7 Popular Local Japanese Fashion Brands

Looking to shop in Japan? Here are the best and popular local Japanese fashion brands that you cannot miss out on! 

Japanese fashion brands have become a sensation among fashion gurus across the world who are seeking to implement sophisticated and inventive crafts in their works. 

The creative breakthrough in Japanese fashion trends is all the cause of expertise in needlework by Japanese fashion artisans and their meticulous approach to developing pieces that are extraordinary.

Briefly put, Japanese fashion is the epitome of ‘simplicity is elegant’ and this is true when it comes to casual and street fashion in Japan. 

Nevertheless, Japanese fashion designers also specialize in haute couture that’s quite flashy and spirited. 

Popular Local Japanese Fashion Brands

Local Japanese Fashion Brands	Best Sellers	Price Range
UNIQLO	T-shirts, Jeans, Leggings, Heat tech clothing line, Ultralight down jackets, AIRism underwear	¥590 - ¥20,000 JPY
Yohji Yamamoto	Oversized black jackets, Asymmetrical dresses, Wide-legged pants, Voluminous coats	¥20,000 - ¥500,000
Issey Miyake	Pleats Please collection, Bao Bao bags	¥10,000 - ¥200,000 JPY
A Bathing Ape	Shark hoodies, t-shirts, sneakers	¥6,000 - ¥60,000 JPY
Nano Universe	Suits, shirts, casual wear	¥5,000 - ¥50,000 JPY
Sacai	Hybrid clothing, oversized knitwear	¥20,000 - ¥150,000 JPY
Ambush	Jewelry, hoodies, bags	¥15,000 - ¥300,000 JPY

Our favorite and most popular local Japanese fashion brands are: 

• Uniqlo
• Yohji Yamamoto
• Issey Miyake
• A Bathing Ape
• Nano Universe
• Sacai
• Ambush

UNIQLO

Uniqlo is a renowned Japanese fashion brand that has seeped its way through global fashion markets. 

This local Japanese fashion brand was founded in 1984 and ever since then, Uniqlo has been one of the leading manufacturers of casual wear in Japan. 

Uniqlo is by far the trailblazing Japanese fashion brand that has multiple stores in countries like The UK, The US, Korea, and China. 

Much of Uniqlo’s popularity comes from its affordable pricing strategies which have aided the Japanese fashion brand to hit nearly $18 billion in sales globally during August 2022. 

Although the costs of Uniqlo’s apparel and accessories are reasonable their quality is superior and is quite parallel to high-end fashion brands which easily makes Uniqlo a voguish brand. 

Uniqlo offers a mammoth collection of clothing and accessories for men, women, and kids. 

Every piece of apparel in Uniqlo is tailored to make the wearer feel warm, comfortable, and empowered and they possess a minimalistic design that’s not too flamboyant. 

Most of the clothing sold at Uniqlo brings out the casual style which is why it’s a renowned fashion brand among teens and young adults. 

If you’re looking for basic clothing selections that aren’t just aesthetically pleasing yet comfy to don and are priced reasonably then Uniqlo is your ideal pick for a Japanese fashion brand. 

Price Range

• Basic t-shirts can range from around ¥590 to ¥1,500 (about $5 to $13 USD)
• Jeans can range from around ¥1,500 to ¥3,990 (about $13 to $35 USD
• Outerwear like ultra light down jackets can range from around ¥5,990 to ¥9,990 (about $52 to $88 USD)
• Suits can range from around ¥10,000 to ¥20,000 (about $88 to $175 USD)
• Prices may vary depending on the season, promotions, and availability

Best Sellers

• T-shirts
• Jeans
• Leggings
• Heat tech clothing line
• Ultra light down jackets
• AIRism underwear

Yohji Yamamoto

Yohji Yamamoto, a fashion graduate from Tama Art University launched his fashion brand under his namesake in 1981 and it remains to be one of the first-ever Japanese fashion houses to receive recognition ubiquitously. 

This local Japanese brand is popular for designing unorthodox and flashy clothes that are particularly in the colors of black, white, and gray. 

Yohji Yamamoto’s infatuation with neutral colors has aided models to flaunt their bodies fearlessly. The sporadic cuts and opens in Yohji Yamamoto’s designer clothes are the talk of the town when models walk the runway. 

The apparel from this local Japanese brand is available even in department stores worldwide and they’re quite convenient to tell apart. 

Yamamoto’s apparel is generally oversized with unexpected slits and they invariably come in a dark aesthetic. 

This Japanese fashion brand crafts sophisticated pieces for both men and women. Besides Yamamoto’s high-end fashion apparel, the brand also features street-style and athletic apparel under the brand name Y’s. 

Unlike Uniqlo, Yohji Yamamoto’s clothing is targeted toward the upmarket hence the rates are quite exorbitant thus making Yohji Yamamoto a premium local Japanese fashion brand. 

