Modern Tokyo News: Fashion Vibes in Omotesando and Harajuku

Modern Tokyo News: Fashion Vibes in Omotesando and Harajuku

Sarah Deschamps and Hiroshi Saito

Modern Tokyo News

Fashion lovers all over the world know the power of Tokyo because this sector is ultra-competitive and vast sums are spent every year in order to get a piece of the “Tokyo apple pie.” The purpose of all the surveys done by Modern Tokyo Times is to get behind the hype of companies who dominate the international press and media in Tokyo in order to find “the real trends” of this buzzing fashion city. Of course, the surveys are based on individuals who adore fashion and the focus on the third survey remains within the female market.

This survey was based on 100 females who visit the fashion districts of Harajuku and Omotesando. The age group who answered this survey was between 18 and 24 years of age and the common theme was that all adore fashion. Harajuku and Omotesando were selected because both fashion districts are linked together and share this vibrant fashion area of Tokyo.  Also, Harajuku and Omotesando are internationally famous throughout the world and the back streets are awash with trendy boutiques and this fact compliments the extravagant main street which links both districts.

In an earlier survey related to females in the age group of 18 and 26 which was based on fashion throughout Tokyo and not limited to two fashion districts. Then when it came to favorite department stores and shopping malls it is clear that the findings from this survey highlight clear differences.

Therefore, the last survey highlighted that Lumine just came out on top from Marui and Shibuya 109. Laforet Harajuku just came behind these and Isetan was also selected favorably. However, when it came to this survey then only Laforet Harajuku of all the above is based in the districts covered in this survey. Not surprisingly, therefore, the findings for the favorite department store or shopping mall was different.

This applies to Laforet Harajuku dominating and being followed by Parco and Lumine. Lumine was still selected highly and this bodes well for this elegant department store and it was good to see Parco doing well in this survey. After all, it shows that different fashion districts will have certain bias towards individual companies and department stores. After all, everybody that took part in this survey loves the fashion districts of Harajuku and Omotesando. Given this reality then Laforet Harajuku held a distinctive advantage but it was noticeable that nobody highlighted Shibuya 109. This may hint at the rivalry between Harajuku and Shibuya?

Like in the previous two surveys the choice for favorite shops and brands was extremely varied but clearly some companies have been highlighted highly in all three surveys. In the survey based on the 18-26 year old age group throughout Tokyo then last time it was stated by Modern Tokyo Times that “Overall, the most popular fashion companies selected were Zara, Topshop, Emoda, Snidel, Sly, and H & M. This group was closely followed by Mercury Duo, Egoist, American Apparel, Forever 21, Moussy, Jouetie, and Laguna Moon. Likewise, the following tier which was just below the last group applies to Chanel, Tsumori Chisato, Marua, Rose Bud, Risel, Chloe, Dazzlin, Otoe, Comme des Garcons, Gucci, Lowry’s Farm, Miu Miu, G.V.G.V., Spick and Span, Unsqueaky, Earth Music & Ecology, Beams, SmackyGlam (Smacky Glam), Jill Stuart, Free’s Shop, Chelsea, Liz Lisa, and Lip Service.”

Also, in the survey before this based on the fashion vibes of Daikanyama and Jiyugaoka in the female age group of 18-30 the survey stated that “Mercury Duo, Zara, Snidel, Topshop, Beams, Laguna Moon, Spick and Span, Ingni, Lowry’s Farm and G.V.G.V., were selected several times with regards to favorite shop and favorite brand. Overall, Mercury Duo was mentioned the most but it was very close and many other companies were selected. This applies to Forever 21, H & M, Gucci, Deicy, Louis Vuitton, Ships, Egoist, Jupiter, Polo Ralph Lauren, United Arrows, John Lawrence Sullivan, Liz Lisa, Sly, Free’s Shop, Stella McCartney, Osmosis, Journal Standard, Adam et Rope, Loungedress, Earth Music & Ecology, Lip Service, Smacky Glam (SmackyGlam), D’issy, Urban Research, Sister, Dazzlin, Miu Miu, Ryza, Jill Stuart, Jeffrey Campbell, Vivienne Westwood, A.P.C., Toga, Frayi D, Rosso, and a few others.”

Interestingly, when it came to favorite department stores for females shopping in Daikanyama and Jiyugaoka, it was apparent that Marui, Lumine, and Isetan, were selected the most. After these three then Shibuya 109 and Laforet Harajuku also did well. Therefore, in this survey Parco showed its strongest showing and the findings are very interesting.

Turning back to the favorite brands and shops selected in Harajuku and Omotesando then like previously mentioned you did have a few companies who also showed up well in all three surveys. This notably applies to Topshop, Snidel, H & M, Zara, and Sly.

In this survey the companies that did extremely well applies to Topshop, American Apparel, H & M, Comme des Garcons, Beams, Zara, Togo, Tsumori Chisato, Chelsea, I am I, Bubbles, and Vivien Westwood. The next tier applies to KBF, Opening Ceremony, Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs, Forever 21, Journal Standard, Barbie, Dual, Snidel, PoPo, Jouetie, Sly, Wall, and Mina Perhonen. Overall, it is clear from the boutiques selected that the mix highlights the diversity of the survey and this applies to the fact that some internationally famous boutiques were selected alongside some lesser known brands.

The most interesting finding was that many of the boutiques which are highlighted in the international media when it comes to Harajuku fashion weren’t selected. Occasionally individuals did have certain items on that they bought from companies related to “kawaii fashion” but none were selected when it came to favorite shop and brand. Of the trendy companies which do get favorable mentions because of their unique styles then Grimoire and Candy Stripper were selected but overall the profile of major quaint styles weren’t highlighted in this survey.

When it came to the “favorite hair salon” question then Bloc and Shima once more did very well and Shima in every survey keeps on being highlighted favorably. Velo hair saloon also did remarkably well in this survey and other companies like YY, Ultra C, Rosso, and Lili were selected several times.

With each new survey then important findings are being made and clearly certain patterns are emerging. Also, each survey is highlighting the importance of each specific fashion district and the overall strength of department stores is clearly informative. Of course the surveys are limited because of the numbers involved but each new survey is helping to strengthen the collective findings.

In every survey many companies were selected in the third tier and fourth tier and amongst the boutiques which came out near the top it is clear that some common themes are happening. Also, in this survey major international brands like Prada, Issey Miyake, Miu Miu, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, and others, were also selected in the third tier and given the age group belonging to 18 and 24 then this showing is powerful.

Also, the diversity of boutiques selected is highlighting the vibrancy of fashion in Tokyo and that the market is ultra-competitive. All females selected in this survey value fashion highly and the fashion styles of women selected applies to mainstream elegant styles, student based fashion, and youth orientated fashion.

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http://www.laforet.ne.jp/floor_guide/floor_1f_e.html Laforet Harajuku