Candy Stripper
Candy Stripper is a popular Japanese clothing brand based in the Harajuku area of Tokyo. They make a variety of clothes for women in their teens and twenties, including shirts, caps, hats, tights, coats, sweatshirts, knits, one pieces, t-shirts and more. They also make accessories like bags, iPhone and regular cell phone covers and charms for cell phones.
Candy Stripper’s look is loud, cute, and rock and roll. They use lots of bright colors, over-the-top designs and large sizes. Designs are playful and fun, using loud colors and designs from punk and glam rock. The original brand concept was to make street fashion apparel for teens that were a mix of girly sweetness and punk rock chick. Newer lines include casual clothes and more subdued colors for women in their 20’s, as well as mens’ clothes. Candy Stripper’s main shop is a well-known bright red building on Cat Street in Harajuku, but they also have some stores in major cities in other parts of Japan.
Candy Stripper’s founders, Yoshie Itabashi and Chiharu Kikuchi, started designing their own clothes in 1995, when they were students at the Vantan Design Institute. In 1996, they graduated with degrees in fashion design and started their own company, Ministry. Their unique designs quickly caught the attention of the fashion world, especially among teens who liked their fanciful imagery. The company grew in leaps and bounds during the early 00’s. This was due in part to their popularity among certain celebrities. They soon had shows of their collections in Tokyo. In recent years, they’ve expanded their clothing lines in order to market to women in their 20’s.
Candy Stripper’s clothes are often featured in the popular FRUiTS Magazine, which covers the latest street styles from Harajuku, Shibuya and other trendy spots in Tokyo. In 2008, Candy Stripper released a book of their designs, published by Kawade Shobo Shinsha, called “Candy Stripper, Happiness And Power.”
In the spring 2006, to commemorate their 10th anniversary, Candy Stripper launched the CS and CS Black lines. These lines reflect a more “grown up” look, using more subdued colors and patterns. They still keep some of the cutesy and punky themes, but tone them down for women in their 20’s.
Besides their iconic Harajuku flagship store, Candy Stripper has 7 shops throughout Japan, all located in Parco shopping centers. Lots of select shops also carry the brand and they also have an online store. The Candy Stripper online store carries their usual goods, as well as exclusives that are only available through the website.
External Links for Candy Stripper:
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