10 Affordable Luxury Japanese High Street Brands in 2024

1. NEIGHBORHOOD

NEIGHBORHOOD is a Japanese streetwear brand founded in 1994, by Shinsuke Takizawa. The brand produces premium quality motorcycle apparel combined with military, workwear, counter-culture, Native American and outdoor themes.

NEIGHBORHOOD was part of the original Harajuku streetwear scene of the early ’90s, a Tokyo-based movement of friends and peers who effectively founded the Japanese streetwear scene, birthing labels including BAPE, UNDERCOVER, WTAPS, Hysteric Glamour, and GOODENOUGH.

NEIGHBORHOOD draws from Takizawa’s deep passion for historic motorcycle subculture, creating classic American clothing such as leathers, shirting, sweats, flannels, and headwear, all with a distinct biker gang twist.

Though recent collections have seen NEIGHBORHOOD expand into military, prep, Native American, and even early-20th century industrial workwear styles, the brand is still best known for its authentic selvedge denim, manufactured to strict traditional specifications and customized with intricate, natural distress washes that range from classic indigo fades to their iconic “Savage” series.

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2. A BATHING APE (BAPE)

A Bathing Ape is a Japanese fashion brand founded by Nigo in Ura-Harajuku in 1993. The brand specializes in men's, women's and children's lifestyle and street wear, running 19 stores in Japan, including Bape Stores, Bape Pirate Stores, Bape Kids Stores, Bapexclusive Aoyama, and Bapexclusive Kyoto.

The first BAPE store opened in 1993, in the backstreets of Harajuku. Yep, Urahara. BAPE is also an OG of Japanese streetwear. Their designs focus on casual lifestyle clothing with the iconic camouflage prints on everything from hoodies to sneakers. Of course, you can’t miss the ape logo — it is its brand name after all.

3. UNDERCOVER

Jun Takahashi founded UNDERCOVER in 1990 and the label has since become a staple on the Japanese streetwear scene. UNDERCOVER’s designs are heavily influenced by the grunge and punk culture — elongated hems, unfinished seams and unconventional sizes are quite prominent stylistic details in every collection. 

UNDERCOVER might be a mainstay on the streetwear scene, but the brand also turns up high-fashion collections on the Paris runway and has worked on collaborations with companies like Uniqlo, NIKE, Valentino, Doc Martens,  Converse and more.

4. COMME des GARÇONS

As you may have guessed by the name, Comme des Garcons is a Japanese brand that is inspired by French maison couture. Founded in 1969, COMME des GARÇONS was around to see the evolution of Japanese streetwear, while still remaining to be constant throughout the journey. 

Just like her own style, COMME des GARÇONS features more avant-garde designs than the usual Japanese streetwear — but almost every piece is stamped with the heart with eyes logo. The brand sets out to bend the conventional rules of fashion, and followers of Japanese streetwear fashion love that. 

From disrupting the norm to still being in the realms of reality, COMME des GARÇONS is without a doubt the definition of Japanese streetwear.

They produce unique, modern pieces more in tune with somewhere like Berlin, for those who like to walk that line between smart casual and casual evening. The fashion house also produces patchwork stylings that appear on select pieces, becoming something of a signature for the brand’s style.

5. Yohji Yamamoto

Besides Rei Kawakubo, Yohji Yamamoto is arguably the most famous Japanese fashion designer of the 20th century. At its foundation, Yohji Yamamoto’s designs are a cross-pollination of traditional Japanese design with contemporary perspectives, and the Japanese brand has produced consistently stunning pieces throughout its 35-year history.

The award-winning designer is known for creating oversized, all-black clothing that ranges from drop-crotch trousers to caps, sunglasses and blazers. Expect a pop of Japanese flair in Yamamoto’s signature logos and graphic t-shirt prints. A prestigious Bunka Fashion College alumnus, Yamamoto has also collaborated with names like Adidas and Hermès, as well as designed for famous artists like Placebo and Elton John.

6. Visvim

Perhaps one of the most famous contemporary Japanese clothing brands of all, Visvim was started in 2000 by Hiroki Nakamura after leaving his position as a designer at Burton Snowboards. Inspired in equal parts by the technical elements of his previous position and the traditional crafts of different cultures that he learned about traveling the world, Nakamura founded Cubism Inc., whose "Free International Laboratory" or F.I.L. endeavors to blend natural, traditional techniques with pioneering contemporary perspectives to create the pinnacle expression of classic clothing.

