About: Co-design project by TAKAHIROMIYASHITA TheSoloIst. and Kazuki Kuraishi, creative director of Cash Ca. The collection is now available at Dover Street Market.

Website: N/A

About: Founded by Nigo in Harajuku is 1993, BAPE is one of the main influence in modern street fashion. On Feb.1, 2011, the brand was sold to Hong Kong fashion conglomerate I.T. Nigo remains on board as the creative director.

Website: http://www.bape.com

About: A collaboration line between Hiroshi Fujiwara and Jun Takahashi that has an irregular release schedule. AFFA stands for ‘Anarchy Forever Forever Anarchy.’ The collections are known to have thought provoking pieces.

Website: N/A

About: Established in 2002 by Verbal and Yoon. Having “Anything Goes” as the motto, they research uniqueness, subtlety and amusement of Tokyo’s design and music culture scenes.

Website: http://www.ambushdesign.com

About: ‘凹凸,’ ‘LOW,’ ‘SHELL,’ ‘TIME’….. With inspiring theme, ANREALAGE introduces conceptual collection every season. Led by the designer Kunihiko Morinaga, ANREALAGE is the winner of the GEN ART Avant-Garde Award 2005 and the Best Brand at the Mainichi Fashion Grand Prix awards 2011.

Website: http://www.anrealage.com

About: Including marquee release of Wu-Tang Clan collaboration products, the references are generally 90′s Hip Hop. Recently they do many hand-drawn graphic T-shirt collaborations.

Website: http://applebum.jp

About: Iconic athletic wear brand that started in 1949 as ONITSUKA.

Website: http://www.asicsamerica.com

About: Established his brand in 1993, Ato Matsumoto introduces both men’s and women’s collection in Japan and overseas. Especially with the help of Kanye West’s appearance with the Cowhide boots, Ato became a sought after brand by blog readers.

Website: http://www.ato.jp

About: Kazuyuki Kumagai’s label that prides itself on the craftsmanship presented within each individual piece, since he left Issey Miyake’s Japanese design group to established his own label in 1998.

Website: http://www.attachment.co.jp/

About: Isamu Katayama is constantly researching and studying every possibility for leather. As he focuses on a craftmen’s approach with leather tanning technique, each piece comes out unique.

Website: http://www.backlash.jp/

About: BASE CONTROL offers a variety of clothes and accessories. The direction of the label is simple but sophisticated. The aesthetics of the line is without a doubt, Tokyo.

Website: http://basestation.jp

About: BEAMS launched in the mid ’70s as a revolutionary multifaceted clothing manufacturer and retail operation. Currently as one of Japan’s biggest youth clothing stores, they maintain 25 labels including Beams Plus that the company’s VP Keishi Endo describes as “the ultimate functional beauty” of classic American gear.

Website: http://www.beams.co.jp

About: Masafumi “Bebe” Watanabe’s BEDWIN is awesome Japan-Only brand. Its motto is “Paramount Quality,” which can clearly be seen in each garment in just the fabric choices and construction techniques alone.

Website: http://www.bedwintokyo.com

About: BLACKMEANS by Yujiro Komatsu, Takatomo Ariga, and Masatomo Ariga creates new values with the concept of “Punk + Motorcycle + Tribe + Hardcore + Mode.”

Website: http://blackmeans.com

About: CASIO was founded in 1946. The innovative wristwatch brand gained a cult following with the release of it’s databank and G-Shock lines. Casio continues to release new G-Shock and retro releases of their ever popular collection.

Website: http://www.casio.com

About: After worked as an assistant for Charles Anastase abroad, Masanori Morikawa launched CHRISTIAN DADA in 2009, with sensational collection debut. Without too many years, the brand has already garnered international clients including Lady Gaga.

Website: http://www.christiandada.jp

About: Started by Rei Kawakubo in 1969 in Tokyo. Taking an “avant-garde” approach in design, the label has a huge cult following.

Website: http://www.comme-des-garcons.com

About: CORNELIAN TAURUS, excellent leather goods brand by Daisuke Iwanaga is anchored in traditional Japanese methods and techniques while fully expressing the designer’s sensibilities and background. All products are handmade following intricate processes with durable construction.

