There are collections that follow trends—and then there are collections that tell stories. Nippon 26, Babici’s newest range, belongs to the latter. Born from a decade-long devotion to Japanese aesthetics and elevated by modern textile science, Nippon 26 is where ritual and refinement meet technical performance: a cycling collection designed for riders who demand speed, fit, and a deeper, cultural meaning in what they wear.
Inspiration: The Quiet Power of Japanese Craft
Japan’s design language is a lesson in restraint: an economy of detail that rewards close attention. For Nippon 26, our designers drew from the country’s disciplines—katagami stencilling, sashiko stitching, shibori dye textures and the Wabi–Sabi philosophy that finds beauty in impermanence. These influences don’t appear as superficial motifs; they inform proportion, rhythm and negative space. Patterns are composed like haiku—precise, purposeful and quietly expressive.
Each jersey in the Nippon 26 family is an interpretation of a different facet of Japanese culture: from coastal fishermen’s indigo to the warmth of ceramics, from temple lacquer hues to the architectural balance of shrines. The result is apparel that reads like wearable design—subtle up close, striking from afar.
Technical Mastery: Materials and Construction
Babici’s design philosophy has always paired artistry with function. Nippon 26 pushes that duality further by combining traditional inspiration with the finest performance textiles:
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Italian Performance Fabrics: We selected high-stretch, low-drag Italian textiles for optimal breathability and moisture control. Fabrics are chosen based on surface finish, compression profile and longevity—because beauty must endure.
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Engineered Aerodynamics: Each jersey uses race-cut tailoring and strategically placed panels to reduce turbulence at key points. Sleeve length and cuff construction are optimized to flatten against the arm in the riding position.
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Precision Stitching & Seam Placement: Borrowing from sashiko’s reverence for stitch, we employed flatlock and bonded seams to minimize chafe while adding structured support where riders need it most.
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Functional Detailing: Invisible zippers, silicone grippers with a low-profile finish, and three-pocket configurations are all refined to marry utility with elegance.
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Thermal & Climate Options: The Nippon 26 family includes lightweight summer cuts and mid-season pieces with brushed inner faces—each engineered for temperature control and consistent performance across conditions.
Design Process: From Research to Ride
Nippon 26 wasn’t created in a vacuum. The process married ethnographic research with athlete-led testing:
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Cultural Research: Our design team spent months studying traditional patterns, pigments and material textures—translating them into modern print language that respects provenance without pastiche.
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Prototyping: Multiple fabric trials and patterns were road-tested by pro athletes and dedicated riders to fine-tune fit and aerodynamic behaviour.
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Refinement: Feedback loops between designers and athletes refined cut, panel placement and sleeve geometry until the balance between comfort, weight and aerodynamics was perfect.
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Finalization: Print alignments and color calibrations were adjusted to ensure the cultural references remained authentic and visually coherent when translated onto technical fabrics.
Sustainability: Responsible Crafting
We believe design responsibility extends beyond aesthetics. For Nippon 26 we prioritised:
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Durable, long-lasting textiles that reduce the lifecycle carbon footprint by lengthening product life.
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Low-impact printing techniques to preserve colour fidelity with less waste.
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Thoughtful production runs—limited and considered—to avoid overproduction while ensuring the attention to detail each piece deserves.
Who This Collection Is For
Nippon 26 is made for riders who value more than just speed:
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Cyclists seeking race-level performance with a refined, cultural aesthetic.
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Design-minded riders who appreciate garments that tell a story as they perform.
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Teams and clubs wanting an elevated, cohesive look that stands apart from generic kits.
The Collections & Key Pieces
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Katagami Jersey: Sharp, stencil-inspired graphics with a streamlined race fit.
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Sashiko Jersey: Subtly textured prints and reinforced paneling inspired by stitched reinforcements.
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Shibori Range: Organic tie-dye motifs reinterpreted for modern sportwear in breathable Italian fabrics.
The Babici Touch: Art, Precision, Performance
At Babici, we don’t treat culture as a surface decoration. Nippon 26 is an exercise in respectful interpretation: authentic reference points reimagined for performance sport. It’s a collection where every seam, fabric choice, and printed line contributes to performance—and also to story. When you wear Nippon 26, you’re not only performing at your best—you’re wearing a dialogue between craft traditions and cutting-edge cycling technology.
Join the Launch
Nippon 26 is a limited release—crafted with precision, produced with purpose. Explore the full range at Babici.cc and be part of a decade-long conversation between two design worlds: the practiced calm of Japan and the performance-driven spirit of modern cycling.
Ride with intent. Ride with beauty. Ride Nippon 26.