The role of urban planning in Japanese menswear

I 100% agree with this tweet and would say the same for women’s fashion too.

It’s a big reason why I love Japan.

And I’ve lived in Paris for a long time — which is supposedly the world’s capital of fashion and good taste.

Japanese people actually don’t believe me when I say Japanese fashion is so superior. Because we always focus on the outliers.

Yes the top 1% of fashion in Paris is probably better than the top 1% fashion in Tokyo.

But the average person in Tokyo is better dressed than the average person in Paris.

So why is Japanese fashion so damn good?

The above tweet prompted this thread from a renowned menswear writer.

Here is a summary of the reasons:

• The culture is part of it (i.e. they value craftsmanship), but it’s not just that.

• There are a lot of hobbyist magazines about every little niche subjects, including menswear.

• These magazines focus on rules and details instead of what celebrities are wearing.

• The density of Japanese cities makes the distribution of these magazines easier. They couldn’t exist otherwise.

• Cheap rent (compared to Western cities) enables small specialized shops to continue existing.

So basically urban planning mixed with Japanese culture is what fuels high-quality menswear.

One more thing about urban planning in Japan is that there’s a lot more mixed-use zones.

I always find it interesting going into a neighborhood that seems just residential and finding little shops, art galleries, and restaurants.

I remember going into a restaurant once that was in a regular house — it was really surprising.

Let’s finish with an example of this.

I recently visited Studio d’Artisan, one of the Osaka 5 for denim, and the shop is barely noticeable.

And it’s a really small shop, I was standing in the middle of the room for this photo, it’s not much bigger in the opposite side.

But the quality of the clothes in this shop is absolutely mind blowing and it’s definitely worth checking it out.