Wrap Yourself in Harajuku Fashion With These New Stores Opening at Laforet Harajuku

01.August.2019 | FASHION / SPOT

Laforest Harajuku is getting a revamp towards the end of August with new stores as well as renewals of current stores. The revamp aims to “promote Harajuku’s uniqueness and creativity.”

 

August 24th – RENEWAL OPEN

<Floor 1F> Vivienne Westwood RED LABEL Concept Store

Vivienne Westwood is fusing the Japanese branches of its prêt-à-porter Red Label and Anglomania collections to serve up the all-new Vivienne Westwood RED LABEL branding. Japan will get its very first Red Label concept shop at Laforet Harajuku on August 24 which will act as the flagship store where they will sew to perfection a very special capsule collection that will offer a unique and exciting clothing consumption experience.

 

August 23rd – NEW OPEN

<Floor 4F> Charles Chaton

After the success of its first ever pop-up shop in March 2019, girly brand Charles Chaton is setting up a permanent store in Laforet. The brand’s concept is “Girl, Forever!” which caters to girl culture and offers up items which it hopes that will catch the attention of girls in 50 years to come. The store’s slogan at Laforet Harajuku is “My Sweet Home” with which it will sell cute, comfortable and casual everyday clothing.

 

August 23rd – NEW OPEN

<Floor 2F> starblinc

starblinc are set to showcase “cute pop age of the 1960’s” with bright colours and flashy silhouettes, combining nostalgia and futurism to create an entirely new style. Look forward to diving into the unique future retro world of starblinc on August 23.

There are plenty more shops opening at Laforet Harajuku in addition to these ones, so if you’re in Tokyo this summer, get ready to stock up your wardrobe.

RECOMMENDED ENTRIES

  • Taiwanese Cheese Tea Shop machi machi to Open New Branch in Laforet Harajuku

    19.May.2019 | FOOD / SPOT

    Taiwan-based cheese tea specialists machi machi are set to open their very first Japanese branch in Laforet Harajuku on June 26, 2019. machi machi's cheese tea has been described as "godlike" in the Taiwanese news. Each cup of this frothy tea is carefully crafted one by one, containing a mix of delicious Taiwanese tea and rich and salty cream cheese. The tea chain even opened a branch this spring in London's Piccadilly Circus. In the run up to the grand opening of their first Japanese store, machi machi will first open a pop-up shop in Jiyūgaoka on May 22. It will have neon signs and stylish wall art.

    Iron Buddha Oolong Cheese Tea: ¥480 (Before Tax)

    The Iron Buddha tea contains refreshing Taiwanese oolong tea topped with a rich cheese cap. The tea has a full-bodied flavour but its aftertaste is sweet. The smell is sweet with honey notes throughout. This is machi machi's best tea to go with cheese.  

    Wildberry Cheese Tea: ¥680 (Before Tax)

    This frozen tea is a mix of berry and jasmine teas topped with rich and soft cream cheese.  

    Strawberry Milk Panna Cotta: ¥630 (Before Tax)

    A mix of strawberry milk and panna cotta is poured into a cute bottle to create an Instagrammable two-layered beverage.   From May 22 to 25, if you follow the new branch on Instagram you can get 50% off all drinks sold at the pop-up shop.
  • Tokyo Stroll: Shopping & Sightseeing with Mozuku-kun the Dog #5 – Uzumako Ceramic Art School

