Fashion in Tokyo
Photos: Cortesy of Japan Fashion Association (style-arena.jp)
In Tokyo, you can find many world brand name shops with all kinds of fashion styles. It is exciting to see a variety of fashion trends ranging from high fashion to "fast fashion" (the latest fashion, featuring items produced quickly with quick turnover and with inexpensive prices) at the same time. There are also many other fashion shops that do not necessarily focus on the latest trend but feature their own tastes in the form of selected-clothing stores that deal with various brands specially selected by shop owners. Or, there are casual and home wear shops like MUJI targeted to all people regardless of age or gender. Also, GothLoli fashion (mixture of Gothic and Lolita fashion) or Anime fashion (Animation cosplay) have gained popularity among some people. Nowadays, fashion shows for the general public are held in Tokyo and show signs of becoming a boom.
Each area of Tokyo has its own fashion characteristics. If you are looking for the latest trend, you should go to Harajuku. GothLoli fashion started in Harajuku. If you go to Shibuya, you can learn the current fashion trend among teenaged girls. Their style is called Gal fashion (Gal is the Japanese pronunciation of the English word girl). In Omote-sando, there are many high brand name fashion stores along the broad tree-shaded avenue. In Daikan-yama, fashionable selected-clothing stores are competing against each other with their own special selections or original items. And, you cannot miss the world famous fashion city, Ginza. All the top brand names from all over the world have gathered in Ginza, coexisting with the traditional Japanese department stores. Ginza is one of the most fashionable places in all Japan and redolent with celebrity atmosphere. So, in Tokyo you can find anything.
What is the latest trend in fashion in Tokyo? More and more high brand name suppliers have been opening their shops in Tokyo and some of the items that they sell are only available in Tokyo. Meanwhile, as seen with H&M and Forever 21 that have recently opened their shops in Tokyo, fast fashion brands, including also GAP and UNIQLO, are becoming popular. They have collaborated with famous designers and produced original and limited-edition items only available in Tokyo. One thing you cannot miss in Tokyo is a fashion building called 109 that rises in front of Shibuya station. Fashion style coming from 109 has been a huge hit mainly among young people in Asia and some charismatic shop staff are admired as fashion icons. Lots of young people imitate the staff's fashion styles as their model of dress.
YUMA KOSHINO, '09-'10 Autumn / Winter Collection
(C)Japan Fashion Week Organization
At the same time, traditional Japanese fashion style has also been drawing attention from some young people recently. In Asakusa and other traditional "downtown" areas of Tokyo, you can find various fashion items of Japanese taste. Hanten (traditional Japanese Jacket worn by workmen or shop staff), yukata (traditional Japanese garment usually worn as casual summer kimono wear), or recently, koikuchi shirts with Edo-monyo textile pattern (traditional Japanese shirt worn by shop staff) are getting popular among foreigners and many tourists buy them as souvenirs. Nikka-bokka (Japanese baggy worker pants) or jikatabi (split-toe soft shoes) are also popular among major overseas designers such as Gaultier. And, the number of five-toe socks users is increasing rapidly in a kind of staelth boom.
Tokyo is truly a wonderland of fashion.
Check out the scene and find out your own favorite fashion in Tokyo.
- Fashion Collections and Events
- Tokyo Girls Collection: Held twice annually(http://gw.tv/tgc/)* Ticket needs to be purchased beforehand
- Harajuku Style Collection: Held twice annually (http://www.haracolle.jp/)*Ticket needs to be purchased beforehand
- Shibuya Collection: held approximately four times annually (http://www.shibu-colle.net/)
- 9th "Japan Fashion Week in Tokyo" : October 19-25,2009 (http://www.jfw.jp/)*Basically not open to public
- Fashion spots or streets that you should go to
-Shibuya 109
-Ginza Brand Shop Street(Namiki st., Chuo st., Harumi st., Marronnier st.)
-Omotesando street / Omotesando Hills / Minami Aoyama brand shops
-Takeshita dori street / Harajuku area / Cat street (back of Harajuku)
-For traditional items: Asakusa and Sensoji Temple area / Nakamise dori street / Denpoin dori street
- Websites or TV program that you should check
-Style-arena.jp(http://www.style-arena.jp)
-Apparel Web Street Fashion Photo(http://www.apparel-web.com/trend/)
-NHK World: TOKYO FASHION EXPRESS
(http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/tv/tokyofashion/index.html)
(NHK http://www.nhk.or.jp/)
