November is usually a quiet month in fashion, retailers safe in the knowledge that hordes of Christmas shoppers are on their way. Last month, though, a number of upsets in the Japanese fashion world kept things fiery as the temperature dropped. It wasn't all bad news, though.
The storm before Christmas
First up was news that Harajuku bastion of amekaji (American casual) bad boys Glad Hand might have been living the outlaw lifestyle after all. On Nov. 26, under suspicion of embezzlement, its offices were raided by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutor's Office special investigation squad. At the time of writing, its Harajuku flagship was closed as the investigation continues. If the allegations are proved true, it would be a huge shake-up to the menswear fashion scene, where Glad Hand and its seven sub-brands are currently active. The sub-brand Gangsterville, in particular, might be in for some satirical ridicule.