Worn In, Not Worn Out. Kushi-Ya.

Whether it is hardwearing aprons covered in gochujang and matcha powder, jackets withstanding decades of downtime or repurposed fabric offcuts, we make everything with the intention it will be loved and lived in. Worn in—but not worn out.

We recently caught up with Simon and the team at Kushi-Ya—friends, neighbours, and makers of some of our favourite food quite possibly ever. We have been working with them for years, and it’s a place you might find our team on a Friday night.

We asked them to pull out their favourite Universal Works pieces, from uniforms that have seen plenty of busy services to the jackets they reach for outside of the kitchen.

We also had the chance to dabble in their interiors, creating ‘noren’ curtains for the bar (traditional Japanese fabric dividers), as well as a quilted blanket-turned-tapestry of fabrics from past seasons that hangs proudly on the wall.

Simon, Head Chef and Co-Founder alongside his business partner Tom, remembers how it all started: “I loved and wore UW for years before I met [UW Co-Founders] David and Stephanie while working for a different restaurant in Nottingham. When we first started doing our Kushi-Ya pop-ups, I plucked up the courage to ask if they could make our aprons. Then, when it came to opening the actual restaurant, it was the natural choice to get shirts and aprons for the Front of House staff too.”

The original aprons, made in a Slub Selvedge Denim, are still in good nick, but when they moved to their first brick-and-mortar location, they chose a Chambray short sleeved shirt alongside the Denim aprons. Now in their new space, everything is wearing in beautifully with every meal made.

“We have never had to repair any of the uniforms. They are pretty solid, and they do get a pretty good hammering!”

When he isn’t at work, Simon tells us he wears Oxford Pants and a much-loved Labour Jacket, bought over a decade ago at one of our stockists in Derby.

“I’ve had the jacket for well over ten years now. It’s battered, it has holes, and stains on the neck from suncream—but it still looks great! I wear it day to day, to knock about in and go out in. I considered getting the stains patched, but I’m not that bothered!”

Restaurant Manager Ricki has also been a customer for about a decade, starting his love affair with a Bakers Jacket in Patched Twill at the opening night of our first Nottingham store on Broad Street.

“I’m the sort of person who has to buy in-store, so I went along to your opening night. It was always the Bakers Jacket—I tried it on and knew instantly I had to have it. I’ve bought more UW since, but this has a place in my heart. I just bang it on! I’ve had to do absolutely nothing to it—even the buttons haven’t needed replacing. It’s built to last, and that’s where I stand with clothing. Buy nice, not twice!”

You can find Kushi-Ya at:
14a Low Pavement, Nottingham, NG1 7DL.