BEHIND THE DESIGN: UPRISERS x Minowa

Jul 16, 2025

Born from Legacy. Built in Record Time. Designed from the Heart UP.

BEHIND THE DESIGN

A limited-edition drop fueled by drift culture — built for the track, styled for the streets.

At UPRISERS, we design with intention — not just for performance, but for the people and stories behind every piece. This collection with Hiroya Minowa and his team is a tribute to legacy, lineage, and the future of motorsport culture. It honors those who paved the way, while championing the next generation of innovators behind the wheel — and behind the design.

 


THE INTENTION

Hiroya Minowa is the youngest-ever Formula Drift event winner but this collection isn’t just about Hiroya. It was about the family that shaped him.

Both of Hiroya’s parents are race car drivers, and we wove that legacy into the garments themselves:

  • Silhouettes of Hiroya’s drift car race alongside his parents’ vehicles — three designs in motion, bound by blood and style

  • Custom iconography from his parents’ original racing helmets, cars and logos

  • Typography and layouts that capture the energy of lineage accelerating into the future

How do we honor the dedication of those before us — while building the future at full speed?

ROOTED IN TRADITION

This collection is rooted not just in Hiroya’s racing career — but in the legacy of the Minowa family itself.

From the very beginning, we dove deep into Hiroya’s story by researching the vehicles his parents drove, the helmets they wore, and the visual language of their racing identities. These elements weren’t just inspiration — they became core design references.

Silhouettes of all three family cars — Hiroya’s and his parents’ — are featured in motion, representing the past and present racing together. Custom typography, embroidered motifs, and finish-line-inspired graphics carry the family's visual DNA throughout the capsule.

“This project shows how lineage can become a launchpad — and how storytelling through fashion can build legacy across generations.”
 — Michelle K. Hanabusa, UPRISERS Founder and Creative Director

 


DESIGN UNDER PRESSURE

This piece was produced under tight 2025 geopolitical constraints — from global tariff impact creating uncertain supply chains to compressed delivery timelines. 

This project wasn’t just inspired by speed — it was built at speed.

  • July 3: Final order and design lock

  • July 4–12: Full production across four SKUs — hoodie, t-shirt, dad cap, and bucket hat

  • July 13–14: Rush shipped to Hiroya’s next race at Formula Drift St. Louis

  • Next stop: Seattle, where the second half of the capsule will make its debut

With less than two weeks to bring everything to life, this drop became a true team effort — powered by urgency, trust, and a shared love for storytelling through design.

And behind the scenes? Even more legacy in motion.

We were proud to bring in Sahr Rashid-Noah, a rising designer from the Columbus Fashion Alliance, who was mentored by Michelle K. Hanabusa through a UPRISERS and PacSun initiative. Two years ago, Sahr flew to Los Angeles, met the team, and saw his own design featured at the annual UPRISERS Family Drive powered by Pacsun.

Now, in a full-circle moment, he returned to support this capsule — showing what’s possible when you invest in talent for the long run.

Building community isn’t about speed — it’s about investing in building connection.

From sketchpad to drift pit, this drop came to life fast because of the people who helped build it.

FROM LAB TO LIFE

This wasn’t a basic print-and-go. It was a fully immersive design lab experience, grounded in legacy and built for motion.

Key Elements:

  • Co-Design with Team Minowa: Every silhouette and graphic was shaped in collaboration with Team Minowa — blending his racing mindset, fearless spirit, and family pride

  • On-Site Drops: Fans at Formula Drift St. Louis and Seattle, will be the first ones to touch the final product 

Design Details:
🌀 Speed-inspired graphics
🔥 Racing stripes as sleeve detailing to signal the finish or start of a race
🔰 Parental + family crest motifs woven throughout


CIRCULAR & CARING

Following our Creators Club Collab Model, this collection reinvests directly into the communities and creators who bring it to life.

As the drop gains momentum, so do the people behind it.
We're not just building product — we’re building creative equity.

Gear Up. Shift Up. Level Up.

Movement in motion.
A tribute to family-built dreams — and proof that the road ahead is always connected to the road behind.


Formula Drift St. Louis July 18-19, 2025 | Photographer @leftikmedia

SHOP THE UPRISERS X MINOWA LIMITED EDITION DROP

 

See other LAB projects built with culture creators: Tway x UPRISERS Collection

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