By Thanh Kim Huynh
Japanese fashion has started to burst ever since talented Japanese designers like Issey Miyake, Rei Kawabuko and Yohji Yamamoto amazed the international fashion with their innovative designs in 1980s. A decade later, the world once again cannot keep its eyes off the trendy and unique styles brought to it by Japanese street fashion. Tokyo, the fashion capital of Japan has become a rival to Western fashion centers like Milan and Paris in setting the trend for the world like a website commented. No fashion cities can either absorb or create new fashion styles as fast as Toky upgrading the influence of Japanese fashion to international level.
Japanese brand names like Comme des Garcons have brought to the fashion world a smell of freshness and innovation. With vibrant designs of layers and complex cuts created from high tailoring techniques, Japanese designers have changed the world’s perception about fashion forever. It tells the world that fashion is not necessary neat, gentle and organized; instead, it can be innovative, different or even messy to make the most of human imagination.Outside of designer brands recognized internationally, Japanese street fashion is witnessing the increasing popularity of many domestic brands of international scale with the testimonials of world-class celebrities, such as, Kayne West for BAPE and Ato Matumoto brand names, or Pharrell, Young Jeezy, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z and Jermaine Dupri for A Bathing Ape brand.
Katie Holmes in Comme Des Garcons design
Yohji Yamamoto spring/summer 10 collection
- Issey Miyake, spring/summer 2008.
Source for all: LIBERTY N LUX
Japanese pop culture fashion has been the inspiration source of many international designers, which is shown through their designs for fashion shows in North America, Paris or Milan. They have the complicated typical look of Japanese fashion style accompanied by eccentric accessories, hair style and make-up. Their materials are diversified and increasingly got in to free style of mixing and matching from Japanese street wear.
Elie Saab, the French implanted fashion designer unveiled a Japanese-tinged spring-summer haute couture collection at Paris Fashion Week 2007. Saab’s collection was inspired by the Japanese kimono with wide-cut sleeves and obi sashes.
Jean Paul Gautier spring/summer 08 show opened with some pretty serious camouflage, appearing in everything from breeches to loose waistcoats, to skirts, hats and bags.
Source for all: LIBERTY N LUX
Japanese street fashion is particularly influential and manipulative to youth around the world as it carries the manifesto of freedom for expression and individuals. Teenagers and young adults in many parts of North America, Europe or South East Asia are fascinated by Japanese fashion styles, especially cosplay. Together with the world-wide popularity of Manga and Anime, Japanese cosplay fashion has created a social phenomenon in which young people find themselves inspired from Japanese pop culture. There are Anime conventions held annually in many countries like the US (Alaska, Hawaii ), Australia and some countries in Europe. The Anime conventions in the US are considered as the biggest and most interesting ones held outside of Japan. People gather there to share their passion for manga and anime as well as Japanese pop culture by dressing up in cosplay style of their favorite characters. Through these events, a network of cosplay lovers has been formed and developed strongly in many other states of the US.
Because of Cartoon Network, Bleach has become one of the most popular anime series in the United States. These cosplayers at Anime Boston 2007 love the series.
Franklin Pierce University students compete in and anime version of family feud called Hyakunin Kuizu at Anime Boston 2008
A large group of cosplayers gather in a portion of the convention center to hang out. All of these cosplayers are portraying characters from the series 'Bleach' which gained huge popularity in the US. These cosplayers decided to gather simply because they had all chosen to cosplay from the same anime.
Source for all: The cosplay project
The influence of Japanese cosplay fashion also drive lots of foreign fans from far away countries and nations such as Germany, France, Brazil, China, USA, and Australia to attend in the annual The World Cosplay Summit competition held in Nagoya, Japan.
Share World Cosplay Summit 2009
Source: Japan Probe
Japanese street fashion has always been paid attention by many celebrities in the world and Gwen Stefani expresses her admiration for Harajuku style and praises Harajuku girls in her latest rock song. She describes them as “Harajuku Girls you got the wicked style I like the way that you are, I am your biggest fan… You’re so original girls, You got the look that makes you stand out… You mix and match it, girls… You dress so fly and just parade around.” Ever since then, style has been searched by youth in North America and become very popular among them. There are surprisingly many websites such as Guide Spot showing how to be a Harajuku girl in Los Angeles. Youth in other Asian countries also get crazy to be like Harajuku girls due to the appealing meaning of the style- freedom of expression, teenagers in Vietnam is an example of this trend.
As time goes by, Japanese fashion has proved its potential power of ruling the fashion world with its changing fashion styles, setting the trend for the future. People observe it, judge it and follow it as a way they recognize and appreciate the pop culture fashion bringing them everyday fresh innovation.
Gwen Stephenie and Harajuku Girls
Source: Magzillarva Blog
Harajuku in Vietnam
Japanese Pop Culture 
Very informative. Japanese fashion have indeed been brought to the rest of the world, and it is heart warming to see celebrities supporting Japanese designers as well.
Thank you Jerrenn. Actually, Japanese Goverment also try to promote for the innovative pop culture fashion of their country in recent years by sending embassadors to various countries. Yep, Gwen Stephanie’s rock song is definitely a hit to burst the already popularity of Japanese street fashion. Her lyric is awesome and it’s just so true ❤
Little wonder how some Japanese brands are exclusive in Paris, London, New York and Tokyo. They are really on a class of their own.
um, about this issue, yep I do think that exclusiveness and uniqueness are main ideas of Japanese high-end fashion. Each design only has a limit number so that they remain special, which customers with high income search for.