skate crossover: Carhartt WIP's US about page says rappers, graffiti writers and corner boys adopted it in 1992, and Hypebeast reports a WTAPS Vault by Vans partnership

    Where it differs

    • Much bigger: the newsroom says it operates over 100 stores across Europe, Asia and the US
    • A European offshoot of an American brand: its timeline lists a 1996 licence to manufacture Carhartt products outside the USA
    Price vs WTAPS
    No like-for-like price. As a rough pointer, Urban Industry listed the Bronson T-shirt at €48.95 and Overkill listed the WTAPS BDY 01 cotton T-shirt at €155, both checked October 2026. Those are different tees at two retailers, so we make no cheaper claim; we found no comparable euro jacket or trouser for WTAPS, and Carhartt WIP's other listings in our record are sale prices, pounds or different items.
    Best for
    Workwear-based basics at a much lower price, without the military detailing.

    Chase T-shirt, Shale/Gold €39.99 (sale) (Impericon, Oct 2026) · Bronson T-shirt €48.95 (Urban Industry, Oct 2026) · Hot Rat T-shirt €38.95 (sale; regular €48.95) (Urban Industry, Oct 2026) · Hooded Chase Crew Sweat, Grey Heather & Gold £69 (END. (UK), Oct 2026) · Hooded American Script Sweat, Black £53 (sale; was £89) (END. (UK), Oct 2026) · Single Knee Pant, Blue Worn Used Wash £87.95 (sale; regular £119.95) (Urban Industry, Oct 2026) · OG Detroit Jacket, Black (Grind Wash) €169.95 (sale; regular €283.95) (Urban Industry, Oct 2026) · Michigan Coat, Cozy Blue colourway $147 (sale; was $245) (Gear Patrol, 1 July 2026) · Chase socks €16.95 (Urban Industry, Oct 2026)

  5. #5 · $$–$$$$

    Norse Projects logo

    Norse Projects

    2004Copenhagen, Denmark

    FashionUnited says Norse Projects launched in 2004, founded by Anton Juul, Mikkel Grønnebæk and Tobia Sloth. Wikipedia says it was founded as a retail streetwear shop and art gallery, headquartered in Copenhagen.

    What it shares

    • Workwear mixed with streetwear: Wikipedia describes blending streetwear and classical workwear influences with high-end fashion, and Heddels notes workwear in WTAPS's later range
    • Technical outerwear: Highsnobiety says it most recently worked with GORE-TEX on signature jackets, and Highsnobiety lists M-65 military jackets for WTAPS
    • Collaborations: Highsnobiety lists Vans in 2013 and Dr. Martens in 2016, and Hypebeast reports a Vault by Vans partnership for WTAPS

    Where it differs

    • Scandinavian minimalism: Urban Industry describes a Scandinavian approach to simplicity and premium materials rather than trends
    • Lex.dk says the founders came from skate culture; the WTAPS sources point to Ura-Harajuku
    Price vs WTAPS
    No like-for-like price. As a rough pointer, END. listed the Standard T-Shirt (White) at €70 against the WTAPS BDY 01 cotton T-shirt at €155 on Overkill, both checked October 2026. The €225 Standard Hoodie and €199 Standard Chinos have no comparable WTAPS item in our record.
    Best for
    Clean workwear basics from Copenhagen at a lower tee price.

    Standard T-Shirt, White €70 (END., Oct 2026) · Standard Hoodie, Black or Dark Navy €225 (END., Oct 2026) · Standard Chinos, Dark Navy €199 (END., Oct 2026) · Arresskov Compact Cotton Shirt Jacket, Dark Navy €265 (END., Oct 2026) · Holmen Wax Jacket, Delicioso Brown €326 (sale; original €435) (END., Oct 2026) · Aros Chino, navy $79 (sale; original $125) (Gear Patrol, published 16 July 2018, updated 13 December 2023)

  6. #6 · $$–$$$$

    C.P. Company logo

    C.P. Company

    1971Italy

    Wikipedia and MAM-e date C.P. Company to 1971 in Bologna, founded by Massimo Osti first as Chester Perry; the brand's own site also gives 1971 and the Chester Perry name, while Archivio85 gives 1975. MAM-e says it has belonged to Tristate Holdings, a Hong Kong-based group, since December 2015.

