Interested in famous brands from Japan? In this article, we will be looking at top Japanese clothing brands for men and women, including high fashion, streetwear, fast fashions, denim, and shoe brands. Some brands are 100% made in Japan. Let’s check them out and find your new favorite brand!
5 Japanese High Fashion Brands
Looking for an classy, sophisticated style to take your look to a new level? These five luxury brands were created by Japanese designers who have all gained international fame for their unique and refined designs.
COMME des GARÇONS
COMME des GARÇONS was established in 1969 by Rei Kawakubo. The brand features an independent female image in its designs with a black color palette . Its avant-garde approach to fashion has inspired many famous fashion designers around the world. COMME des GARÇONS now has several brands under its name that also feature a great many men’s fashion goods.
Hanae Mori
Hanae Mori is a luxury clothing brand that grew from a single store founded in Ginza, Tokyo in 1954 by the designer of the same name. From dresses and umbrellas to blankets, Hanae Mori offers a wide array of items with beautiful, elegant designs, including many men’s items as well. Hanae Mori also offers products that can become the staples of your home design. Hanae Mori is the brand to opt for, whether you’re looking for formal attire or simpler everyday essentials.
Issey Miyake
The famous Japanese fashion label, Issey Miyake was founded by Issey Miyake himself in 1970. Based on Miyake’s worldview in making clothes as “one piece of cloth,” the brand pursues the relationship between clothes and people in a creative manner. Issey Miyake Men aims to make clothes functional but also comfortable. It fuses the latest technology with tradition in its designs.
Kansai Yamamoto
Kansai Yamamoto is a brand launched by the late, famous Japanese designer, Kansai Yamamoto. Kansai is known for his bold avant-garde designs that are adored by younger generations. The brand collaborated with the musician David Bowie, which was unprecedented at the time and seen as giving fashion a new purpose.
Yohji Yamamoto
The designer Yohji Yamamoto brought his eponymous brand to life. His designs focus on asymmetry and create a space between the clothing and the wearer. Vivid colors are added as complements to the dark base of his designs. Discover a new way to wear black with Yohji Yamamoto!
5 Japanese Streetwear Brands
Hoodies, T-shirts, sneakers, and hats are some of the most notable pieces of streetwear fashion. While the items themselves are simple, your personal preferences can easily make you stand out from the rest. With the growing popularity of street style in Japan, Japanese streetwear brands have become the most widespread fashion labels. From brands offering affordable streetwear to more premium looks, here are five streetwear brands you will not want to miss out on!
A Bathing Ape
Established in 1993 in Harajuku, the fashion hot spot. A BATHING APE is an apparel brand known for its iconic and unique designs. The brand offers a rich line-up of streetwear for men, women, and kids. A BATHING APE is also known for its collaborations with famous artists and global brands- it is a brand that defies more narrow definitions of ‘fashion’.
FULL-BK
FULL-BK brings back the 90s with a new groove. FULL-BK emphasizes textiles, silhouette, and high quality utility. FULL-BK is a luxury clothing brand that offers a sophisticated street style for all generations. Put on a FULL-BK hoodie and take your street look to a new level.
[Mens] [Womens]Wego
Wego is a brand that mixes the street style of Harajuku with ‘used’ clothing style. Fashion items are offered at affordable prices which has made the brand highly recommended for streetwear beginners. Wego has a rich line-up of T-shirts so you will surely find your own favorite to express yourself. Complete your street look with Wego!
APPLEBUM
APPLEBUM is a men’s streetwear brand that started in 2005 as a T-shirt brand. The brand has roots in American hip hop culture, offering a more elegant street look for adult wearers. If you want a street style that will turn heads, APPLEBUM is for you.
sacai
sacai was first created in 1999 by Chitose Abe. The brand offers street fashion items for men and women. Sacai establishes a new standard for elegance with its new twists on classic items. If you want an edgy feel to your street style, this is the brand for you.
5 Japanese Fast Fashion Brands
With the help of minimalist clothing brands, you can keep your wardrobe to a minimum while having a variety of fashion themes to work with. Fast fashion brands in Japan are now putting more focus on quality while keeping up with the latest trends. Whether or not you’re familiar with fashion trends, you’re sure to find something great from these five Japanese fast fashion brands. They offer both classic looks and the latest fashion goods that you have to know about.
BEAMS
Established in 1976, BEAMS is a men’s fashion brand that follows a concept of ‘BASIC & EXCITING’ in its pursuit of comfy everyday wear. While an original brand, BEAMS also carries a wide selection of products from other brands. You can enjoy shopping here by mixing and matching classic styles while keeping up with the latest trends to craft the real ‘you’.
GU
If you want to keep up with the latest trends in Japan while sticking to a tight budget, GU is your savior. Started in 2006, GU offers basic styles with the concept that ‘fashion should be worn freely’. At GU’s stores, you can go on a shopping spree for a full makeover with budget left to spare in your wallet afterwards. Maybe you could come across your new favorite pair of sneakers at a price as low as ¥990?
nano universe
nano universe was born from the concept of expressing one’s unique worldview. Nano universe does not rely on extravagant styles and puts focus on functionality and inner designs. If you’re looking for a basic but stylish look, nano universe is for you.
