Style & Design | ON: FASHION Dec 11, 2021
Retail therapy: Fashion outlets in battle to fight fatigue
Stores adopt a few innovative measures in a bid to prize open the wallets of domestic shoppers with overseas customers still shut out of Japan.
Samuel Thomas
Samuel Thomas is a fashion writer and lecturer at Bunka Gakuen University. He regularly contributes to The Japan Times, among other publications, and has his own site TokyoTelephone.com. He is currently pursuing his research in fashion at the University of Tokyo.
For Samuel Thomas's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Style & Design | ON: FASHION Nov 14, 2021
Shop to your heart’s content, without a staff member in sight
If you’ve ever felt Japan’s customer service was too much, contactless shopping is on the rise. Meanwhile, pop culture-capsule collaborations vie for the title of “most shocking.”
Style & Design | ON: FASHION Oct 10, 2021
Anime aesthetics blur the line between real and virtual fashion
As some brands dip their toes into NFTs, others turn to nostalgia-with-shock-value to sell both real and virtual clothing.
Style & Design | ON: FASHION Sep 12, 2021
What makes virtual fashion shows work? Clever videos certainly help
With even big-name houses struggling for views, brands that abandoned the typical film format found the most success.
Style & Design | ON: FASHION Aug 15, 2021
Tokyo fashion week shifts its schedule, signaling Japan-focused approach
Rakuten seizes the opportunity to better appeal to a local clientele, while skateboarding style tops the Olympic podium.
Style & Design | ON: FASHION Jul 11, 2021
Tokyo 2020’s Olympic uniforms are here to make a statement
Athletes’ uniforms illustrate the values each country wishes to embody. So think of the Olympics opening ceremony as one of the largest runway shows the world has to offer.
Style & Design | ON: FASHION Jun 13, 2021
For new fashion events and collections, it’s all about the timing
Japan’s latest styles celebrate Pride Month (sort of), take fashion week to print and collaborate with vintage video games.
Style & Design | ON: FASHION May 16, 2021
Kawaii, but make it subversive: Japan’s latest fashion is more than its frills
The country’s over-20s are embracing cute clothing in a subversive push against adulthood.
Style & Design | ON: FASHION Apr 11, 2021
Pop culture paraphernalia is where fashion is at — if you can afford it
After many stores shut their doors last month, there’s now a pop culture-tinged positivity imbuing Japan’s fashion scene.
Style & Design | ON: FASHION Mar 13, 2021
Practical workwear bucks the trends and brands turn to digital talent
Utility wear brand Workman is enjoys rise in sales despite a downturn in the fashion industry. Meanwhile, Valentino and Wego sign on virtual celebrities to appeal to specific demographics.