For our month dedicated to the current state of Tokyo’s fashion centers of Harajuku & Shibuya we reached out to fashion icon Motofumi “POGGY” Kogi, better known as POGGY THE MAN, to see what some of his favorite spots to shop are. Below are 4 locations, in no particular order, that stand out not only as spots to score some incredible fines but also as examples of some of the biggest trends in fashion around Tokyo as of late. But don’t take my word for that, we’ll let POGGY introduce things for us:
Used clothes and second-hand shops are attracting attention again because of sustainability. It’s the same all across Tokyo. Shops in Koenji specialize in American casual fashion and heritage secondhand clothes, and in Shimokitazawa you can enjoy used clothes of various styles at reasonable prices. Harajuku though, is characterized by many underground shops specializing in the transfer and recycling of fashion and culture.
Archive Store
Wako Bldg. B2F, 1-12-16 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo | Official Website
The Archive Store in Shibuya feels less like a shop and more like a museum. The location itself is something of a mystery, being hidden in the basement of the same building that houses the RINKAN Shibuya store. In addition to some amazing pieces from iconic global brands, they periodically hold special exhibitions for individual designers which provides a unique opportunity to see some amazingly rare pieces in the wild. Fashion designers all over the world travel here just to see the items on display, not just to admire them but also to draw inspiration.
Poggy’s Comment:
Located in the B2 basement floor of the Wako Building in Shibuya, you can find archives of Japanese designers such as Comme des Garcons, Yoji Yamamoto, Number Nine and Undercover in addition to European designers’ such as Martin Margiela and Raf Simons work from the ’90s & 2000s, displayed beautifully. As all of the pieces displayed are valuable items now they are priced accordingly, but you can sometimes find a bargain, too.
Ber Ber Jin
3-26-11 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo | Official Website
International fashion has just as much a place in Tokyo as that born in its creative centers. Ber Ber Jin is a shop that specializes in carrying vintage American items that fit a range of different trends and decades, with some serious treasures often hidden within. There are multiple locations sprinkled throughout Harajuku, but the main shop is where a lot of very special items can be found.
Poggy’s Comment:
It is a long-established secondhand clothing store in Harajuku. Ber Ber Jin has two floors: the first floor bears a collection of old American traditional wear that has been cherished by long-established Japanese select shops, and the B1 floor specializes in vintage denim pieces. They have many different types of denim priced from several tens of thousand yen to more than 1,000,000 yen. The vintage denim advisor, Yutaka Fujihara, who has published a book about Levi’s denim assists. For those who are not really familiar, it could appear to be just old-fashioned jeans, but you can experience the rarity value of the differences in details and the beauty of indigo that only comes out with age.
PASS THE BATON
Omotesando Hills West B2F, 4-12-10 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo | Official Website
PASS THE BATON is a standout location on this list as the way they operate is very unique. At first glance, they seem like your typical second-hand or antique shop but when you look just a little past the surface that’s when you find some amazing details. PASS THE BATON is the home of a concept they call NEW RECYCLE, which is just as much about sharing the culture of items as giving them an extended life with a new owner. Each item carried in their locations has a story, and these stories are displayed for potential buyers to read with the hopes of making deeper connections than just filling a need or want. It’s a place that really needs to be seen for yourself as what they sell can really truly be considered treasure.
Poggy’s Comment:
The interior was designed by Mr. Masamichi Katayama of Wonderwall, who also worked on the interior of the shop of A Bathing Ape. The shop feels like a museum with a high ceiling, and they sell not only clothes but also tableware, miscellaneous goods, items used as displays, and refurbished dead-stock items that were unable to be sold elsewhere. They also display personal belongings of people in the fashion industry and it tells you who exhibited such items which means you may have a chance to encounter things owned by someone who’s designs & work you admire.
RINKAN Shibuya
Wako Bldg. B1, 1F, 2F 1-12-16 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo | Official Website
Of all the stores in this list, this is the most contemporary for sure. RINKAN has 3 floors of individual specialties, all of which are items that are highly coveted in today’s fashion landscape and all of the highest quality. When you enter you’re greeted by a collection of SUPREME’s greatest hits and collaborations, including some of the most sought after items from the massively popular New York-based brand. BF1 is the home to a variety of different streetwear brands from Balenciaga, Fragment Design, Vetements, and a plethora of bags and sneakers (including a wall full of Yeezys). 2F is where luxury fashion brands like Louis Vuitton, Prada, Dior, Saint Laurent, and others reside although the recent blending of luxury & street fashion in the public consciousness means that as long as you have the budget, you’ll be sure to find something to like on this floor as well.
Poggy’s Comment:
Here you can find things like rare Nike sneakers designed by Virgil Abloh, older Supreme items, and luxury street clothes such as Balenciaga. They display these different types of items across 3 floors. Smaller items such as Hermes and Goro’s are also substantial. Since these styles are popular, there are many fakes in the market, but the Japanese buyers here thoroughly determine legitimacy before making anything available for sale. Mr. Makoto Tanijiri worked on the interior of this shop which recently completed its renovations.
If you find yourself exploring Shibuya & Harajuku looking for the latest in fashion, do yourself a fashion and check out some of these spots. Although the flagship stores for many iconic brands tend to be the focus for shoppers traveling from other countries, plenty of amazing finds can be made if you make your way a little bit off the beaten path. And with someone like POGGY giving these spots his seal of approval, that should be enough to guarantee their pedigree!