It’s no secret that Japan is the mecca of fashion. Really, they’ve always had their ‘cool factor’ that spans across otaku culture, or technology culture, through its design and fashion. Not only have the Japanese been able to adapt to many trends that circulate from around the world, but they have been able to capture it in such a way, giving it its own unique flare, and completely remastering the fashion piece. In other words, they really have a knack for taking a popular fashion item and putting their own spin on it, which has led them to produce a number of high fashion brands we love that are now leading the world in clothing trends. In fact, many streetwear and especially skate culture fashion trends we see around the world today come from Tokyo’s Harajuku district, known as the center of Japans most extreme fashion style. In turn, it draws in people from all across Japan and even the world to find the latest trends and experience the fashion culture.
Japan has given the world many fashion brands we know and love including, COMME des GARÇONS, A Bathing Ape and UNDERCOVER, all making their mark in every area of fashion. From high end luxury fashion to streetwear, each have played a unique and critical role in today’s trend of mixing luxury, sport, and streetwear. While these brands have been a staple for the Japanese fashion culture for years, the world is just beginning to shift their attention and learn about these Japanese fashion brands that have been pushing the envelope of style and creativity, bringing to life amazing, high end trends to the world of fashion. With that in mind, here is a list of the best Japan clothing brands you need to know about right now.
COMME des GARÇONS
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No list of Japanese fashion brands would be complete without their most popular name, COMME des GARÇONS. First started in 1969 by Rei Kawakubo, the Japanese fashion house first gained popularity in the 1970’s before their first official debut in Paris, France in 1981. COMME des GARÇONS is known for their particularly heavy grunge aesthetic. Many refer to it as “ragged chic” or “high end grunge”, and at first Kawakubo’s collection and avant-garde approach to design attracted equal praise as well as dismissal from critics everywhere. But as we known in the world of art, if your work causes this much controversy, you’re probably on the verge of something amazing.
And as it should be, COMME des GARÇONS became the fashion world’s avant-garde. What makes this Japanese brand so widely popular today is Kawakubo’s unique and defiant ability to turn things on their head. So much of her design is created out of straight rebellion for the item, which we can see especially exemplified in Kawakubo’s collaboration with Louis Vuitton where she cut holes into a tote bag, taking away the primary purpose of the bag. From heavy designs that transform natural human shape to perfumes that smell like burnt rubber, COMME des GARÇONS has always pushed to disrupt the norm.
NEIGHBORHOOD
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Just your friendly NEIGHBORHOOD fashion house. First started by designer Shinsuke Takizawa, usually referred to as Shin, in1994, NEIGHBORHOOD or NBHD is one of Japans OG streetwear fashion brands. In fact, it was NBHD that took to the scene in the early ‘90’s when the Harajuku fashion district began leaking in streetwear. The Harajuku fashion culture is a Tokyo based movement started by friends and family who created a community around high end fashion. Thanks to this eclectic fashion culture, and brands like NBHD leading the way, we now have brands like BAPE, UNDERCOVER, and GOODENOUGH. NBHD is infamous for their mix of streetwear and motorcycle subculture. Takizawa’s deep passion for the Americana biker culture comes out in his designs creating classic wardrobe pieces including flannels, leather jackets, headwear, sweats, t-shirts, and more.
Through recent collections, we’ve seen NBHD dive into cutting edge designs that come from an array of inspirations including Native American, prep, 20th century industrial, and even military uniform aesthetic. While NBHD continues to blow us away with their unique designs, the fashion house is best known for their authentic selvedge denim. Designed and produced with careful specifications and intricate customizations, NBHD provides their customer base with anything from distressed washes, classic light denim fades, and of course, their iconic “Savage” series which include a dark wash, faded denim that has a well-weathered look to it.
UNDERCOVER
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Much unlike the name, this fashion house hasn’t been UNDERCOVER for very long. In fact, the infamous high end brand is the epitome of the Japanese streetwear scene. For a few decades now, designer and founder, Jun Takahashi, has been heavily influencing contemporary fashion standards today through distinct visual perspective and innovative creativity. He has played such an important role in streetwear, that some of his most early pieces are now the most sought after for collectors and fashion enthusiasts around the world.
In the famous words of Jun Takahashi, “We make noise, not clothes” – which is the best possible way to describe his eclectic fashion brand. UNDERCOVER aesthetic is a blend of professional and streetwear. He takes very sharp pieces such as fitted suits or dresses, and adds a grunge feel to them such as tears, patches, pins, and other fixings. UNDERCOVER is all about disruption, rebellion, goth, and post-modern aesthetic to create the perfect high end punk streetwear.
Wacko Maria
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Wacko Maria may have the most distinctive and interesting back story of any other fashion house. Wacko Maria was first started by two J-league professional football players, Nobuhiro Mori and Keiji Ishizuka. At first the pair started a joint venture together by opening Rock Steady bar in Tokyo. The bar business soon took them down a path they didn’t expect to fall into: a high end menswear line. Soon, Rock Steady evolved into Wacko Maria, and the menswear brand was inspired by Mori and Ishizuka’s passion for punk rock subculture with Latin American influences – interesting mix, right?
Well, a bar wasn’t the only thing the pair soon succeeded at. Wack Maria is known especially for their bizarre, ornate shirts, jackets, pants, and other outerwear that is detailed with elaborate embroideries that combine both classic Americana and traditional artwork. Many of the brands work includes religious icons, oversized slogans, and absurd cuts. They have created an addicting clothing brand favored by all, but especially by fashion trend setters Know Wave’s Aaron Bondaroff.
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