brad-t
Our exclusive look inside the new Tokyu Plaza department store - part 2 is coming up later!
What is “Harajuku fashion”?
Anonymous asked harajuju:
I’m scrolling through harajuju forum and looks and I don’t really feel any harajuku vibe in it…I mean, i’m more on the DIY part of Harajuku, recycling, handmade, vintage .. I think that those people are the ones who are setting the trends and they are those who created recognition for Harajuku in the 90s. When i’m reading the forum topics or outfit comments, i just feel like this part of Harajuku is being lowered and I wanted to know what you think about it
Firstly, I’d like to thank you for this comment — it’s pretty interesting and I’m glad to have the opportunity to talk about it.
Although our name is Harajuju we are not a Harajuku fashion focused community. I chose the name Harajuju largely because it’s fun to say, but also because Harajuju is the heart of a lot of street fashion movements in Japan. We also don’t mandate any particular styles on our forum; it doesn’t even have to be Japanese. That said, I think most of what is posted on our site would fit in on the streets of Harajuku.
The thing is, Japanese fashion loving outsiders (meaning, those who don’t live in or haven’t been to Japan — I am one, myself) often have a very stereotypical view of what represents Harajuku fashion. So when someone says “Harajuku fashion,” it’s easy to jump to something like this:
(photos from tokyofashion.com)
However, this is sincerely a “white-washed” view of Harajuku fashion. Harajuku is one of the street style capitols of the world with a dizzying variety of aesthetic cultures. So while the above image is Harajuku, so is the below.
(photos from style-arena.jp — just check out their Harajuku section)
Using “Harajuku fashion” as an adjective of style is ultimately a pretty meaningless exercise. It’s like saying “I like tasty food”; it could mean so many things that in the end it doesn’t mean anything at all. Japanese fashion exists beyond the crazy, the colorful, the loud, the aggressive, the fairy-tale-esque. It’s a spectacular prism of personal expression.
Harajuku import store Electric Alice is hosting a “Kawaii Style Inspiration Contest!” It’s basically exactly as it sounds — you post a photo of you in an outfit and how it relates to the person who inspires your “kawaii” style. Entries and voting are open until December 30th, so you still have time to vote, and submit your photo if you’re really fast!
There are some great looks that have already tallied a bunch of votes, but I’d like to give a signal boost to these two which I think aren’t getting the love they deserve:
Victoria, inspired by Heri from Grimoire.
Reiko and Jiji are inspired by Choco and Mai.
If you’re a fan of Japanese fashion, you owe it to the world to cast your vote and share your favourite looks! Looking forward to seeing who wins!
vampirefiction
“It was against this background that a new movement of street fashion and culture began to gather momentum. Centered around a small area of Harajuku, a rag-tag collection of young designers and retailers began to make their mark on Tokyo’s landscape of fashion and culture. Known by Japanese fashion press as the “Ura-Harajuku movement”, the group was spearheaded by designers, proprietors and cultural figureheads such as Hiroshi Fujiwara, Nigo (A Bathing Ape) and Takahashi Jun (Undercover). Through their proposal of a new concept of design and retail, one which centred on the notions of “identity” and “exclusivity”, the “Ura-Harajuku” movement was to have a profound influence on Tokyo fashion and youth culture.
According to SASQUATCHfabrix designer Yokoyama, “In those days, rather than fashion, the notion of “limited”, “deadstock” and “exclusive” were the real buzzwords. Through these rare items you could become part of a minority – a minority based on a high sense of style. Searching, collecting and completing were the things we adhered to, we were all totally enveloped in the mania for this.”
Fascinating article on the mens fashion movement in Tokyo in the 90s at LN-CC
Esper and I walked around Tokyo in August, and Esper took lots of great photos which you should check out.
xper:
Streetsnaps of Tokyo pt. 1
Full set here: http://ihateflash.net/set/i-hate-tour-11-tokyo/
divinecross
retromantique
Come get some. A shot from Electric Alice, a store with an interesting concept:
Electric Alice is a concept store dedicated to bringing hand-selected Japanese clothing and accessories to Australia and translating them into coordinates that work for Australians. Whether you’re into mixing a few quirky pieces with your regular wardrobe or are inspired by entire coordinated looks, we’re here to help you define yourself without saying a word.
Their selections certainly favour the Harajuku side of things. If anyone has any experience with them, please let me know about it!
galism