    12.July.2019 | FEATURES / SPOT

    It's been a minute since we last ventured out with Japanese model Yuna Yabe and her beloved pet pup Mozuku. If you're new to this feature, Yuna Yabe takes her trusty partner Mozuku to various hot spots in Japan that you can enjoy with your pet dog. Their relationship continues to deepen in this priceless experience. Today, Yuna and Mozuku head to Uzumako Ceramic Art School which is close to Shiba Park. You can get a good view of TokyoTower from this famous park. What's unique about this art school is that visitors are allowed to take their pets with them. So this means you can take your dog with you to do some ceramics!   Yuna has always had an interest in ceramics. And what better way to experience creating something than with her partner in crime Mozuku! With him tottering beside her, she headed through the entrance curtain with a spring in her step. When you enter the classroom, there are lots of examples of pottery ware lining the shelves. The room has that smell of craftsmanship which lingers as you begin the class with a demonstration by the teacher. Once you have your apron on and are fired up to begin, it's time to start.   The work begins with kneading the clay to make its firmness uniform. This step helps prevent air bubbles from forming.   Yuna asked the teacher many different questions as she enjoyed kneading her clay. "Where does ceramic work originate from?" "What kind of things to other dog owners make when they come here?" "What's Yuna up to?" Mozuku's puzzled face seemed to imply as he listened to Yuna and the teacher talk. Yuna turned to Mozuku and said to him, "I'm going to make you a food bowl!" It seemed like the message got through as his face read, "Looks like my owner is making something just for me."   Yuna wet her hands with some water and began forming a hole in the centre of her clay bundle. The hole forms and gets bigger as the pottery wheel spins. Next, she used both of her hands to ensure the thickness of the bowl was even all the way around. "Amazing! The shape of the clay changes in an instant!" By adding a little bit of pressure the pile of clay can change shape rapidly. It's like a living thing. "It's like the clay is my own child. I wanna wrap it up!" Once the shape is formed, Yuna cut around the edges. She is a skilled individual, she got the hang of it straight away. Mozuku sat right beside Yuna, quiet and curious. "Is it my turn yet?" He seemed itching to have a go at making something himself too. He watched over Yuna's work from atop the table. "I wanna try spinning the wheel too!" Mozuku in fact had the most important job of all. Yuna popped a wooden mould onto his paw and stamped a paw print into thebottom of the bowl. "There we go!" said Yuna Mozuku mustered all of his strength to make his mark, his facial expression unusually serious as he carried out his big task. Time to check if the print was done properly! Here's the final product―Mozuku did a great job!   Their teamwork paid off as they were able to create a really cute dog bowl. The tiny footprint is packed with pet love. The art school actually sells a lot of different cute and stylish pet items but the owner making their own makes it unique―the only one in the world.   If that love is able to get through to your pup, the food they eat from the bowl is sure to be even more delicious.   Thanks for your help, Mozuku. "I can't wait to fire it!" Yuna's excitement was peak from start to finish. She was very satisfied after the class finished.   After two weeks of waiting, the bowl was completely finished. Why not try creating something unique special for your own pet―together with them?   Model: Yuna Yabe/Mozuku @yunaaay1030Text: Ai WatanabePhotographer: Kayo SekiguchiTranslator: Joshua Kitosi-Isanga

    TALENT PROFILE

    Yuna Yabe

    Yuna Yabe won the grand prix prize at the “Zipper×ASOBISYSTEM Model Auditions” at the age of 15. She is an expert not only in fashion but make-up and video editing too. She’s an influential figure to the people in her generation. Recently, her work has expanded greatly, such as appearing in music videos. Her activity continues to grow and looks to be very promising indeed.

  • Pokémon Center, Nintendo Shop & More to Open at Shibuya PARCO in November (Part 1)

    28.June.2019 | FEATURES / SPOT

    After having been closed since August 7, 2016 for renovations, it has been revealed that the new Shibuya PARCO shopping complex is set to open in late November. The new building aims to be a “global shopping complex for a new generation.”  Building on the complex’s facilities, Shibuya PARCO’s will communicate new forms of entertainment and experience together with designers and artists. Its goal is to deliver cultural trends on a global level. To do this, it is further developing aspects of the building to drive its unique perspective by focusing on the design, art and entertainment side of things.   Around 180 unique stores will open their doors in the new Shibuya PARCO each of which pivot around 5 different themes: Fashion, Art & Culture, Entertainment, Food, and Technology. Multiple floors are being specially designed to form the interior of the complex so that they draw out the appeal of each of these individual genres.   Today, we will take a look at two of these themes: Fashion and Art & Culture.   On the Fashion floor, customers can expect to slalom between up to 100 stores shelved with a plethora of styles representative of Tokyo’s melting pot of cultures, from luxury to mode, street, casual, vintage and more. The Fashion floor is bolstering its range of new generation fashion designers and brands and will have new points of sale that aim in the promotion of their names. For example, the art direction for the shop naming and logo of GEYSER PARCO on the third floor was created by YAR, a creative team spearheaded by YOSHIROTTEN.   The floor won’t just take into account the purchasing of clothing either―it will also cater clothes that have already been bought. There will even be an environmentally-friendly cleaning service for those fashionistas treasure their threads as well as repairs for a variety of clothes carried about by specialists and more, giving customers an incentive to make frequent use of Shibuya PARCO. In the Art & Culture department, Shibuya PARCO will offer the PARCO MUSEUM which will exhibit a line-up of unprecedented artwork focused on art, design and fashion, al built uniquely from the ground up.   The museum’s logo was created by design group TOMATO while the interior décor was co-developed by two Japanese interior designers. GALLERY X, originally located at Spain-Zaka in Shibuya, is moving to Shibuya PARCO’s B1F floor. The PARCO staff have curated an edgy assortment of art pieces from multiple art fields spanning anime, games and music.   A gallery-style shop is also opening to allow visitors to come into contact with a myriad of cultures. Names include OIL by Bijutsu Techo who will promote contemporary art and who are appearing inside a shop for the first time, Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shinbun who will have their own ‘cultural information desk’ Hobo Nichi Karu-chan to communicate Tokyo culture, and more.    The sixth floor is the ‘Japan Culture’ zone where there will be Nintendo Tokyo, Pokémon Center Shibuya, a Touken Ranbu bookshop, and plenty of other Japanese pop culture content. It is an amalgamation of games, anime, E-sports, art, fashion and more where visitors can not only buy things but experience pop culture with all five of their senses. This is sure to be a hit with foreign visitors.   In the next article we will take a look at Entertainment, Food and Technology so stay tuned.

