Jimbot
As a manga and anime enthusiast, I must say I love these girls’ style!
I’m sure most of you are already familiar with this fashion style, very popular in Japan’s biggest cities and even though you didn’t know it was called Harajuku, you’ve surely seen some oddly dressed girls, wearing lots of make-up, they’re all over the internet.
Harajuku style was named after Harajuku district in Tokyo, the place where it’s believed it all began and where all the kids gather to scout for new funky clothes in the numerous shops and boutiques, or just to show off their new outfits. The nice thing about this fashion trend is that it’s not big brands or fashion designers telling people what to wear, but just the opposite, the kids are dictating what sells.
Japan is very “absorbent”when it comes to Western culture, so the Harajuku style is a trademark for those independent spirits that don’t go with the flow and choose to freely express themselves.
April 15, 2008
Great inspiration! Thanks for posting this collection
April 15, 2008
The entire Harajuku culture is so amazingly beautiful and interesting.
April 18, 2008
that’s not fashion. it’s cosplay. And all except the girls with the green hair and the borwn hair are dir en grey cosplayers. Original designs for those outfits are made by ID-Japan. A very big company that has been dressing up musicians since the early 90’s.
So it actually is the big brands and fashiondesigners that tell them what to wear.
It’s not art and they don’t express themselves. They are simple copycats and you’re giving them credit for something they never did.
and no. it’s not called harajuku style. that name was popularized by gwen stefani, but there are numerous styles in japan that haven’t reached foreign countries. labeling them all as harajuku style is just ignorant.
April 24, 2008
Stop being so critical, people just want to express themselves and have some fun in being different. they might of gotten some clothes from a certain store but you dont see their whole outfit so you can’t judge.
and they are expressing themselves just by being that brave enough to go out dressed like that, i personally would love to wear something like that but im to scared to be judged. they are making a statment and expresseing themselves.
April 29, 2008
It IS fashion and those who call it not are just ignorant of the style. Good work to the person who made this. Love the Flare.
Peace, Love, and Applesause
me
April 30, 2008
Good article. I’ve been into Japanese Fashion for years.
But I just want to say one thing. “Harajuku” is not a fashion style or trend. Harajuku is a district in Tokyo where young Japanese teens go to flaunt their unique style. I’ve been around lot’s of Anime fans and other fans of the Japanese culture, and they refer to it as “Japanese Street Fashion” or sometimes “Japanese Fashion”, “J-Fashion” or “J-Style”.