Website: http://www.corneliantaurus.com

About: DELUXE’s greatest ability is the brand’s redefining of traditional staples. Whether it’s something as simple as a button-up, the brand’s head designer Hideki “Hue” Kimura re-appropriate into a more modern and contemporary context.

Website: http://www.dlxtokyo.com

About: Based on “real clothes” concept, Tatsuya Kimura and Sanae Yoshida have taken in a wide variety of styles from classics to casual. They also take on an approach of ‘Opposition mix up’, combining polar opposites of taste and design in their quest to create truly genre-less designs.

Website: http://www.discovered.jp

About: After working as the first director and buyer of Candy in 2006, Emiko Sato and Takeshi Kitazawa started their own label. Inspired by music and the city’s club scene they DJ under the duo SEX, DRESSEDUNDRESSED is quickly becoming leader for a new shift towards the stoic minimal aesthetic in Japanese mens/womens wear.

Website: http://www.dressedundressed.com

About: Formally founded by Hidehiko Yamane in 1991 in Osaka, Evisu a designer clothing company that specializes in producing denim wear through traditional, labor-intensive methods. The brand has been mentioned in several rap songs by the likes of Jay-Z, Young Jeezy, The Game, and Lil Wayne.

Website: http://www.edwin.co.jp

About: Americana workwear/outdoors inspired collection by Daiki Suzuki.

Website: http://www.engineeredgarments.com

About: Perhaps the denim brand that started the denim craze in urban NYC and the blog readers that followed.

Website: http://www.evisu.com

About: The highly sought-after fictional soccer club of Japanese fashion label SOPHNET. (by designer Hirofumi Kiyonaga) and Nike. The clothes are real, the team is not. (players are mannequins)

Website: http://www.fcrb.net

About: Founded by Hiromichi Ochiai, it is an up coming hope of Tokyo’s fashion scene. The collection made with original textiles is the atmosphere mixed with many culture and art from Tokyo’s new generation.

Website: http://www.facetasm.jp

About: A brand of Toshinosuke Takegahara who is ex-craftman at Tricker’s (a purveyor to the Royal Household in England). FOOT THE COACHER uses techniques acquired from well-known and respected centers of leather production such as Italy, France, and England, combined with the finest, and most suitable designs, materials, and production methods.

Website: http://www.footthecoacher.jp

About: Hiroshi Fujiwara’s design outlet which collaborates with all sorts of creative companies including Nike, Rolex, Oakley, Burton, and such. Kazuki Kuraishi, a freelance designer in his own right, is also known as an integral part of FRAGMENT.

Website: http://fragment.jp

About: As the brand name states, legendary graffiti writer, Futura2000′s clothing line based in Japan.

Website: http://flshop.exblog.jp

About: Produced under the Comme des Garçons umbrella, GANRYU is part of the company’s growing stable of edgy labels. Designed by Fumito Ganryu, this unisex line is known for its youthful street style.

Website: N/A

About: Stylist and photographer Takashi Kumagai’s label founded in 1998. GDC follows the popular American casuals route, but with interesting twists, transforms it into cool offbeat Tokyo original style.

Website: http://www.gdcweb.jp

About: GIULIANO FUJIWARA made their debut in 1986 in Milan. With the minimalism aesthetics, the brand has influenced not only the Italian fashion but globally. GIULIANO FUJIWARA is influenced by the Japanese philosophy of ‘wabi sabi.’

Website: http://www.giulianofujiwara.com

About: Founded by Hiroshi Fujiwara decades ago, the brand is known for pioneering street style worldwide over the years.

Website: N/A

About: Eiichi Katsukawa’s designs are now available at Dover Street Market Ginza and L’Eclaireur in Paris as well as his original stockist, United Arrows. With huge interest from buyers present at Pitti Uomo, more options were added to his stockist list.

Website: http://hkatsukawafromtokyo.net

About: Established in July 1998, this private brand designed by Hiroshi Fujiwara is manufactured by the acclaimed Yoshida & Co., Ltd. (owner of the classic “PORTER” brand), and is celebrated for its history of outstanding products.