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  • Harajuku-based Brand KAWAII MONSTER CAFE Opens a Traveling Shop, Halloween Pop-Up Shop Opens in Harajuku

    19.October.2023 | FASHION / FOOD / SPOT

    The Harajuku-based brand KAWAII MONSTER CAFE has announced a traveling store, KAWAII MONSTER SHOP. As the project’s first event, a Halloween pop-up shop named ‘KAWAII MONSTER SHOP - Colorful Halloween’ will open for 10 days starting October 19 in the birthplace of the brand, Harajuku.   KAWAII MONSTER CAFE is an entertainment restaurant that embodies the vibe of Harajuku in Tokyo, a town that swallows fashion and culture from places around the world and reimagines them into unrestrained originality. Originally opened in 2015 and produced by artist Sebastian Masuda, the colorful and crazy space offered photogenic food and drinks, and guests were served by the iconic Monster Girls clad in future Harajuku fashion. It became a ‘new Tokyo landmark,’ attracting over 700,000 visitors from both Japan and abroad. Even after the restaurant closed in January 2021, its one-of-a-kind concept has lived on in pop-up shops, events, and collaborations with various brands and creators.   The pop-up shop, open in Harajuku for a limited time starting October 19, offers food and drinks, merchandise, special experiences, and photo spots themed around the spooky Halloween season. Additionally, a collaboration with the popular Harajuku accessory store 6%DOKIDOKI will be held from October 19-22. Colorful hair accessories will be on sale, and shop girls with Monster Girls makeup experience will be giving seasonal makeovers to visitors.  

    ■FOOD & DRINK

    During the first half of the event, the pop-up shop will be serving food made in collaboration with the hot dog specialty restaurant HOTDOG CAFE STAND STATION TOKYO. The limited-edition menu includes the crazy Monster Dog, consisting of a monster holding a sausage in its mouth, and the monstrous Philly Cheesesteak, made with juicy tenderloin and tons of cheese.   The second half of the event will feature the Colorful Pop Burger Blue Monster (Teriyaki Chicken) from KAWAII MONSTER CAFE’s popular menu, along with French Fries with Monster Dip served with five different colorful sauces. Visitors are welcome to get into the Halloween spirit by enjoying the Monster Float during the pop-up event. <10/19~10/22 Exclusive Menu> Monster Dog: ¥880 (Tax Included) *In collaboration with HOTDOG CAFE STAND STATION TOKYO Philly Cheesesteak: ¥1,350 (Tax Included) *In collaboration with HOTDOG CAFE STAND STATION TOKYO   <10/26~10/31 Exclusive Menu> Colorful Pop Burger Blue Monster (Teriyaki Chicken): ¥1,200 (Tax Included) French Fries with Monster Dip: ¥700 (Tax Included) Monster Float: ¥800 [Rose/Passionfruit/Kyoho Grape]  

    ■GOODS

    New KAWAII MONSTER CAFE goods will make their first appearance at this pop-up shop! Guests can visit the Sweets Factory to create their own candy assortment by filling their favorite containers with chocolates, gummies, and other goodies. Harajuku Icing Cookies will also be available in collaboration with SHONPY, a popular cake shop. Be sure to grab some incredible souvenirs!   In addition, popular KAWAII MONSTER CAFE collaboration items from years past will be available, along with adorable plushies from the globally beloved brand Ty. Visitors can also snag some unique zipit pouches and flexible PLUS PLUS blocks starting October 26.  

