NYT _ DATABASE_FASHION2012
Brand: A BATHING APE About: Founded by Nigo in Harajuku is 1993, BAPE is one of the main influence in modern street fashion. On Feb.1, 2011, the brand was sold to Hong Kong fashion conglomerate I.T. Nigo remains on board as the creative director. Website: http://www.bape.com |
Brand: AMBUSH® DESIGN
About: Established in 2002 by Verbal and Yoon. Having “Anything Goes” as the motto, they research uniqueness, subtlety and amusement of Tokyo’s design and music culture scenes. Website: http://www.ambushdesign.com |
Brand: ANREALAGE About: ‘凹凸,’ ‘LOW,’ ‘SHELL,’ ‘TIME’….. With inspiring theme, ANREALAGE introduces conceptual collection every season. Led by the designer Kunihiko Morinaga, ANREALAGE is the winner of the GEN ART Avant-Garde Award 2005 and the Best Brand at the Mainichi Fashion Grand Prix awards 2011. Website: http://www.anrealage.com |
Brand: APPLEBUM About: Including marquee release of Wu-Tang Clan collaboration products, the references are generally 90’s Hip Hop. Recently they do many hand-drawn graphic T-shirt collaborations. Website: http://applebum.jp |
Brand: ASICS About: Iconic athletic wear brand that started in 1949 as ONITSUKA. Website: |
Brand: ATO About: Established his brand in 1993, Ato Matsumoto introduces both men’s and women’s collection in Japan and overseas. Especially with the help of Kanye West’s appearance with the Cowhide boots, Ato became a sought after brand by blog readers. Website: http://www.ato.jp |
Brand: ATTACHMENT About: Kazuyuki Kumagai’s label that prides itself on the craftsmanship presented within each individual piece, since he left Issey Miyake’s Japanese design group to established his own label in 1998. Website: http://www.attachment.co.jp/ |
Brand: BACKLASH About: Isamu Katayama is constantly researching and studying every possibility for leather. As he focuses on a craftmen’s approach with leather tanning technique, each piece comes out unique. Website: http://www.backlash.jp/ |
Brand: BASE CONTROL About: BASE CONTROL offers a variety of clothes and accessories. The direction of the label is simple but sophisticated. The aesthetics of the line is without a doubt, Tokyo. Website: http://basestation.jp |
Brand: BEAMS About: BEAMS launched in the mid ’70s as a revolutionary multifaceted clothing manufacturer and retail operation. Currently as one of Japan’s biggest youth clothing stores, they maintain 25 labels including Beams Plus that the company’s VP Keishi Endo describes as “the ultimate functional beauty” of classic American gear. Website: http://www.beams.co.jp |
Brand: BEDWIN AND THE HEARTBREAKERS About: Masafumi “Bebe” Watanabe’s BEDWIN is awesome Japan-Only brand. Its motto is “Paramount Quality,” which can clearly be seen in each garment in just the fabric choices and construction techniques alone. Website: http://www.bedwintokyo.com |
Brand: BIG JOHN About: The pioneer of Japanese denim, bringing tradition and innovation of Japanese denim from Kojima, Okayama to the world. Website: http://www.bigjohn.co.jp |
Brand: BLACKMEANS About: BLACKMEANS by Yujiro Komatsu, Takatomo Ariga, and Masatomo Ariga creates new values with the concept of “Punk + Motorcycle + Tribe + Hardcore + Mode.” Website: http://blackmeans.com |
Brand: CASIO About: CASIO was founded in 1946. The innovative wristwatch brand gained a cult following with the release of it’s databank and G-Shock lines. Casio continues to release new G-Shock and retro releases of their ever popular collection. Website: http://www.casio.com |
Brand: CHRISTIAN DADA About: After worked as an assistant for Charles Anastase abroad, Masanori Morikawa launched CHRISTIAN DADA in 2009, with sensational collection debut. Without too many years, the brand has already garnered international clients including Lady Gaga. Website: http://www.christiandada.jp |
Brand: COMME des GARÇONS About: Started by Rei Kawakubo in 1969 in Tokyo. Taking an “avant-garde” approach in design, the label has a huge cult following. Website: http://www.comme-des-garcons.com |
