Japanese streetwear: the style and the iconic brands

Japanese streetwear:  we are talking about a type of clothing and style that has its roots within Japanese culture and design. Fix this image: essential lines, experimental volumes, refined silhouettes, and a tailoring tradition that combines fabric sophistication with bold fits. To understand the impact of Japanese streetwear and fashion on Western fashion, one should know its history, heritage, and main reference brands. On  Urbanstaroma.com  you will find a wide selection of Japanese brands specialized in sporstwear, streetwear, and functional outdoor inspired by Japan. Let's discover together which are the current Japanese streetwear and urban brands. 

Let's say it right away: the  Japanese streetwear is not for everyone. The reason is quite simple and lies in the fact that Japanese fashion has always deviated from Western standards, working by subtraction, asymmetries, volumes and conceptualisms. Not to mention, let's remember, a very important tailoring tradition. Proof of the attention to materials and fabrics, for example, comes from Japanese denim: appreciated worldwide for quality, washes and weaving, Japanese jeans are among the most requested and sought after in the world. On Urbanstaroma you will find a wide range of Japanese jeans, including the timeless models by  Edwin . Before discovering the best Japanese streetwear brands, let's briefly deepen its history and impact. 

Understanding the origins of Japanese streetwear  is something not immediate and would require a lot of time and space. The  Japanese fashion , as we understand it today, began to emerge significantly in the '70s and '80s. From the work of Kenzo Takada to the innovative approach of Issey Miyake to the conceptual experimentalism of Rei Kawakubo or Yohji Yamamoto, Japanese fashion has had a worldwide impact irreversibly influencing Western fashion. 

Even the streetwear that derived from it has shown since its beginnings, in the '80s and '90s, a certain closeness to youth subcultures and a mix with the Western world (hip-hop music, skate, punk, American sportswear). Among the most significant pioneers we find  Nigo , founder of A Bathing Ape (BAPE) and then of Human Made, Hiroshi Fujiwara, known as the "godfather of Japanese streetwear" and Jun Takahashi, creative director of Undercover which fuses punk, gothic and avant-garde elements in a streetwear key. The list of Japanese streetwear brands doesn't end here! Let's discover the others together.

If above we mentioned the pioneers of Japanese street style, contemporary Japanese fashion brands do not stop at the main players of the past. On the contrary: we at Urbanstar specialize in niche streetwear clothing including Japanese brands like Undercover, Human Made or AIE. If you are looking for simple garments but with carefully crafted design details,  Beams Plus could be the ideal solution to get closer to Japanese design. Also for denim, we have a wide selection of Japanese jeans such as the models by Edwin, Human Made or Uniform Experiment: you can create essential looks, but with obsessive attention to detail. Do you prefer a sporty style? You can rely on Mizuno or F.C. Real Bristol, both Japanese brands with a DNA strongly rooted in sport.

There is also room for those who love the world of outdoor and gorpcore without giving up streetwear: Snow Peak, South2 West8, or CMF Outdoor Garment are the ideal choice for those looking for a style that blends sportswear and contemporary urban. If you prefer clean lines and functionalism, the garments of  Uniform Experiment are impeccable. If, moreover, you love contaminations and traditions, Human Made is a must: a true legend of Japanese streetwear. Staying on the topic of legends, Undercover is the ideal choice for those seeking a sophisticated streetwear style both in design and concept

If the list of Japanese streetwear brands is not enough, it is on the quality and longevity of these garments that one should insist. From tailoring and weaving techniques to unique heritage, buying a piece from a Japanese brand means making a very precise choice: focusing on your identity and quality with a much more sustainable approach. Also stylistically, many Japanese clothing brands tell a uniqueness without comparison.

To create an outfit with Japanese streetwear brands, you first need to understand which precise style to focus on. For example: do you want to create a minimal outfit? In this case, you could focus on brands like Beams Plus or Uniform Experiment. Looking for something sporty but immediately recognizable? Try the t-shirts or jackets from Human Made. Their prints and patterns bear the signature of NIGO, so you'll be safe. Do you have a more conceptual style, with references to the goth or avant-garde world? The path to take is a total look signed Undercover.

If you have a sporty soul, our suggestion is to focus on the clothing and sneakers of Mizuno. Alternatively, you could discover the gorpcore universe of Snow Peak or the utility one from Snow Peak.