Price Range:

• Basic t-shirts from the brand can start at around ¥20,000 (about $180 USD
• Dresses and coats can range from ¥100,000 to ¥500,000 (about $880 to $4,400 USD)
• Yohji Yamamoto's limited edition or haute couture items can cost even more

Best Sellers

• Oversized black jackets
• Asymmetrical dresses
• Wide-legged pants
• Voluminous coats

Issey Miyake

Issey Miyake might sound like a catchy and eccentric title for a fashion label yet this local Japanese fashion brand is a veteran in the fashion industry. 

This brand gets its name from none other than Issey Miyake, a fashion perfectionist who has influenced the concepts of vivid fashion in the Western world. 

The works of Issey Miyake can be characterized as utilizing cutting-edge techniques that represent boldness in the wearer. 

It’s undoubted that the apparel designed by Issey Miyake is one of a kind because his vision of fashion was indeed unique. 

Most of the apparel tailored by Miyake is inspired by origami hence why his works are implemented with folds and pleats that are bedazzling to look at and even ravishing to put on. 

As a matter of fact, the choice of fabrics utilized by this Japanese brand is exceptional because they perfectly give life to the notions of a sophisticated fashion architect who was Issey Miyake himself. 

This Japanese fashion brand never fails to launch futuristic and elegant apparel designs to the market therefore Issey Miyake is one of the most sought-after brands worldwide. 

A particular piece of Issey Miyake’s clothing that gained global recognition is Steve Jobs’s black turtle neck.

Jobs even decided to hire Miyake to tailor uniforms for all employees at Apple which unfortunately didn’t occur due to the designer’s unfortunate demise yet his innovative fashion fad still lives on.

Price range

• Basic t-shirts can start at around $200 USD
• Pleated dresses or signature geometric patterns can range from $600 to $2,000 USD
• Jackets and coats can range from $1,000 to $5,000 USD
• Accessories like bags and shoes can start at around $500 USD

Best sellers

• Pleated dresses
• Pleated skirts

A Bathing Ape

Interesting choice of title for a Japanese fashion brand I’d say. A Bathing Ape or BAPE is a Japanese streetwear brand that was founded by Tamaoki Nagao in 1993. 

Nagao who famously goes by Nigo had an intense enthusiasm for Japanese subcultures including pop and street style which resulted in him creating an entirely new lifestyle for several youngsters in Japan. 

A Bathing Ape has nearly 20 outlets in Japan and it’s safe to say that it’s one of the rapidly growing local fashion brands in Japan.

A Bathing Ape provides clothing selections for men, women, and kids and what’s noteworthy about their apparel is they’re entirely inspired by urban and casual wear. 

The comfort one attains by wearing BAPE clothing is outstanding because these clothes are designed to ensure that the wearer feels confident without fretting about how their drip looks. 

The pricing range of BAPE apparel is competitive hence they aren’t too exorbitant.

Nigo who fancies the notion of unconventional attire that looks trendy has incorporated spunky elements into his designer works. 

This is why you’ll find almost every BAPE apparel to radiate scintillating colors and daring graphics that most youngsters are fascinated by. 

The popularity of attire crafted by A Bathing Ape has emerged in global fashion markets hence it has become a contemporary brand in numerous countries like The United States, The UK, Korea, and Australia. 

Price range

• Basic t-shirts can start at around ¥7,000 JPY (approximately $65 USD)
• Hoodies or jackets can range from ¥20,000 JPY (approximately $185 USD) to ¥100,000 JPY (approximately $925 USD)
• BAPE's signature sneakers, the BAPESTA, can range from ¥25,000 JPY (approximately $230 USD) to ¥50,000 JPY (approximately $460 USD)
• Hats, bags, and socks can range from around ¥3,000 JPY (approximately $28 USD) to ¥20,000 JPY (approximately $185 USD)

Best sellers

• Shark Hoodie
• APE Head T-Shirt
• BAPESTA Sneakers
• Milo Character merchandise
• Shark Face Mask

Nano Universe

Nano Universe is surprisingly a modern local fashion brand in Japan that was just introduced in 2014. 

The preliminary attire sold by Nano Universe was casual apparel for young boys and adult males. 

Presently, Nano Universe has expanded to crafting urban wear for females and even kids. 

In addition to casual outfits, Nano Universe also makes available formal wear for both ladies and gents. 

This local Japanese apparel brand is often compared to Uniqlo since the pizzazz of both of these trademarks is parallel. 

However, Nano Universe is extortionate on the prices of their apparel, unlike Uniqlo which generally has reasonable rates. 

Furthermore, Nano Universe doesn’t stop at developing chic casual clothes but also high-quality accessories that also have a premium price point.

If you are wondering why Nano Universe has bizarre prices for its apparel despite only crafting urban wear then wait till you hear that a lot goes into the production of their clothing. 