Brand: CORNELIAN TAURUS About: CORNELIAN TAURUS, excellent leather goods brand by Daisuke Iwanaga is anchored in traditional Japanese methods and techniques while fully expressing the designer’s sensibilities and background. All products are handmade following intricate processes with durable construction. Website: http://www.corneliantaurus.com |
Brand: DELAXE About: DELUXE’s greatest ability is the brand’s redefining of traditional staples. Whether it’s something as simple as a button-up, the brand’s head designer Hideki “Hue” Kimura re-appropriate into a more modern and contemporary context. Website: http://www.dlxtokyo.com |
Brand: DISCOVERED About: Based on “real clothes” concept, Tatsuya Kimura and Sanae Yoshida have taken in a wide variety of styles from classics to casual. They also take on an approach of ‘Opposition mix up’, combining polar opposites of taste and design in their quest to create truly genre-less designs. Website: http://www.discovered.jp |
Brand: DRESSEDUNDRESSED About: After working as the first director and buyer of Candy in 2006, Emiko Sato and Takeshi Kitazawa started their own label. Inspired by music and the city’s club scene they DJ under the duo SEX, DRESSEDUNDRESSED is quickly becoming leader for a new shift towards the stoic minimal aesthetic in Japanese mens/womens wear. Website: http://www.dressedundressed.com |
Brand: EDWIN About: Formally founded by Hidehiko Yamane in 1991 in Osaka, Evisu a designer clothing company that specializes in producing denim wear through traditional, labor-intensive methods. The brand has been mentioned in several rap songs by the likes of Jay-Z, Young Jeezy, The Game, and Lil Wayne. Website: http://www.edwin.co.jp |
Brand: ENGINEERED GARMENTS About: Americana workwear/outdoors inspired collection by Daiki Suzuki. Website: http://www.engineeredgarments.com |
Brand: EVISU About: Perhaps the denim brand that started the denim craze in urban NYC and the blog readers that followed. Website: http://www.evisu.com |
Brand: F.C.REAL BRISTOL About: The highly sought-after fictional soccer club of Japanese fashion label SOPHNET. (by designer Hirofumi Kiyonaga) and Nike. The clothes are real, the team is not. (players are mannequins) Website: http://www.fcrb.net |
Brand: FACETASM About: Founded by Hiromichi Ochiai, it is an up coming hope of Tokyo’s fashion scene. The collection made with original textiles is the atmosphere mixed with many culture and art from Tokyo’s new generation. Website: http://www.facetasm.jp |
Brand: FOOT THE COACHER About: A brand of Toshinosuke Takegahara who is ex-craftman at Tricker’s (a purveyor to the Royal Household in England). FOOT THE COACHER uses techniques acquired from well-known and respected centers of leather production such as Italy, France, and England, combined with the finest, and most suitable designs, materials, and production methods. Website: http://www.footthecoacher.jp |
Brand: FRAGMENT DESIGN About: Hiroshi Fujiwara’s design outlet which collaborates with all sorts of creative companies including Nike, Rolex, Oakley, Burton, and such. Kazuki Kuraishi, a freelance designer in his own right, is also known as an integral part of FRAGMENT. Website: http://fragment.jp |
Brand: FUTURA LABORATORIES About: As the brand name states, legendary graffiti writer, Futura2000’s clothing line based in Japan. Website: http://flshop.exblog.jp |
Brand: GDC About: Stylist and photographer Takashi Kumagai’s label founded in 1998. GDC follows the popular American casuals route, but with interesting twists, transforms it into cool offbeat Tokyo original style. Website: http://www.gdcweb.jp |
Brand: GIULIANO FUJIWARA About: GIULIANO FUJIWARA made their debut in 1986 in Milan. With the minimalism aesthetics, the brand has influenced not only the Italian fashion but globally. GIULIANO FUJIWARA is influenced by the Japanese philosophy of ‘wabi sabi.’ Website: http://www.giulianofujiwara.com |