    What it shares

    • Outerwear built around fabric and function: Bloc Magasin says the Goggle Jacket dates to 1988 and was created for the Mille Miglia road race, and Highsnobiety cites durable nyco and ripstop fabrics for WTAPS
    • Collaborations with streetwear labels: Wikipedia lists Patta, adidas Spezial and, in 2023, Palace, and Highsnobiety lists Supreme, Vans and Carhartt WIP for WTAPS
    • Garment-dye and technical treatment: Wikipedia supports garment dyeing from 1974

    Where it differs

    • Italian sportswear heritage: MAM-e calls Osti the godfather of sportswear
    • Subtler branding: The Clothes Supplier says it uses goggle hoods and lens sleeves rather than bold branding
    Price vs WTAPS
    No like-for-like price. C.P. Company's own site lists pounds, checked October 2026: the Eco-Chrome R Mixed Re-Colour Goggle Jacket at £975 and the Flatt Nylon Lens Re-Colour Overshirt at £595. Archivio85's euro prices are sale prices on out-of-stock items, and WTAPS's euro prices on Overkill have no sale label.
    Best for
    Fabric-led Italian field-style outerwear, at a higher price.

    Eco-Chrome R Mixed Re-Colour Goggle Jacket, cpcompany.com £975.00 (cpcompany.com, Oct 2026) · Eco-Chrome R Mixed Re-Colour Hooded Gilet, cpcompany.com £750.00 (cpcompany.com, Oct 2026) · Flatt Nylon Lens Re-Colour Overshirt, cpcompany.com £595.00 (cpcompany.com, Oct 2026) · Jersey 30/1 label print crew T-shirt, Archivio85 (original €99.95, sale €79.95, out of stock) €79.95 sale (Archivio85, Oct 2026) · Garment dyed Chrome-R lens pocket cargo pants, Archivio85 (original €329.95, sale €179.95, out of stock) €179.95 sale (Archivio85, Oct 2026) · Pro-Tek shell lens detail hooded jacket, Archivio85 (original €399.95, sale €269.95, out of stock) €269.95 sale (Archivio85, Oct 2026) · Chrome nylon bucket hat, Archivio85 (original €129.95, sale €99.95, out of stock) €99.95 sale (Archivio85, Oct 2026)

  7. #7 · $$$–$$$$

    Stone Island logo

    Stone Island

    1982Italy

    Wikipedia says Stone Island was founded in 1982 in Ravarino, Italy, by Massimo Osti, and that Moncler completed its acquisition on 31 March 2021. Included as the dearer, badge-led end of the range, not a like-for-like swap.

    What it shares

    • Outerwear-first: Wikipedia says the first collection was seven outerwear pieces in a coated tarpaulin, and Highsnobiety lists M-65 military jackets among WTAPS's categories
    • Recognisable markers on the garment: BSTN describes the removable compass patch, and Heddels lists WTAPS military-style patches and a crossbones motif
    • Collaborations: Wikipedia lists Supreme, Nike (NikeLab) and Dior (2024), and Highsnobiety lists Supreme for WTAPS

    Where it differs

    • Owned by Moncler, with reported stakes in earlier years held by GFT and Temasek; the sources we opened do not say who owns WTAPS
    • Counterfeits are a known issue: Highsnobiety's guide says fake Stone Island jackets are widely sold online; we found no comparable source for WTAPS
    Price vs WTAPS
    Unclear. Breuninger (Netherlands) listed Stone Island T-shirts from EUR 120 in October 2026, against the WTAPS BDY 01 tee at €155 on Overkill; that is the lowest tee we saw, not a matched garment, so we draw no conclusion. Breuninger listed the GHOST Bomber jacket at EUR 895; we found no WTAPS jacket price.
    Best for
    Badge-led outerwear, if you want the established name and accept a higher price on jackets.