For the record, Nano Universe outfits are fashioned to possess aspects like a heat shield, UV protection, and sweat stain protection. 

Not to mention how designers at Nano Universe endlessly work to bring out innovative trends to ensure their apparel stands out extravagantly.

Price range

• Basic t-shirt can start at around ¥2,000 JPY (approximately $18 USD)
• Blazer can range from ¥20,000 JPY (approximately $185 USD) to ¥30,000 JPY (approximately $275 USD) or more
• Chino pants can range from around ¥10,000 JPY (approximately $92 USD) to ¥20,000 JPY (approximately $185 USD)
• Knitwear can range from ¥10,000 JPY (approximately $92 USD) to ¥20,000 JPY (approximately $185 USD) or more
• Trench coats can range from around ¥20,000 JPY (approximately $185 USD) to ¥40,000 JPY (approximately $370 USD)

Bestsellers

• Blazers
• Chino pants
• Trench coats
• Knitwear
• Accessories

Sacai

Sacai is a contemporary Japanese fashion brand that has been a recent sensation in the vogue world. 

This is because Sacai has managed to achieve the impossible which is demolishing the dichotomy between urban and formal wear by introducing flashy styles to casual clothing that appear significantly gaudy. 

In fact, Sacai has grounded haute couture brands on how sophisticated clothing should be tailored. 

This popular Japanese fashion brand is an icon for upcoming fashion designers because it depicts the usage of an amalgamation of fabrics that come in handy for creating a showy piece of apparel. 

Sacai designs clothing for both men and women and a stand-out aspect of this local Japanese brand is that it also offers an ‘Anybody’ category which is basically unisex clothing. 

Sacai became a world-recognized Japanese fashion brand when it partnered with Nike for a sneaker launch. 

Correspondingly, there have been openings of multiple Sacai specialty stores in North American and Asian countries. 

Although Sacai clothing brings about premium vibes in formal and casual outfits, the pricing point enforced by this Japanese fashion brand is affordable. 

Therefore, there’s no need to worry about a budget when you’re shopping at Sacai stores.

Price range

• Basic t-shirt can start at around ¥20,000 JPY (approximately $185 USD)
• Blazer can range from ¥80,000 JPY (approximately $740 USD) to ¥150,000 JPY (approximately $1,385 USD) or more
• Outerwear can range from around ¥100,000 JPY (approximately $925 USD) to ¥250,000 JPY (approximately $2,310 USD)
• Knitwear can range from around ¥50,000 JPY (approximately $460 USD) to ¥100,000 JPY (approximately $925 USD)
• Footwear can range from around ¥50,000 JPY (approximately $460 USD) to ¥80,000 JPY (approximately $740 USD) or more

Best sellers:

• Hybrid pieces
• Outerwear
• Knitwear
• Footwear
• Accessories like bags, hats, and scarves

Ambush

Ambush is a newfangled Japanese fashion trademark that was founded in 2008 by Verbal and Yoon. 

The initial line offered by Ambush was quirky jewelry that was heavily edified by American and European revolutionary youngsters and subcultures of pop and hip-hop in the late 50s. 

After debuting their first-ever fashion show in 2015 in Paris, Ambush allured the likes of numerous fashion connoisseurs and designers.

This led Yoon and Verbal to expand their product line by introducing ready-to-wear apparel and accessories for both men and women who have an unorthodox fashion sense. 

Ambush flawlessly embodies the fusion of pop subcultures across the world in their clothing and accessories lines. 

While still paying homage to vintage pop culture trends, Ambush maintains a minimalistic aspect and designs clothes that are ideal to be worn regularly. 

Similar to the likes of Sacai, Ambush has lifted the division between casual and formal wear by developing apparel that is fit for both instances. 

The jewelry and accessories from Ambush however are eccentric since they portray pop culture and most of these pieces are designed with safety pins and pills. Ambush is an absolutely experimental Japanese high-end fashion brand that is successfully making its way to becoming a supreme trademark in the global fashion industry.

Price range

• Jewelry pieces like earrings, necklaces, and bracelets
• Hoodies and sweatshirts
• Backpacks, shoulder bags, clutches
• T-shirts
• Outerwear

Best sellers

• Basic t-shirt can start at around ¥15,000 JPY (approximately $138 USD)
• hoodie can range from ¥30,000 JPY (approximately $276 USD) to ¥50,000 JPY (approximately $460 USD) or more
• Outerwear can range from around ¥70,000 JPY (approximately $644 USD) to ¥120,000 JPY (approximately $1,104 USD) or more
• Jewelry can range from around ¥15,000 JPY (approximately $138 USD) to ¥50,000 JPY (approximately $460 USD)
• Bags can range from around ¥40,000 JPY (approximately $368 USD) to ¥100,000 JPY (approximately $920 USD)

Also Read

• Affordable clothing brands in Japan