    ■EXPERIENCE

    During the event, KAWAII MONSTER CAFE’s iconic Monster Girls and the character Choppy will greet guests and take photos, as well as shoot cute Halloween-inspired videos together. Visitors wishing to be transformed into Monster Girls themselves can speak to the store girls, clad in Decora fashion and rocking accessories from 6%DOKIDOKI. These ladies will provide POP Harajuku Monster makeovers featuring original tattoo stickers and unique hair accessories to get you ready for Halloween.

    ■PHOTO SPOT

    At the event, guests will find the 3-meter tall Sweets Cake Balloon inspired by the Sweets-Go-Round Cake, the symbol of KAWAII MONSTER CAFE. Surrounded by colorful decorations and captivating monsters, visitors are sure to leave with plenty of special memories. Guests of all ages are invited to spend the Halloween season surrounded by the unique wonders of Harajuku!
  • HARAJUKU COLLECTIVE, a Collaboration Between Hot Topic & Studio Ghibli, Gets Pop-Up Store at Shinsaibashi PARCO

    09.March.2023 | FASHION / SPOT

    Last year, the HARAJUKU COLLECTIVE collaboration appeared at AF Gallery in Harajuku from August 10 until August 28, garnering massive acclaim from fans. The collection is now being sold at Shinsaibashi PARCO until March 12, 2023.

     

    HARAJUKU COLLECTIVE is a Studio Ghibli-inspired apparel collection by the popular American counterculture chain Hot Topic. Bringing more Japanese culture to the ongoing Studio Ghibli collaboration launched in 2014, Hot Topic stores began selling original items produced by nine Japanese creators and brands, as well as some original American items produced by Hot Topic’s executive designers.

     

    The lineup of Japan-original items includes T-shirts, tote bags, and other items featuring exclusive artwork by up-and-coming creators. These items depict beloved characters from Studio Ghibli’s works, as well as logos created for the collaboration. Fans won’t want to miss grabbing these unique items!

     

     

    Details on the Previous HARAJUKU COLLECTIVE Pop-Up Store: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/ja/625747

  • FRUITS ZIPPER Valentine Pop-Up Shop to Open at Laforet Harajuku

    28.January.2023 | FASHION / SPOT

    Laforet Harajuku will host a pop-up shop inspired by the up-and-coming idol group FRUITS ZIPPER from February 1 until February 14! The FRUITS ZIPPER Valentine Pop-Up Shop will be found on the 5th floor MAKE THE STAGE area.   FRUITS ZIPPER debuted in April 2022 and embodies a simple concept: “From Harajuku to the World.” The group’s second single Watashino Ichiban Kawaiitokoro exploded in popularity on TikTok, pulling in over 600 million views. In February, the girls will embark on their first solo concert tour in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. This is the first FRUITS ZIPPER-inspired limited-time shop, and during the event, visuals of the group’s members will be displayed in the show windows found on the first floor of Laforet Harajuku.  

    ◆About the FRUITS ZIPPER Valentine Pop-Up Shop

    When entering the venue, fans will be greeted by a 5-meter-wide board where visitors can write and attach their messages to the FRUITS ZIPPER members on heart-shaped cards. Costumes that the members have worn on stage will also be on display, allowing fans to see each stitch up close.   Exclusive items featuring new photos of the members will be on sale at the pop-up shop. Fans can enjoy seeing the girls in their own personal style, and these items will only be available during the event! Starting February 4, tour merch for the group’s upcoming solo concert series will also be available for purchase.

    ◆Collaboration with Fruit Sandwich Specialty Store ‘Fruits Box Daikanyama’

    Last year’s popular collaboration with Fruit Box Daikanyama, a well-known fruit sandwich shop, is happening again in 2023! Fans can find the Collaboration Gift Box for sale, including seven baked meringue goods each featuring one of the member’s colors. The box also comes with snapshots of the members, and for a few lucky fans, these snaps might be signed! The idol group and sandwich shop have also teamed up to create the Collaborative Lucky Grab Bag Lottery, including popular FRUITS ZIPPER goods and original items from Fruits Box Daikanyama. The lucky first-prize winner will receive a special set of all available February tour merchandise in all sizes.