Website: http://www.headporter.co.jp

About: Named after railroad wanderers, this coveted accessories and goods brand is run by the same team as Nonnative (clothing brand). HOBO is based on its minimalistic details and functional design.

Website: http://thathobo.com

About: Created by artist Nobuhiko Kitamura in 1984, the theme of the label is 1960s mass media, with T-shirts featuring pictures of famous musicians like Marc Bolan and the Sex Pistols, and art work by Andy Warhol. In addition to 51 stores in Japan, the International outlets exist in the UK and France, but none in the US.

Website: http://www.hystericglamour.jp

About: Fragment Design (Hiroshi Fujiwara) x Burton

Website: http://www.burton.com

About: Started by Issey Miyake in 1970, brands include Issey Miyake designed by Dai Fujiwara (succeeded Naoki Takizawa), Pleats Please Issey Miyake, Issey Miyake Watches, Issey Miyake Perfumes, and others

Website: http://www.isseymiyake.co.jp

About: Inspired by Zaha Hadid’s futuristic architecture, Tatsuro Horikawa creates military infused wears, which made JULIUS famous for. 2012 Pitti Uomo and Paris became the stage for JULIUS to acquire more awareness abroad.

Website: http://www.julius-garden.jp

About: Originally the protege of Comme des Garçons designer Rei Kawakubo. Junya Watanabe continues to push creative concepts through fashion. Collaborating with brands such as The North Face brings in new reach for the designer.

Website: N/A

About: Ikeda left Japan at the age of 14 for Spain, UK (where he got a accessory design degree) and France (where he worked for Givenchy as a leather goods designer). Peddling shows in Paris for several years, he has now had contracts with notable retailers all over the world. Elegant design pieces made out of highly skilled craftsmanship and the most luxurious materials, have become a must-have status symbol among Tokyo’s most fabulous denizens.

Website: http://www.kenjiikeda.jp

About: The House of KENZO was founded in Paris in 1970 by Takada Kenzo, surprising the fashion world with his originality and the apparent celebration of diverse cultures, nature and colors in his designs. Following his success, the KENZO brand joined the LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton company. Since 2011, Humberto Leon and Carol Lim have taken over the creative direction of KENZO. Thanks to their new vision, the label has revived the spirit at the origin of its success.

Website: http://www.kenzo.com/en/

About: Junichi Abe’s KOLOR which held a runway show in Paris for the first time in 2012 February, is one of the brands currently appealing to the Western mainstream. The collection is a formal take on Tokyo street-style influences, with voluminous tailoring.

Website: http://kolor.jp/

About: A collaboration betwtween Levi’s and Fragment Design.

Website: http://www.levi.jp

About: mastermind JAPAN celebrates “Love&Peace” and is a luxurious casual collection. Their cross and bones icon is very popular and sought after. The retail space is an experience itself with punk aesthetics mixed with contemporary Tokyo.

Website: http://www.mastermindjapan.com

About: Mihara Yasuhiro first made his name in footwear, establishing “Miharayasuhiro.” Developing his signature style – muted, monochromatic and distinctly urban – Mihara began to design menswear that same year. Due to the rapid business expansion, the company name was changed to SOSU INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.

Website: http://www.miharayasuhiro.jp/

About: Globally popular brand of “no branding” with clean aesthetics.

Website: http://www.muji.com

About: Designer Daisuke Obana started the line inspired by the sensibilities of classic American culture in 2000. N. Hoolywood runs the show twice a year during Fashion Week in NY.

Website: http://www.n-hoolywood.com

About: Takashi Kumagai’s chic mens brand that he launched in 2011, after working as a photographer, creative director, and stylist for brands, magazines, and ad agencies for many years,

Website: http://www.naissance-tokyo.com

About: The company designs The North Face Purple Label and other brands that are Japan exclusive.

Website: http://www.nanamica.com

About: The concept of “basic clothing created by digesting unique interpretations of elements from motorcycles, military, outdoor, trad, etc. and also suggesting this lifestyle” is the base for all products and projects which Shinsuke Takizawa’s NEIGHBORHOOD is involved with, and always lives in the themes for the seasons.

