10 Best Streetwear Brands From Japan That Should Be In Your Wardrobe Collection List

Japan is known for its unique and innovative streetwear fashion, which combines elements of traditional and modern styles. This style is characterized by its use of bold and bright colors, oversized clothing, and unique patterns and designs. Brands such as A Bathing Ape and Undercover are considered trendsetters in the streetwear scene.

In recent years, Japan has also become known for its subcultures like Harajuku, which is known for its unique and eclectic fashion. From Lolita fashion, gothic and punk, to cosplay, people in Harajuku are known for their creative and unique fashion style, often with a fusion of vintage, modern and futuristic elements.

Recommended Japanese Fashion Brands for Streetwear Fans

Japanese brands are not only about technology and automotive, the Japanese fashion industry is also one of the sectors that should be taken into account. So if you're looking for references or planning to collect streetwear fashion products from Japan, here are the recommendations!

1. A Bathing Ape (BAPE)

This Japanese streetwear brand is quite famous and has gone global. It was first established in 1993 in Harajuku, Shibuya by Tomoaki Nagao. This brand often applies the limited edition concept to some of its fashion items to produce an exclusive impression for the owner.

BAPE also often collaborates with various brands and artists such as Vogue, Coca-Cola, Deff Jams, supreme, Drake, Kanye West, etc.

2. United Arrows

United Arrows is one of the world's leading Japanese clothing brands. It was founded in 1989 by Yasuto Kamoshita with his colleagues Hirofumi Kurino and Osamu Shigematsu. The brand now has 250 boutiques spread across the Tokyo area. The United Arrows collection includes men's and women's clothing with models that change every season.

3. Undercover

Undercover is a Japanese fashion brand founded by designer Jun Takahashi in 1990. The brand is known for its avant-garde designs, which often blend streetwear with high fashion. Undercover is considered to be one of the most influential and innovative brands in the Japanese fashion industry, and it has gained a cult following both in Japan and internationally.

The brand's designs often feature bold prints, unconventional silhouettes, and unexpected details, and they are known for their avant-garde and avant-garde take on streetwear. Undercover has also collaborated with many other brands such as Nike, Converse, and Uniqlo. Takahashi's designs are often described as "anarchic" and "subversive", and he often incorporates political and social commentary into his work.

4. Mastermind Japan

Mastermind Japan is a Japanese streetwear fashion brand founded in 1997 by designer Masaaki Homma. The brand is known for its dark, edgy, and street-inspired designs, which often feature a skull-and-crossbones logo.

The brand's designs often feature a mix of high-end materials, such as leather and fur, with streetwear elements such as graphic tees and denim. Mastermind Japan's collections often have a rock and punk aesthetic, and they are known for their high-quality craftsmanship, attention to detail, and bold use of colors.

The brand has also collaborated with many other luxury brands such as Gucci, Moncler, and many more. Mastermind Japan was discontinued in 2010, but it was relaunched again in 2016 with a new concept and a limited collection.

5. Neighborhood

Neighborhood is a Japanese streetwear brand founded by Shinsuke Takizawa in 1994. The brand produces a wide range of streetwear clothing products such as premium quality motorcycle jackets combined with military, workwear, counter-culture, Native American, and outdoor themes.

Neighborhood is now considered one of the most influential brands in modern contemporary streetwear, along with WTAPS, UNDERCOVER, and A Bathing Ape.

6. Beams

The brand is known for its casual and trendy clothing and accessories, as well as its home goods and furniture. Beams operates a large number of retail stores in Japan and internationally, and it is considered to be one of the most popular and widely recognized fashion brands in Japan.

Beams also often collaborate with other fashion brands and designers to create exclusive collections, and it also operates several sub-brands, such as Beams Plus and Beams T, which offer more specific types of clothing and accessories.

7. Comme Des Garçons

Comme des Garcons was first established in 1969 by a famous designer named Rei Kawakubo. This Japanese fashion brand is known for its avant-garde and non-commercial designs.

Characterized by a heart-shaped logo with two eyes, Comme Des Garçons Play is Comme Des Garçons' casual luxury line aimed at young people and is the brand's most sold product to date.

8. Onitsuka Tiger

Onitsuka Tiger is a Japanese footwear brand founded in 1949. The brand is best known for its iconic "Mexico 66" sneakers, which were first introduced in 1966 and have since become a classic design. Onitsuka Tiger was originally founded as a sports shoe brand, and it has a long history of producing high-quality footwear for a variety of sports and activities. Today, the brand continues to produce sports shoes, but it has also expanded its product line to include more casual and lifestyle footwear as well as clothing and accessories.

9. Evisu

Evisu was established in Osaka, Japan in 1991, taking its name from the Japanese god of prosperity, Ebisu. Initially, Evisu only produced hand-painted jeans with the famous seagull logo. EVISU captured the imagination of Japan's detail-obsessed fashion lovers and spurred a resurgence of interest in vintage denim that spread worldwide.

Today EVISU is critically acclaimed, as one of the best must-have denim, internationally recognized and embraced by collectors and hipsters alike. It is no surprise that today, Evisu is one of the icons in the history of denim clothing.

10. WTAPS

WTAPS, pronounced as "Double Taps", is a Japanese streetwear brand founded by designer Tetsu Nishiyama in 1996. The brand is known for its military-inspired designs, which often incorporate elements of American and British military and workwear culture.

But unfortunately, access to their products is very difficult due to the lack of access to stores outside of Japan. This means prospective stockists have to travel all the way to Tokyo if they want to have a look at products from WTAPS.

As an influential Japanese fashion brand, WTAPS often collaborates with big-name brands such as Vans, Supreme, and Porter.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Japan has a strong and influential streetwear scene, characterized by a unique blend of traditional Japanese culture and contemporary fashion trends. Japanese streetwear brands are known for their high-quality craftsmanship, attention to detail, and innovative designs, which often incorporate elements of American and British motorcycle and workwear culture.

Brands such as Undercover, Neighborhood, WTAPS, and Mastermind Japan are considered to be some of the most influential and respected streetwear brands in Japan, and they have gained a strong following both in Japan and internationally.

The Japanese streetwear scene is also known for its frequent collaborations with other brands, designers, and companies, which helps to create unique and exclusive collections and keeps the scene fresh and dynamic.

Source Reference: ozzakonveksi.com