    ◆Member Appearance Planned on Valentine's Day

    On February 14, the final day of the pop-up shop, the members of FRUITS ZIPPER will make an appearance! Guests will be able to participate in the first-ever hands-on event with the members, so keep an eye out for more details!   Stay up to date with the latest FRUITS ZIPPER news at the official Twitter page (@FRUITS_ZIPPER).   FRUITS ZIPPER Pop-Up Shop Exclusive Goods

    Random Photo - Valentine pop-up ver. (21 varieties): ¥330 (Tax Included)

    Random Pin - Valentine pop-up ver. (7 varieties): ¥500 (Tax Included)

    Random Purikura Stickers - Valentine pop-up ver. (14 varieties): ¥600 (Tax Included)

  • Zipper Magazine’s 2022-2023 Winter Issue on Sale Now

    14.January.2023 | FASHION

    The Winter 2022-2023 issue of the revived fashion creator magazine Zipper went on sale on December 23.   This issue focuses on this winter’s must-know trends and is packed with coordination tips, outfit plans through spring, snapshots, hair and makeup tips, and much more.   Zipper ended its 24-year history in December 2017. In March 2022, ASOBISYSTEM teamed up with DONUTS Inc. to revive the magazine as a quarterly release. The fashion magazine, popular with Gen Z, is known for sharing details aspects of Harajuku culture and will continue to share more from the creative center of Tokyo for years to come.
    Standard Edition (Cover: Nagisa Saito)
    Another Edition (Cover: FRUITS ZIPPER)
  • Popular EC Brand SHEIN Opens First Permanent Brick and Mortar Store in Harajuku

    02.November.2022 | FASHION / SPOT

    The global online fashion brand SHEIN has become wildly popular, shipping goods to over 150 countries. The world’s first permanent brick-and-mortar SHEIN store will open in Harajuku, Tokyo on November 13, 2022, displaying popular styles and items perfect for the Japanese market. All items on display will be available for purchase on the official SHEIN app simply by scanning the QR code on the tag. While items won’t be available to purchase in-store, the location will be a place where curious customers can try things on and explore new trends. The store has two floors and carries women's and men's wear, as well as kids' wear, pet goods, and accessories. In addition to standard fitting rooms, there will also be a photo booth and SHEIN gacha machine!   This summer, the brand held its first pop-up event in Japan, traveling to five cities over two days. In October 2022, the three-month-long SHEIN POPUP OSAKA event invited customers could try on clothes and discover new styles.    “SHEIN TOKYO is planning to hold a number of events to make the SHEIN brand more familiar to new customers. Please visit us and enjoy perusing our reasonably priced but high-quality items,” an official comment reads. 
  • Popular Character Coji-Coji Inspires First Baby Brand COJI-COJI BABY

    18.October.2022 | ANIME&GAME / FASHION

    Momoko Sakura’s popular series Chibi Maruko-chan is filled with beloved characters, and Coji-Coji has remained a fan favorite for decades. Starting in October 2022, fans will be able to grab goods from the new COJI-COJI BABY brand. The made-for-babies merchandise line will feature new artwork. The first theme is ‘outer space,’ and little ones will love the pastel colors and playful illustrations. A promo video has also been posted to the official Coji-Coji YouTube channel.  

    About COJI-COJI BABY

    “A snooze on the moon…From childhood to the faraway future, Coji-Coji is always cozy-cozy.Such a valuable life.Grow together with your baby.Snuggle up with your family. Be there to relax with those you love. Spend irreplaceable time together.After all of these desires and thoughts came together,COJI-COJI BABY was born.”  

    Product Release Information

    Sales of COJI-COJI BABY products began on October 12, 2022 on the official Eightex Japan online store.

    Coji-Coji Costume Romper: ¥9,900

     

    COJI-COJI BABY Fair Now Open!

    Starting on October 15, the COJI-COJI BABY Fair is being held at Kiddy Land Harajuku and Kiddy Land Osaka Umeda.   During the event period, those who purchase over ¥4,000 (including tax) on COJI-COJI BABY products will receive an original mini shikishi. This is a perfect frame for your baby’s handprint or footprint!