Brand: GOODENOUGH About: Founded by Hiroshi Fujiwara decades ago, the brand is known for pioneering street style worldwide over the years. Website: N/A |
Brand: H? KATSUKAWA About: Eiichi Katsukawa’s designs are now available at Dover Street Market Ginza and L’Eclaireur in Paris as well as his original stockist, United Arrows. With huge interest from buyers present at Pitti Uomo, more options were added to his stockist list. Website: http://hkatsukawafromtokyo.net |
Brand: HEAD PORTER About: Established in July 1998, this private brand designed by Hiroshi Fujiwara is manufactured by the acclaimed Yoshida & Co., Ltd. (owner of the classic “PORTER” brand), and is celebrated for its history of outstanding products. Website: http://www.headporter.co.jp |
Brand: HOBO About: Named after railroad wanderers, this coveted accessories and goods brand is run by the same team as Nonnative (clothing brand). HOBO is based on its minimalistic details and functional design. Website: http://thathobo.com |
Brand: HYSTERIC GLAMOUR About: Created by artist Nobuhiko Kitamura in 1984, the theme of the label is 1960s mass media, with T-shirts featuring pictures of famous musicians like Marc Bolan and the Sex Pistols, and art work by Andy Warhol. In addition to 51 stores in Japan, the International outlets exist in the UK and France, but none in the US. Website: http://www.hystericglamour.jp |
Brand: IDIOM About: Fragment Design (Hiroshi Fujiwara) x Burton Website: http://www.burton.com |
Brand: ISSEY MIYAKE About: Started by Issey Miyake in 1970, brands include Issey Miyake designed by Dai Fujiwara (succeeded Naoki Takizawa), Pleats Please Issey Miyake, Issey Miyake Watches, Issey Miyake Perfumes, and others Website: http://www.isseymiyake.co.jp |
Brand: J.S.HOMESTEAD About: Bred of the Journal Standard family, J.S.HOMESTEAD has served as an Americana outpost for the last ten years, over that time becoming well-known for their strong selection of stateside products. Here, “Made in America” is what matters. Website: http://journal-standard.jp/mens/brand/js-homestead/ |
Brand: JULIUS About: Inspired by Zaha Hadid’s futuristic architecture, Tatsuro Horikawa creates military infused wears, which made JULIUS famous for. 2012 Pitti Uomo and Paris became the stage for JULIUS to acquire more awareness abroad. Website: http://www.julius-garden.jp |
Brand: KANSAI YAMAMOTO
About: Kansai Yamamoto’s work in the ’70s and ’80s laid the foundation of contemporary Japanese fashion and for the outbreak of brands like Comme des Garçons and Yohji Yamamoto. Website: http://www.kansaiyamamoto.jp |
Brand: KAPITAL
About: The brand warps traditional Americana to create awesomely unique clothing. Website: http://kapital.jp/ |
Brand: KENJI IKEDA About: Ikeda left Japan at the age of 14 for Spain, UK (where he got a accessory design degree) and France (where he worked for Givenchy as a leather goods designer). Peddling shows in Paris for several years, he has now had contracts with notable retailers all over the world. Elegant design pieces made out of highly skilled craftsmanship and the most luxurious materials, have become a must-have status symbol among Tokyo’s most fabulous denizens. Website: http://www.kenjiikeda.jp |
Brand: KENZO About: The House of KENZO was founded in Paris in 1970 by Takada Kenzo, surprising the fashion world with his originality and the apparent celebration of diverse cultures, nature and colors in his designs. Following his success, the KENZO brand joined the LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton company. Since 2011, Humberto Leon and Carol Lim have taken over the creative direction of KENZO. Thanks to their new vision, the label has revived the spirit at the origin of its success. Website: http://www.kenzo.com/en/ |