United Arrows
Like BEAMS, United Arrows is a fashion brand that also carries collections from other brands. With a brand concept of ‘luxury and refinement’, the selection from United Arrows fuses the cultures and traditions of Japan and the West. Browse through their assortment of classy-feeling items and find your favorites!
Uniqlo
Uniqlo started in 1984 under the name “”United Clothing Warehouse””, and it has become an international retail brand. Known for its high-quality products, it fully utilizes the latest technologies while keeping the price within an affordable range. In recent years, Uniqlo has become known for its numerous collaborations with famous artists, anime characters and other fashion brands, especially in its original graphic T-shirt collections. Whether you’re looking for some warm but light clothing for the winter or trying to keep cool in the summer, Uniqlo offers a collection that solves your fashion needs.
5 Japanese Denim Brands
You might not be aware of the fact that some of the very best denim in the world is actually made in Japan. From textile quality to the dyeing process, the techniques used to make Japanese brand jeans is what differentiates them from other denim brands. So the next time you’re looking for jeans, remember to take a look at these Japanese denim brands which will definitely give you a different look.
Samurai Jeans
Created in 1997, Samurai Jeans manages their denim from the cotton processing to the dyeing with no compromises in quality. You will never see any jeans in their store that fail to meet with their high standards. The brand is particularly proud of the ‘faded’ look in their jeans that is beloved by their many fans. Wear the ‘faded’ Samurai Jeans and be amazed.
KURO
KURO is one of the newest brands on the market, having been established in 2010 in Tokyo. Its jeans are 100% made in Japan. As its name suggests (Kuro literally means ‘black’ in Japanese), the brand is based on blackish tones with a mysterious feel. KURO breaks through the competition due to its unique styles, made with zero compromises in quality.
Momotaro Jeans
Momotaro Jeans uses true, real indigo to dye their jeans. Fan know that the color of their beloved jeans fades with every wash. This isn’t the case with Momotaro Jeans! The brand uses a rather dark dye to create deeper shades to withstand wash-offs. If you have an interest in preserving the original colors of your jeans, or if you are looking for a new jeans experience, try out Momotaro Jeans. you will surely love it!
EDWIN
EDWIN’s started in 1947 with the wholesale of disposed US military clothing in Ameyoko, Tokyo. Ameyoko was the place where jeans were first sold in Japan. Look carefully at the brand name and you will notice that the word ‘EDWIN’ comes from ‘DENIM’. As a pioneer in the denim world, EDWIN is always pursuing comfort and style.
Japan Blue
Japan Blue is a jeans maker that produces superior quality denim. The designer of Japan Blue, Hiroki Kishimoto incorporates traditional craftsmanship to fit the new and changing needs of modern times. You will never get tired of wearing Japan Blue’s understated jeans every day.
5 Japanese Shoe Brands
Have you ever tried wearing shoes made in Japan? Japanese shoe brands are known for their reliability in providing comfort in a stylish way. The following brands offer a great variety of styles, from sneakers to office shoes. Finding the perfect pair of shoes for your feet is one of the best investments that you can make. Here are five shoe brands that originated from Japan.
Asahi Shoes
Established in 1892, Asahi Shoes is a well-established name in the shoemaking industry that values health, comfort, and trust. You can see this in these same values reflected in their shoes. They go the extra mile in creating shoes that fit any occasion without sacrificing comfort. The brand continues to polish up their shoemaking skills with traditional techniques to pursue better and better designs.
ASICS
ASICS originated in 1949 as a sports shoes maker with only four employees. It first made basketball shoes, and later developed into a large shoe manufacturer. ASICS has taken the consumer market by storm with its standards of stylish comfort. Whether you’re looking for sports shoes or everyday kicks, check ASICS for the latest comfort you deserve.
Moonstar
Moonstar has a long history as a shoemaker, starting with its origins as a traditional Japanese ‘tabi’ sandal maker established in 1873. Made 100% in Kurume on the Japanese island of Fukuoka, Moonstar offers support, one step at a time. Moonstar is known for its comfortable design and quality, which is why it also caters to elementary school children by making their indoor school shoes.
Pansy
Pansy is a shoemaker that provides a comfortable shoe experience for men and women. They offer a wide line-up of shoes for wider feet. On top of that, their shoes are super light! Seeking a comfortable pair of shoes for work? Pansy has a collection to provide comfort for your soles to make you ready for any type of work. Their stretchy pumps will surely keep your feet happy working full time. They also have waterproof shoes!
Spingle Move
Spingle Move was started in 2002 in Hiroshima, in a town of craftsmen. Their high-quality sneakers are 100% made in Japan. Spingle Move has drawn much attention from overseas shoppers as well for their quality and technology that has led to them appearing in the Paris and Milan Fashion Weeks. All of their shoes are handcrafted by dedicated professionals.
How to Buy Japanese Clothes Online
Did this article spark your interest in Japanese brands? You may now be wondering how you can purchase items from the above brands. Whether you live in the UK, US, or India, you are still able to buy the rarest Japanese fashion items via Buyee- a proxy buying service that bids on items for you and ships them to your overseas address. Shopping on a Japanese website may be difficult, but Buyee does this all for you. If you are interested in purchasing items from Japan, Buyee’s ease of use will amaze you!
