8 Iconic Japanese Fashion Brands Every Fashion Student Should Know!

This article highlights a curated list of iconic Japanese fashion brands that every student should explore. Read on to discover these influential brands and their unique impact on the fashion industry!  

Japan has long been known for its creative innovation, and its fashion industry is no exception. It is a hub of various influential fashion brands, and people, especially students, are crazy about these brands. They love to wear Japanese attire that perfectly blends tradition and creativity. According to Statista, the Japanese fashion market was worth approximately $38.8 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $57.7 billion by 2029.

Whether you are dreaming of shopping from luxurious brands of Tokyo or want to catch the latest fashion trends from your couch, this fashion brand guide will cover everything that you want to know. Here, we’ll tell you about the hottest Japanese fashion brands that you must know.

Let’s get started with exploring top fashion styles in Japan.

What are the Top Fashion Styles in Japan?

Japanese fashion is a well-known name in the ever-evolving fashion world. This country is a breeding ground for various fashion trends, and the list is still growing. Four major top fashion styles have been trending in Japan since day one.

These styles include:

• Traditional Style: This Style encompasses traditional Japanese garments such as Kimono, Hakama, Yukata, and more.
• Eco and Ethical Fashion: This style is mainly inspired by the European countryside, which encompasses organic and sustainable fabrics.
• Street Fashion: This is one of the most popular fashion styles which is trending among fashion-forward youth due to its vibrant and chic designs.
• Futuristic and Cyber Fashion: This is the most innovative fashion style featuring neon colours, LED lights, and tech-friendly fabrics.

After learning about Japan’s top fashion styles, explore the iconic stores that sell clothes in these styles.

List of 8 Iconic Japanese Fashion Brands

From prep to punk, Japan is a hotbed of diverse fashion cultures and styles. Whether these fashion styles may be exported from the world or built on home soil, Japan has adopted them, improvised them, and perfected them. Moreover, Japanese fashion offers something for everyone, catering to a society which values both innovation and tradition.

Japanese fashion brands play a key role in setting the Japanese fashion trend bar high by offering a variety of styles, prices, and concepts. From vibrant streetwear to redefined minimalist aesthetics, there is everything for fashion lovers at the fashion brands.

With the growing popularity of Japanese fashion, many fashion design colleges now offer courses on its evolution as part of their degree programs. However, collecting accurate historical data for these courses can be tough. In such cases, students can contact coursework writing services to ensure they complete their tasks successfully.

Now, let’s get to know about the 8 top Japanese fashion brands that every fashion student should know about.

1.     Uniqlo

Uniqlo is one of the most popular Japanese fashion brands. It is known for its top-notch street style, trending, and comfort apparel. This brand is quickly becoming everyone’s top brand due to its premium quality clothes. The best apparel that students can find there includes Supima cotton tee-shirts, formal wear, and puffer jackets.

One of the best things about this brand is that it seamlessly fuses fashion with technology using its 3D print machines. If you want to enjoy the timeless charm of free street style while following the trends, then this brand must be your one-stop solution. This brand recently entered India and gained massive popularity.

2.     White Mountaineering

Most people’s first choice is White Mountaineering, as it straddles the line between outdoor apparel and designer garb. The founder of this brand is Yosuke Aizawa, who comes from a storied fashion lineage and worked under Junya Watanabe in his 20s. He got fashion inspiration from the legendary fashion guru.

He launched his brand in 2006, and since then, this fashion brand has been the top choice of various people around the world. Generally, the clothes of this brand have a familiar foundation that is close to the natural world. Furthermore, this brand has previously worked with Vans, Barbour, and many other Japanese-labeled brands. 

3.     Regablue

If you are looking for something affordable and trend-edgy, then you must visit this Japanese brand. This store mainly offers a wide range of chic streetwear clothes, which makes it popular particularly among fashion-forward youth. The basic reason for the growing popularity of this brand is that people get stylish clothes without breaking the bank.

This brand’s outlet is located mainly in Japan, or you can also visit its online store to explore its trendy collection. However, this brand is not offering international delivery at this moment; you have to give a forwarding address in Japan to get your apparel from this store.

4.     Beams

This is the most versatile brand that offers streetwear, casual wear, and sophisticated formal wear. People love this brand because it is a perfect blend of affordability and quality. Furthermore, this brand’s speciality is the mixture of American menswear and local Japanese craftsmanship. This brand was founded in 1999, and since then, its popularity has been rising.

According to a report by The Spirits Business, this brand’s net sales increased by 7% in 2023. International students love the clothes from this brand due to their innovative design. Moreover, this brand also serves sophistication, tailoring, and individuality. All in all, from customised format wear to street-style casual wear, Beams offers a wide range of clothing that is perfect for every occasion.

5.     Undercover

This brand is not only popular nationally but also globally well-known. Takahashi is the creator and founder of this brand, which plays a key role in setting unique fashion trends in Tokyo, Paris, and beyond. The signature apparel at this store is world-class and famous, including ripped jeans, puffer jackets, and casual wear.

Takahashi’s recent collaboration with Dr. Martens put this brand among the top Japanese fashion brands. Undercover is not only known for its diversity, innovation, and creativity, but its newly launched outerwear collection is the talk of the town, as it can keep the body warm even in freezing temperatures.

6.     Nanamica

Nanamica is known for its contribution to the sustainable fashion movement. This brand aims to provide technical fabrics with contemporary designs. From formal outdoor wear to street-style casual wear, you can find a wide collection of sustainable fashion clothes here.

This brand’s most elegant collection launched recently. It comprises functional and stylish outdoor clothes specifically designed for enthusiasts of outdoor activities. With these durable clothes, they can look stylish and enjoy their adventurous activities.

7.     Neighborhood

Neighborhood is one of the most iconic Japanese fashion brands, created by Shinsuke ‘Shin’ Takizawa in 1994. This brand is the centre of the counter-cultural movement of the metropolitan Japanese fashion industry. It is famous for its premium collection of street-style motorcycle-inspired aesthetic apparel, which is featured with high-quality material and craftsmanship. 

Despite the striking global streaming, its founder sticks with his love of old-school motorcycling culture. That’s why this becomes the signature style of this brand’s clothes. This is the best place for fashion-forward individuals who love the fusion of classic America with contemporary designs.

8.     Wacko Maria

One of the most recognisable Japanese fashion brands is Wacko Maria. This brand was originally founded by the former soccer players Keiji Ishizuka and Atsuhiko Mori in 2005. The main reason for its popularity is its animal-printed crafts and affiliation with daring artists.

This brand basically combines music, art, and Japanese culture, which eventually makes it the best place to explore fashion. Various fashion influencers get inspiration from these brands and encourage people to follow the latest fashion trends. Students who want to stay at the top of the fashion trend curve visit the outlets of this brand and get ideas for inspiring looks.

Conclusion

Japan’s fashion industry is quite fascinating for students as it is a mixture of tradition and modernity. This industry is booming day by day because it offers the innovation, creativity, and craftsmanship that every trendsetter is looking for. Additionally, fashion students are writing their coursework on reasons for the rapid growth of the Japanese fashion industry.

However, as this industry is quite extensive and there are various reasons for this growth, students are often unable to write their coursework on this fashion industry. They can approach reliable coursework writing firms who know how to analyse the market and collect data.

Besides, many iconic Japanese fashion brands are now emerging in this industry. These brands are setting trends and offering a unique collection that truly reflects the tradition of Japanese fashion. In this article, we have enlisted some of these top brands with their specifications. We hope that our guide will help you find alluring Japanese apparel.