Brand: KOLOR About: Junichi Abe’s KOLOR which held a runway show in Paris for the first time in 2012 February, is one of the brands currently appealing to the Western mainstream. The collection is a formal take on Tokyo street-style influences, with voluminous tailoring. Website: http://kolor.jp/ |
Brand: LAD MUSICIAN About: Designer Yuichi Kuroda combines two common obsessions in Japanese fashion: crisp tailoring and rock’n roll. Website: http://www.ladmusician.com |
Brand: LEVI’S FENOM About: A collaboration betwtween Levi’s and Fragment Design. Website: http://www.levi.jp |
Brand: MASTERMIND JAPAN About: mastermind JAPAN celebrates “Love&Peace” and is a luxurious casual collection. Their cross and bones icon is very popular and sought after. The retail space is an experience itself with punk aesthetics mixed with contemporary Tokyo. Website: http://www.mastermindjapan.com |
Brand: MIHARAYASUHIRO About: Mihara Yasuhiro first made his name in footwear, establishing “Miharayasuhiro.” Developing his signature style – muted, monochromatic and distinctly urban – Mihara began to design menswear that same year. Due to the rapid business expansion, the company name was changed to SOSU INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD. Website: http://www.miharayasuhiro.jp/ |
Brand: MUJI About: Globally popular brand of “no branding” with clean aesthetics. Website: http://www.muji.com |
Brand: N.HOOLYWOOD About: Designer Daisuke Obana started the line inspired by the sensibilities of classic American culture in 2000. N. Hoolywood runs the show twice a year during Fashion Week in NY. Website: http://www.n-hoolywood.com |
Brand: NAISSANCE About: Takashi Kumagai’s chic mens brand that he launched in 2011, after working as a photographer, creative director, and stylist for brands, magazines, and ad agencies for many years. Website: http://www.naissance-tokyo.com |
Brand: NANAMICA About: The company designs The North Face Purple Label and other brands that are Japan exclusive. Website: http://www.nanamica.com |
Brand: NEEDLES About: Needles is the creation of Keizo Shimizu, owner and director of street wear umbrella company- Nepenthes. As Nepenthes expanded, he became discontent with what was not available in the market. This vision lead to the establishment of Engineered Garments designed by Daiki Suzuki, and Keizo’s own designs in Needles (along with South2 West8, and Sonic Labs), resulting in a bohemian/west-coast centric inspired direction. Website: http://www.nepenthes.co.jp |
Brand: NEIGHBORHOOD About: The concept of “basic clothing created by digesting unique interpretations of elements from motorcycles, military, outdoor, trad, etc. and also suggesting this lifestyle” is the base for all products and projects which Shinsuke Takizawa’s NEIGHBORHOOD is involved with, and always lives in the themes for the seasons. Website: http://neighborhood.jp |
Brand: NONNATIVE About: Started by Satoshi Saffen in 1999. Two years later Takayuki Fujii joined as designer, since then the brand keeps creating the clothing of timeless style and durable quality. Their ‘hobo-chic’ aesthetic line is full of functional, earth-toned pieces designed for layering. Website: http://www.nonnative.com |
Brand: NORITAKA TATEHANA About: Craft man of the avant-garde of fashion and luxury leather goods. Noritaka who has made more than 20 pairs of custom 10- 18 inch platform shoes for Lady Gaga, took the traditional “geta” shoes of geishas and made a modern form with his sculptural platforms. Website: http://www.noritakatatehana.com |
Brand: ORIGINALFAKE About: Graffiti writer turned NY based artist KAWS’ label with Medicom Japan. The brand releases apparel to accessories with KAWS’ aesthetics. Website: http://www.original-fake.com |
Brand: PEdAL E.D. About: A track bike oriented apparel brand. Tailored for comfort on or off the bike Website: http://www.pedaled.com |