Website: http://neighborhood.jp

About: Started by Satoshi Saffen in 1999. Two years later Takayuki Fujii joined as designer, since then the brand keeps creating the clothing of timeless style and durable quality. Their ‘hobo-chic’ aesthetic line is full of functional, earth-toned pieces designed for layering.

Website: http://www.nonnative.com

About: Craft man of the avant-garde of fashion and luxury leather goods. Noritaka who has made more than 20 pairs of custom 10- 18 inch platform shoes for Lady Gaga, took the traditional “geta” shoes of geishas and made a modern form with his sculptural platforms.

Website: http://www.noritakatatehana.com

About: The North Face’s premium, Japan-only PURPLE LABEL is as limited edition as it gets, and the cult following is more underground than any other accessories brand. Made from deadstock fabrics and materials, getting anything by NFPL is truly a feat unto itself.

Website: N/A

About: As part of Asics, ONITSUKA TIGER is a global sportswear brand. The brand has been pushing in the street fashion scene by creating creative campaigns and collaborations with artists and designers.

Website: http://www.asicsamerica.com/onitsukatiger

About: Graffiti writer turned NY based artist KAWS’ label with Medicom Japan. The brand releases apparel to accessories with KAWS’ aesthetics.

Website: http://www.original-fake.com

About: A track bike oriented apparel brand. Tailored for comfort on or off the bike

Website: http://www.pedaled.com

About: Originally Big-O (Takeshi Osumi)’s offshoot label from Swagger, and its concept is inspiration from music scene. LPHENOMENON suddenly became the drag force of Tokyo’s fashion scene. The new 2012 S/S collection with a more elegant style made a huge impact to the scenes.

Website: http://phenomenon.tv

About: The main brand of acclaimed Yoshida & Co., Ltd. that is branded in 1962.

Website: http://www.yoshidakaban.com

About: POST O’ALLS / POST OVERALLS has been well received by diverse range of customers since their debut in 1993. Takeshi Ohfuchi, the designer, has huge respect towards anonymous American vintage work clothes designs, especially from 1920~30s which he considers “the very best”.

Website: http://www.postoveralls.com

About: A new line by Taishi Nobukuni who is a head designer for Takeo Kikuchi and owner of his brand TAISHI NOBUKUNI. The brand is known for his combination of ethnic influences and political collections. With PSYCHO TAYLOR, he shows anew edge as a taylor.

Website: http://www.taishi-nobukuni.co.jp

About: A label from Chitose Abe. Abe spent eight years working with Junya Watanabe before going it alone in 1999. The SACAI collection is available in 35 stores in Japan and 90 doors worldwide including Dover Street Market and Colette .

Website: http://www.sacai.jp

About: The popularity of this quality bag company has catapulted with the track bike wave. From messenger bags to bike related accessories, SAG continues to produce high quality goods.

Website: http://www.gaudi-sag.com

About: SASQUATCHfabrix stands out from others by going with their signature risk-taking sensibilities against the standard and ahead the chaos of Tokyo underground. Wonder Worker Guerrilla Band (Katsuki Araki and Daisuke Yokoyama) is not only a clothing designer but also an artist, doing installations around the world.

Website: http://www.sasquatchfabrix.com

About: Seiko has succeeded in becoming a household name in clocks and watches.

Website: http://www.seikousa.com

About: Soichiro Ito’s brand name came from the sound of Japanese word “consciousness of creation” and “consciousness to wear.” Started its collection since 2001-2002 A/W season.

Website: http://www.soe-tokyo.com

About: Tamae Hirokawa introduced the bodywear line, Skin Series under the concept of “possibility of clothing on the body” in 2006, which is now globally popular worn by celeb artists such as Lady Gaga and Madonna’s dancers. After winning the New Commer’s Prize at Mainichi Fashion Grand Prix, she presented her installation works and furniture collections at the 2008 Canon Neo Real Exhibition in Milano Salone, and at the Toyota iQ×SOMARTA Micro Cosmos Exhibition in the Design Tide Tokyo 2008. Recently SOMARTA collaborated with Mercedes Benz Japan for car graphic design.

