Tiger/ Formosa Sukajan

The term “Sukajan” is an abbreviation of “Yokosuka Jumper.” Yokosuka, a port city south of central Tokyo, became a U.S. military base after World War II. During shore leave, American soldiers would buy souvenirs to take home, often purchasing these jackets. Originally made from lightweight silk—sometimes repurposed from military parachutes or rayon (which was not rationed and thus more accessible)—they were embroidered by local women and children with intricate Oriental motifs such as dragons, eagles, maps, and geishas, serving as mementos of their time in Asia.

This piece marks the first reversible design in pet fashion. The front features a classic roaring tiger embroidery on pale blue silk fabric, while the reverse showcases Chipasu’s original Taiwan map embroidery on plush velvet.