Where to play
In the Japanese fashion market, we have now lots of options to buy clothes. Here, we have luxury, trend, and mass markets. Global luxury brands dominate. Japanese apparel and foreign brands compete with the trend and mass markets. But there are not many Japanese brands that go abroad. You might think of it as Comme des Garcons and Sakai in the high-end and Uniqlo and Muji in the mass market. But there is none abroad in the middle price range in the trend market.
We’ve always wished for small brands with small teams abroad because it would be easier to decide where and how to play. On top of that, digital makes it easier to sell and promote and raise money for your projects.
Here are some examples that you might find hints of where to play:
Makuake platform
It’s a platform where companies pre-sell new products in the planning phase, and consumers buy it as a sign of support.
Visit website
WWD Japan x Uniqlo +J collection
Fashion journalists review on YouTube.
View review here
Brands x Instagram live Shopping
Ameri vintage – An influencer who has blended vintage and new clothes as a unique style.
Ameri vintage Instagram account
SNIDEL – An apparel brand that produces women’s wear with the concept of street formal.
SNIDEL Instagram account
The last question to ask. Are you expecting to expand on a global scale soon? What would you have achieved if you went global?