Brand: PHENOMENON About: Originally Big-O (Takeshi Osumi)’s offshoot label from Swagger, and its concept is inspiration from music scene. LPHENOMENON suddenly became the drag force of Tokyo’s fashion scene. The new 2012 S/S collection with a more elegant style made a huge impact to the scenes. Website: http://phenomenon.tv |
Brand: PORTER About: The main brand of acclaimed Yoshida & Co., Ltd. that is branded in 1962. Website: http://www.yoshidakaban.com |
Brand: POST O’ALLSAbout: POST O’ALLS / POST OVERALLS has been well received by diverse range of customers since their debut in 1993. Takeshi Ohfuchi, the designer, has huge respect towards anonymous American vintage work clothes designs, especially from 1920~30s which he considers “the very best”. Website: http://www.postoveralls.com |
Brand: PSYCHO TAYLOR About: A new line by Taishi Nobukuni who is a head designer for Takeo Kikuchi and owner of his brand TAISHI NOBUKUNI. The brand is known for his combination of ethnic influences and political collections. With PSYCHO TAYLOR, he shows anew edge as a taylor. Website: http://www.taishi-nobukuni.co.jp |
Brand: SACAI About: A label from Chitose Abe. Abe spent eight years working with Junya Watanabe before going it alone in 1999. The SACAI collection is available in 35 stores in Japan and 90 doors worldwide including Dover Street Market and Colette. Website: http://www.sacai.jp |
Brand: SAMUTAI JEANS About: Best known for a leather patch that depicts the epic battle of 1612 between Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro. Website: http://www.samurai-j.com |
Brand: SAGLife About: The popularity of this quality bag company has catapulted with the track bike wave. From messenger bags to bike related accessories, SAG continues to produce high quality goods. Website: http://www.gaudi-sag.com |
Brand: SASQUATCHFABRIX About: SASQUATCHfabrix stands out from others by going with their signature risk-taking sensibilities against the standard and ahead the chaos of Tokyo underground. Wonder Worker Guerrilla Band (Katsuki Araki and Daisuke Yokoyama) is not only a clothing designer but also an artist, doing installations around the world. Website: http://www.sasquatchfabrix.com |
Brand: SATORU TANAKA About: Known for subtly manipulating traditional European suiting – a move that’s garnered critical acclaim. Website: http://www.satorutanaka.net |
Brand: SEIKO About: Seiko has succeeded in becoming a household name in clocks and watches. Website: http://www.seikousa.com |
Brand: SHIPS About: Banking off the American Ivy and trad looks that have enjoyed popularity since the ’60s, SHIPS has been supplying Japanese men with collections of casually mature sportswear since 1975. Website: https://www.shipsltd.co.jp |
Brand: SOE About: Soichiro Ito’s brand name came from the sound of Japanese word “consciousness of creation” and “consciousness to wear.” Started its collection since 2001-2002 A/W season. Website: http://www.soe-tokyo.com |
Brand: SOMARTA About: Tamae Hirokawa introduced the bodywear line, Skin Series in 2006, which is now globally popular worn by celeb artists such as Lady Gaga and Madonna’s tours. She is also active in collaboration with Canon, Toyota, Mercedes Benz Japan, and others. Website: http://www.somarta.jp |
Designer/Brand: SOPH About: SOPH is a part of the larger creative/fashion circle in Tokyo along with Hiroshi Fujiwara. They have offshoot projects of F.C.R.B. and uniform experiment. SOPH is by Hirofumi Kiyonaga, Tatsuo Miyajima, Julian Opie, and Jack Piersen. Website: http://www.soph.net |
Brand: SWAGGER About: SWAGGER was established in 1999 by Japanese rappers Shakkazombie: Iggy and Big-O (Osumie who is now the owner of Phenomenon) pursuing authentic hip hop spirit, Japanese dexterity and persistence to details. “urban youth lifestyle,” “fresh” and “new freestyle on classics” are the convictions deep in their soul, SWAGGER directed by Hidehiro “Iggy” Iguchi designs street wear with its high-end approach. Website: http://swagger-co.com |
