What Is Harajuku Fashion?

Harajuku fashion. What is it? Why is it so popular? Who can wear it? Where did it come from? All these answers can be answered in this post.

Before I get into the whole thing about Harajuku fashion, let me first explain my interest in the subject myself. I have never gone to Japan before but if I had the chance I would love to. My fashion has drastically changed from the norm, sometimes I love to dress in western street fashion with a bit of edgyness to them. However, through my discovery of the Japanese fashion I have started to integrate lighter colours, pastel like looks inspired by Japanese Harajuku fashion.

Harajuku is considered a district in Tokyo between Shinjuku and Shibuya and is considered a fashion goldmine for young people who's fashion identity shifts to the alternative side in particular the 'Harajuku fashion'. Harajuku fashion has existed "since early 1980s and became known in the west around 00" and more and more people have adapted to the Harajuku fashion and wear it. This all started with young people who would hang around Harajuku in particular in "colourful outfits" especially "Takeshita Dori (Takeshita Street) & side" street where there were "trendy shop fashion boutiques, used clothes store, crepe stands and fast food outlets". All these components that made up Harajuku would appeal to the fashion addicted youths.

The first time the Harajuku craze started booming was when young people would mix "traditional Japanese attired with western clothing", this created the hybrid of taking both bits of the culture from two different parts of the world and creating a whole new hybrid. This hybrid ended up becoming the basis for much of how Harajuku fashion would adapt and even though time as past, Harajuku has not lost its appeal.

For young people Harajuku fashion, was a way of for them to tell the world that "they don't care about mainstream fashion" and prepared to push boundaries to "dress as they wish". For young people Harajuku fashion gave them the chance to emotionally release all their pent up selves and feel they can dress the way they truly want and not listen to what society accepts.

Two words that have been used to refer to this kind of fashion is "Harajuku" and "Kawaii" which still continue to evolve. Harajuku refers to the wide array of alternative fashion, most notable would be Lolita, Visual Kei, Decora Kei, Gyaru Kei. Whereas, Kawaii translated means cute, when we refer to something as Kawaii, in western culture we would see pastel looks with a myriad of cute accessories as that which have been possibly influenced by Japanese fashion.

Each style has taken different influences from many inspirations such as the Gothic style of Harajuku fashion which has been taken from "medieval aristocrat". This style creates a sense of refined beauty and darker look by wearing very dark clothing. The Japanese Lolita style puts a lot of emphasis on the "girlish cuteness and coquettish beauty" this style makes use of the girls natural cuteness and beauty and uses bright pastel like colours to enhance them and give this angelic like appearance. Then there is Gothic Lolita style which combines the two Gothic style and Japanese Lolita style combines the two styles into a new hybrid, the "ballerina-inspired style that mixes a tutu skirt with colourful tops". This style gives a whole new kind of feel to it by combining the refined beauty with the cuteness of the individual person.

There are "no set rules for the kawaii fashion", Harajuku style is not to appease the male gaze the way that they would want the female to be perceived but to stay "true to what you feel is kawaii" and more emphasis is put on what is considered "kawaii from the girl's perspective. To those who wear Harajuku fashion to young people it means "not holding back fro other's judgement, while utilizing bold colors to the fullest". For them this is what progresses the kawaii fashion to have both the look and attitude to go with it. They may look kawaii but have their own claws, so you better watch out.

Rise of Japanese is thanks to artists such as Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and Baby Metal who have wore Japanese Harajuku fashion from one of the sub genres. It has also risen in the West thanks to arts such as Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj and many others, who have incorporated Harajuku fashion into their performances.

I am someone who is attracted to the more cute variety of Harajuku fashion and I hope someday I get the chance to visit Japan and experience it myself in person.

References

What is Harajuku Fashion? (09/05/2018) Written by Romano Castillo (Accessed at: 8 February 2019)

What is Harajuku Fashion? (02/01/2016) Written by Ai Yoneda. Translated by Hilary Keyes. (Accessed at: 8 February 2019)

Harajuku Fashion - Trends in Japan  (Accessed at: 8 February 2019)