Week 7: Japanese Subcultures

Week 7: Fashion Influencers

ASA 141

Franchesca Flores 

Photo from Outsider Japan, "Japanese Subcultures"

The article, “Japanese Teens as Producers of Street Fashion,” by Yuniya Kawamura, made me reflect on the ways fashion is promoted here in America in comparison to how it is in different parts of Japan. Yuniya points out that fashion in Japan is not guided by trained designers, but by the teens in different subcultures. Being a part of a subculture means one identifies with a unique look and group of people where they demonstrate their identity through their clothing and attitude, at times their location plays a part in this too. Mentioned by Yuniya, Crane states that the clothing worn by these people, acts as the construction of personal identity and allows the individual to be liberated in their choices (785). There are a lot of subcultures that these teens can find themselves in, some of these groups dress Kawaii, which is a lifestyle of a dreamy feeling, Cosplay, when teens dress in costume from Anime and Manga, or Lolita, which are referenced from Victorian dolls. When looking for these items to complete their look, Japanese teens look to the workers at the stores to get the latest trends, and at times will want to buy exactly what they are wearing. 

In America, this way of promoting trends and fashion can similarly be seen through popular YouTube stars that do style looks or even makeup tutorials/hauls. Another way that trends are influenced is by people’s favorite celebrities. Typically, celebrities are wearing some sort of designer brand, so clothing stores like Forever 21, Cotton On, and Pac Sun can be seen imitating these pieces, but selling them for a cheaper price with little alterations. As much as everyone wants to be original and have a distinct look, sometimes it’s hard and somehow someone always has a way to define one’s style. I never thought I had a distinct style until I asked a friend about my style for our first blog! With this the question I want to pose is, is there such thing as a person who is not a part of a subculture or have a “type” of style?