Brand: TENDERLOIN About: An Americana inspired brand. High quality cut and designed product with western influences. Website: N/A |
Brand: UBIQ About: A Tokyo Footwear brand that releases original designs. The shoes are also popular in the US and available at UBIQ in Philly and ATMOS. Website: http://ubiqcube.typepad.jp |
Brand: UCS About: MMA fighter Uno Caol’s apparel project. UCS also collaborates with Nike in strategically thought out product. Website: http://www.uno-caol-shoten.com |
Brand: UNDERCOVER About: Started in Harajuku in 1993 by Jun Takahashi along with then partner Nigo (Bape). UNDERCOVER has succeeded in creating one of the most interesting collections in the world. With the brand’s avant-garde aestics with it’s roots in street, the brand produces and interesting mix. Website: http://www.undercoverism.com |
Brand: UNIFORM EXPERIMENT About: An offshoot brand from Soph. A collaboration with Hiroshi Fujiwara. Website: http://www.uniformexperiment.jp |
Brand: UNIQLOAbout: UNIQLO is one of the fastest growing global brands in the world. The simple yet sophisticated design choices with an affordable tag has proved to be a success. Website: http://www.uniqlo.com |
Brand: UNITED ARROWS About: The retail company releases limited high quality product with top tiered brands. Website: http://www.united-arrows.co.jp |
Brand: UNUSED Website: https://www.unused.jp |
Brand: VAN JACKET About: Kensuke Ishizu who mastered the American Ivy and prep look started Van in 1951, created cutting-edge style for the Japanese youth in mid-60s. Website: http://www.van.co.jp |
Brand: VISVIM About: Hiroki Nakamura has created a brand with a global cult following. With it’s minimalistic sense with elements taken from nature brings a very conceptual collection. Website: http://www.visvim.tv |
Brand: W)TAPS About: Tetsu Nishiyama aka TET started W)Taps as an ofshoot brand from Neighborhood. The original lines used elements from military issued garments. With the brand progressing as time went by, the collection started to incorporate biker styles and preppy influences. Website: http://www.wtaps.com |
Brand: WACKO MARIA About: Created by retired Japanese soccer players Keiji Ishizuka and Atsuhiko Mori. Ishizuka states, “friends, movies, music, wine, women” as the inspiration for the fairly new brand started in 2006. Website: http://www.wackomaria.co.jp |
Brand: WASTE(TWICE) About: waste(twice) takes inspiration from masculine pursuits ranging from fishing to safari to alpine skiing and makes them completely wearable in any setting. Website:http://www.wastetwice.com |
Brand: WHITE MOUNTAINEERING About: This technical, outdoorsy label with the designer Yosuke Aizawa has developed a considerable following since its launch in 2006. The key thrust here is simplicity in design and innovation in the fabrics, which are changed each season and developed with brands like Gore-Tex and Schoeller. Highlights of the recent collection include the painterly, washed-out digital camo prints and pleasing details like striped-shirt buttons, corduroy-lined cuffs and Nordic-inspired jacquards. Website: http://www.whitemountaineering.com |
Brand: WHIZ About: Heavily influenced by the hippie and surf culture in the US, WHIZ LIMITED led by Hiroaki Shitano sets their brand concept as “Individual clothing” to propose more design conscious fashion. The styles they present is not limited within the simple frameworks of fashion, such as mode and street. Website: http://www.whiz.jp |
Brand: Y-3 About: Collaboration collection between Yohji Yamamoto and Adidas. The high end line brings the best of sportswear with a touch of class. Website: http://adidas.com/y-3 |
Brand: YOHJI YAMAMOTO About: Based in Tokyo and Paris, Yamamoto is known for an avant-garde spirit in his clothing, frequently creating designs far removed from current trends. His signature oversized silhouettes in black often feature drapery in varying textures. Website: http://www.yohjiyamamoto.co.jp |