Visvim’s visual concept is inspired by crafts of different cultures, combining and balancing traditional and modern techniques into one big space. The dyes used for this brand are made from mud, indigo, and cochineal beetles, and are used on intricate textiles like linen, hemp, and silk. 

The most famous expression of this technique is Nakamura’s reconfiguration of Native American moccasin, the FBT, a shoe that blends natural leather construction and ornate tassel details with a durable Vibram® outsole and has grown to be one of the most coveted footwear designs of the 21st century.

7. Kapital

Originally founded in1985 by Toshikiyo Hirata, Kapital was originally called Capital after its hometown of Kojima, otherwise known as the denim capital of Japan. At first, Capital was a sewing and dyeing factory that laid the foundations for what would grow to become one of the world’s most highly respected denim specialists in the world.

It all changed in 1996 when the brand was renamed to its current name, Kapital. Hirata honed his craft designing and manufacturing skills from working with other companies and began applying his knowledge to perfect Kapital’s signature cut-and-sew artisanal approach. 

The Americana style has been reinvented with unique crafting and dyeing techniques made from high-quality denim — to top it all off, Kapital’s designs are always so full of intricate details that it’s now their trademark, along with the smiley face motif.

8. AMBUSH

AMBUSH has a new creative approach. With its playful jewelry, the Japanese label already has an illustrious list of fans across the celebrity spectrum, but now it makes clothing the canvas for experimental designs. Thinking of clothes as a ‘safe space’, find refuge in multiple drawstring hoodies for a refresh on your everyday essentials.

AMBUSH, the Tokyo-based label led by Verbal and Yoon Ahn, began life as a jewelry brand so it’s no wonder that Ahn has now come full circle, designing jewelry for Dior Homme under Kim Jones. Over the years, the duo turned their hand toward apparel and accessories while continuing their pop culture–inspired jewelry line, with celebrity friends like Kanye West, Lady Gaga, and Rihanna all spotted wearing Ambush designs. Collaborations with Nike, Converse, Rimowa, and Bvlgari have only further solidified Ambush’s status as one of the Japanese clothing brands to watch. 

9. Cav Empt

Founded in 2012 by SK8THING (Billionaire Boys Club, BAPE) and Toby Feltwell (Mo’Wax Records), Cav Empt is all about colourful, sought-after streetwear. Their graphics and colourways are eyecatching and represent a culture clash, much like an old Mo’Wax 12 inch. Whether you’re looking for a subtle addition to your wardrobe or a statement piece, you’ll find something in their collection to suit you. Made for the real street culture vulture.

A favorite of famous YouTuber PewDiePie, the minds behind this brand are Sk8thing, who is a graphic designer at BAPE, and Toby Feltwell, creative director of Pharrell William’s clothing line. It is of no surprise, then, that the style of cav empt is retro-futuristic, with collections that are driven by bold design. We like to think they’re streetwear for an upmarket crowd.

10. White Mountaineering

When Yosuke Aizawa started White Mountaineering he was heavily influenced by rugged mountain clothing from the US, and quickly started specialising in autumn/winter collections. But there was a definite twist. His designs are bold, colourful and daring, with lots of prints and slogan splashed across classic silhouettes. He’s also collaborated with the likes of Barbour and Adidas (Original). White Mountaineering is the perfect example of how the Japanese take something we seem to know so well and turn it completely on its head - with eye-catching results.

Geometric patterns are particularly prominent in Aizawa’s work, spanning knitwear and shirting to the beautiful parquet floor of the brand’s Tokyo flagship store.

In recent seasons the brand has branched out to collaborate with a number of major labels, including British outerwear specialist Barbour, Saucony sneakers, and adidas Originals — the latter of whom have received widespread acclaim for their elaborate Pitti Uomo presentations.

Ironically, Aizawa has admitted in interviews that his designs are probably unsuitable for genuine mountaineering, but his fascination with the aesthetic and visual elements of cold-weather climates has nonetheless created some of the most interesting creations in Japanese fashion in recent years.

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