    Patch Logo T-shirt, END. Canada CA$275 (END. Canada, Oct 2026) · T-shirts (several colours), Breuninger Netherlands From EUR 120 (Breuninger, Oct 2026) · Garment Dyed Hoodie, END. Canada (Sage on sale at CA$364) CA$560 (END. Canada, Oct 2026) · Garment Dyed Crew Neck Sweatshirt, END. Canada (Mustard on sale at CA$333) CA$475 (END. Canada, Oct 2026) · Patch Logo Polo, END. Canada CA$309 to CA$325 (END. Canada, Oct 2026) · Piqué polo shirts, Breuninger Netherlands From EUR 180 (Breuninger, Oct 2026) · GHOST Bomber jacket, Breuninger Netherlands EUR 895 (Breuninger, Oct 2026) · 2SC18 polo shirt (black), StockX retail price field $218 (currency not named) (StockX, SS23 season) · MR PORTER exclusive collection, range across items $390 to $2,510 (dollar sign only) (MR PORTER, October 2019)

At a glance

Brand From Price tier vs WTAPS Known for
WTAPS Tokyo $$–$$$$ — Military and workwear-influenced streetwear from Ura-Harajuku
NEIGHBORHOOD Tokyo $$–$$$$ No like-for-like price Biker, military and rock influences, skull graphics
Maharishi London $$–$$$$ No like-for-like price Hemp and upcycled military pieces, Snopants
READYMADE Osaka $$$$–$$$$$ No like-for-like price Upcycled vintage military gear, bags
Carhartt WIP Germany $$ No like-for-like price Work-jacket and trouser basics, yellow C label
Norse Projects Copenhagen $$–$$$$ No like-for-like price Scandinavian workwear basics, GORE-TEX outerwear
C.P. Company Italy $$–$$$$ No like-for-like price Goggle jackets, garment dyeing, lens details
Stone Island Italy $$$–$$$$ No like-for-like price Compass patch, fabric research, outerwear

Price tiers use the directory's $–$$$$$ scale and describe typical retail positioning, not exact prices.

A note on dupes and replicas

We don't list replicas or sellers of WTAPS look-alikes. In our research we found no source describing counterfeit WTAPS or how common it is, so we make no claim about that. Highsnobiety says WTAPS until recently sold only out of its showroom and names the GIP Store as its flagship, and Overkill and END. list the brand. The StockX figures in our record are retail prices for past releases, not an endorsement of resale.

If you want the military-workwear look without WTAPS, a genuine alternative is a different brand with its own designs; the picks above were chosen on that basis.

What is a legit check?

Frequently asked questions

What are the best brands like WTAPS?

In our assessment, NEIGHBORHOOD, Maharishi and READYMADE come closest: END. says WTAPS arrived just after peers like NEIGHBORHOOD in the Ura-Harajuku movement, Wikipedia says Maharishi's founder began with military surplus, and Feature describes READYMADE reworking vintage military gear. No source we found compares them to WTAPS directly.

Are there cheaper brands like WTAPS?

We can't say like for like. As a rough pointer only, in euros: Carhartt WIP's Bronson T-shirt is €48.95 and Norse Projects' Standard T-Shirt is €70, against the WTAPS BDY 01 tee at €155, all checked October 2026, but they are different tees at different retailers. Stone Island's T-shirts at Breuninger start at EUR 120, but that is a lowest listing rather than a matched garment. We found no like-for-like jacket or trouser price.

Who founded WTAPS, and when?

Tetsu Nishiyama, known as TET, per Heddels and END.. The brand's own site and Heddels say 1996, while Highsnobiety and END. say 1997. The brand's site also names FORTY PERCENT AGAINST RIGHTS as its predecessor.

What is WTAPS known for?

Highsnobiety describes a guerrilla military-influenced streetwear label with signatures including GPS coordinates, a sickle logo and the tagline 'visualuparmored'. Heddels lists crossbones motifs, military-style patches and NATO phonetic alphabet sizing.

Is there a WTAPS dupe?

We don't list replicas. We found no source on counterfeit WTAPS.

Where is WTAPS from?

The brand's own site says it releases from Tokyo and names Ura Harajuku, and Highsnobiety also places it in Tokyo.

How we chose these brands

We started from the directory's brands and used its style, product and price data to shortlist seven whose look or origin overlap with WTAPS, keeping only brands for which we had already researched and checked a record. Facts such as founding, ownership and prices come from the numbered sources below, each opened and checked in October 2026. Rankings, 'what it shares' and 'best for' are our editorial judgement: no reputable source we found compares these brands to WTAPS directly. Price comparisons are like for like only where we found a comparable item at a regular price in the same currency; we found no strictly matched pair, so we make no cheaper-or-dearer claim. Prices are single snapshots from retailers and brand sites and will change.

Sources

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