Celebrating 60 Years Since The Beatles' Visit to Japan — IKEUCHI ORGANIC Releases a Summer Jacket Recreating Their Legendary 1964 Towel Jacket

To mark the 60th anniversary of The Beatles' visit to Japan, IKEUCHI ORGANIC has released a summer jacket faithfully recreating the "legendary towel jacket" that The Beatles wore in 1964. Officially licensed by Apple Corps Ltd., the company that manages The Beatles' intellectual property rights, the jacket uses "Organic 120" — one of IKEUCHI ORGANIC's signature organic towel fabrics — and was meticulously reproduced from period photographs. The project took approximately two years from concept to completion, making it a must-have item for any Beatles fan.

The Origin of the Idea

A photo of all four members wearing towel jackets appears in The Beatles Anthology

IKEUCHI ORGANIC has been developing Apple Corps–licensed Beatles collaboration items since 2018, including tapestries and sports towels reproducing album jacket artwork. Among all of these projects, this one held a special significance for CEO Keiji Ikeuchi.

The idea was born when Ikeuchi came across a story about The Beatles wearing towel jackets. After investigating, he confirmed that photographs exist of band members wearing towel jackets during their vacation in Florida in February 1964 — during the band's first-ever trip to the United States. The thought that this could be recreated with modern craftsmanship, and that it would surely surprise even the most devoted Beatles fans, became the starting point for this product.

Product Features

100% Organic Cotton Towel Jacket

The jacket is made from IKEUCHI ORGANIC's 100% organic cotton towel fabric, "Organic 120." It combines excellent absorbency with a soft feel against the skin — when worn directly against the body, it gently absorbs sweat and moisture for a comfortable wearing experience.

Faithfully Reproduced Period Details

To capture the atmosphere of 1964, every detail was carefully reproduced. The buttons are made from natural coconut shell — a deliberate choice of natural material. Button placement was verified multiple times against reference photographs: while the upper buttons are spaced evenly, the lower buttons are spaced more closely together, faithfully reflecting a characteristic of the original.

Special The Beatles × IKEUCHI ORGANIC Specifications

The chest features a double-name tag bearing both "The Beatles" and "IKEUCHI ORGANIC." The back carries an embroidered Apple Corps logo, making this a truly special piece unique to this collaboration.

Comment from CEO Keiji Ikeuchi

"I have been listening to The Beatles since their Japanese debut in 1964. I would go to the record store the day each new album came out, I became completely absorbed in their music, and before I knew it I had spent most of my life alongside The Beatles.

For me, this project was something more than product development.

Even I, who have spent years following The Beatles, did not know this towel jacket existed. That is exactly why I was genuinely excited when I came across photographs of them wearing it.

'There was still an episode like this that had not come to light.'
'I want to bring this to life.'

That is what I thought.

For many Beatles fans, the fact that The Beatles wore towel jackets is probably unknown. I wanted to create something that would make those in the know smile to themselves, and give those who did not know a sense of new discovery. With those thoughts in mind, I spent two years crafting every detail.

I hope that through this item, not only dedicated Beatles fans but also those who do not yet know The Beatles well will find an opportunity to discover what makes them so special."