Classico

About Classico

Classico Inc. is a Japanese medical apparel company that emerged from a simple yet powerful question from a physician: "Why aren't there any cool-looking lab coats?". This query prompted Arata Ohwa to establish the company in 2008. Ohwa, who had a background in IT sales and business development, was inspired by his doctor friend's dissatisfaction with the standard, uninspiring medical wear. He partnered with his high school friend, Nobuo Ohmameuda, a skilled cutter from an Italian-style tailor shop, to bring a new aesthetic to medical uniforms. With just 50,000 yen in startup capital, they launched Classico, aiming to blend high fashion with the functional demands of the medical field.

The company's core business revolves around the planning, development, and sale of premium medical apparel, including lab coats, scrubs, stethoscopes, and shoes. Classico primarily operates on a direct-to-consumer (D2C) model through its global e-commerce platform, which allows them to gather direct feedback from end-users. This approach has been supplemented with B2B services for bulk hospital orders and collaborations with distributors like Amazon for certain product lines. The business has successfully expanded internationally, with online stores catering to the US, Taiwan, and other regions, now serving medical professionals in over 30 countries. By 2018, the company had achieved 10 consecutive years of revenue growth.

Classico's products are distinguished by their design, which incorporates Italian tailoring techniques to create stylish and flattering silhouettes. Co-founder Nobuo Ohmameuda leads the design and pattern-making, ensuring a three-dimensional form that combines elegance with practicality. The company develops its own proprietary fabrics, such as the silky and stretchable "Urban Tech," to provide comfort, stretch, odor resistance, and antibacterial properties. Manufacturing is exclusively done in select Japanese facilities known for advanced sewing technology to maintain high-quality standards. Beyond its main product line, Classico has engaged in high-profile collaborations with brands like Ron Herman and Gelato Pique, further enhancing its fashion credentials.