Website: http://www.somarta.jp

About: SOPH is a part of the larger creative/fashion circle in Tokyo along with Hiroshi Fujiwara. They have offshoot projects of F.C.R.B. and uniform experiment. SOPH is by Hirofumi Kiyonaga, Tatsuo Miyajima, Julian Opie, and Jack Piersen.

Website: http://www.soph.net

About: SWAGGER was established in 1999 by Japanese rappers Shakkazombie: Iggy and Big-O (Osumie who is now the owner of Phenomenon) pursuing authentic hip hop spirit, Japanese dexterity and persistence to details. “urban youth lifestyle,” “fresh” and “new freestyle on classics” are the convictions deep in their soul, SWAGGER directed by Hidehiro “Iggy” Iguchi designs street wear with its high-end approach.

Website: http://swagger-co.com

About: TheSoloIst work represents a progression from what Miyashita created at the late, lamented Number (N)ine. Number (N)ine was heavy on rock ’n’roll and rebellion. TheSoloIst finds Miyashita designing pieces that feel more relaxed; even mature. Long-time fans of will still find his signatures in these latest creations, however, and if they’ve mellowed a bit over the years and just want some clothes to wander the city in, they know where to look.

Website: http://www.the-soloist.net

About: An Americana inspired brand. High quality cut and designed product with western influences.

Website: N/A

About: A Tokyo Footwear brand that releases original designs. The shoes are also popular in the US and available at UBIQ in Philly and ATMOS.

Website: http://ubiqcube.typepad.jp

About: MMA fighter Uno Caol’s apparel project. UCS also collaborates with Nike in strategically thought out product.

Website: http://www.uno-caol-shoten.com

About: Started in Harajuku in 1993 by Jun Takahashi along with then partner Nigo (Bape). UNDERCOVER has succeeded in creating one of the most interesting collections in the world. With the brand’s avant-garde aestics with it’s roots in street, the brand produces and interesting mix.

Website: http://www.undercoverism.com

About: An offshoot brand from Soph. A collaboration with Hiroshi Fujiwara.

Website: http://www.uniformexperiment.jp

About: UNIQLO is one of the fastest growing global brands in the world. The simple yet sophisticated design choices with an affordable tag has proved to be a success.

Website: http://www.uniqlo.com

About: The retail company releases limited high quality product with top tiered brands.

Website: http://www.united-arrows.co.jp

Website: https://www.unused.jp

About: Hiroki Nakamura has created a brand with a global cult following. With it’s minimalistic sense with elements taken from nature brings a very conceptual collection.

Website: http://www.visvim.tv

About: Tetsu Nishiyama aka TET started W)Taps as an ofshoot brand from Neighborhood. The original lines used elements from military issued garments. With the brand progressing as time went by, the collection started to incorporate biker styles and preppy influences.

Website: http://www.wtaps.com

About: Created by retired Japanese soccer players Keiji Ishizuka and Atsuhiko Mori. Ishizuka states, “friends, movies, music, wine, women” as the inspiration for the fairly new brand started in 2006.

Website: http://www.wackomaria.co.jp

About: This technical, outdoorsy label with the designer Yosuke Aizawa has developed a considerable following since its launch in 2006. The key thrust here is simplicity in design and innovation in the fabrics, which are changed each season and developed with brands like Gore-Tex and Schoeller. Highlights of the recent collection include the painterly, washed-out digital camo prints and pleasing details like striped-shirt buttons, corduroy-lined cuffs and Nordic-inspired jacquards.

Website: http://www.whitemountaineering.com

About: Heavily influenced by the hippie and surf culture in the US, WHIZ LIMITED led by Hiroaki Shitano sets their brand concept as “Individual clothing” to propose more design conscious fashion. The styles they present is not limited within the simple frameworks of fashion, such as mode and street.

Website: http://www.whiz.jp

About: Collaboration collection between Yohji Yamamoto and Adidas. The high end line brings the best of sportswear with a touch of class.

Website: http://adidas.com/y-3

About: Based in Tokyo and Paris, Yamamoto is known for an avant-garde spirit in his clothing, frequently creating designs far removed from current trends. His signature oversized silhouettes in black often feature drapery in varying textures.

Website: http://www.yohjiyamamoto.co.jp