With Vivienne Westwood boutiques all over Japan and an extensive lineup of exclusive products, Japan is the place to do some serious Vivienne Westwood shopping.

Vivienne Westwood Is Tokyo Fashion

Vivienne Westwood began designing clothing in London, England in the 1970s, and before long her handmade pieces studded with straps, chains, and safety pins grew to define the punk style, quickly spreading across the world in a wave of music and fashion. Since the early days of the brand, when Vivienne Westwood embodied the rebelliousness of the era, the designs have artfully incorporated British iconography, and even now observant admirers can still see the sheen of British style shining through many of the designs – in the form of a stray Union Jack or a touch of plaid suiting. At the same time, the brand has undeniably gone global, most notably finding its own niche in Japan.

Vivienne Westwood opened her very first boutique outside of the UK in Japan in the 1980s, and in response to this bold move, Japan has loved her back ever since. That one Tokyo boutique opened the door for the rush of influence that Vivienne Westwood’s designs exerted on the street fashion phenomenon that blossomed in Tokyo throughout the 90s and early 2000s, when Harajuku became a fashion center of the world. It certainly didn’t hurt that Westwood’s designs even made their way into some of Japan’s most popular manga and anime series, too. Vivienne Westwood pieces became a mainstay of Tokyo street snaps when the local fashion culture reached its peak, and to this day the Orb, Vivienne Westwood’s iconic logo, is ubiquitous among a certain selection of Japan’s most fashionable residents. With generations of fashion lovers gathering in the Harajuku area, it’s no surprise that Tokyo is one of the best places to shop for Vivienne Westwood fashion in the entire world. What you might not know, however, is that Vivienne Westwood boutiques throughout Japan carry a great selection, with exclusive Japan-only items too.

Shopping for Vivienne Westwood in Japan

These days Vivienne Westwood boutiques can be found up and down the islands of Japan to cater to the enormous local fanbase, offering international designs from the core collection alongside Japan-only exclusives, and each boutique is shaped and curated to match its surroundings. Around the Harajuku area, the wellspring of Japan’s love of Vivienne Westwood, you’ll find a Vivienne Westwood RED LABEL in the heart of the neighborhood, a Vivienne Westwood MAN on the ritzy Omotesando shopping street, and a classic Vivienne Westwood Aoyama boutique selling a little bit of everything from the designer.

When shopping for Vivienne Westwood in Japan, boutiques like the one in Aoyama do offer select items from the main collection, but the Japanese licensed collections are what you’ll really want to comb through. Although Vivienne Westwood RED LABEL and Vivienne Westwood MAN have both popped up all over the world in the past, these days the collections are developed exclusively for sale in Japan, which means you won’t find these styles anywhere else! Produced with the Japanese fashion scene in mind, the designs reference Japanese trends while still maintaining a distinct Vivienne Westwood look, and items are available in fits and silhouettes to suit the Asian population. Most of all, these licensed collection products are made to meet demanding Japanese standards and stand up to the exacting eyes of local shoppers, utilizing exacting production techniques and the highest quality materials. Once you check out the Vivienne Westwood lineup available in Japan, you might want to come back to shop every season.

Japan-Exclusive Vivienne Westwood Items
& Trends From the Autumn-Winter 24/25 Collection

Vivienne Westwood’s earliest designs came from her reimagining styles from the past in new innovative ways, and to this day that process is at the core of the brand’s identity. For the coming autumn-winter season the designers drew inspiration from vintage styles, maintaining the retro mood while simultaneously updating the looks with modern materials and silhouettes. Each of Japan’s exclusive licensed collections polished this theme in its own way to cater to a unique audience, resulting in distinct takes from both Vivienne Westwood RED LABEL and MAN.

Vivienne Westwood RED LABEL Recommendations: Preppy & Punk

^{_{Images courtesy of Vivienne Westwood}}

One of the most eye-catching trends in the upcoming RED LABEL lineup is the infusion of preppy style, but this new direction is different from the styles we saw last year that looked as if Vivienne Westwood took a page out of the Clueless lookbook. This year things are looking a little more classic Ivy League. To match the vibe we recommend slouchy cardigans like the Patchwork Chunky Knit (center), which lend the line a casual collegiate vibe, or items that pull from the sportsman look like the Big Pitch Stripe Rugger Shirt (left). That sporty aesthetic can be seen in the tracksuits, too, although examples like the Recycled Polyester Double-Knit Tracksuit (right) recall a somewhat different era.

Of course, you’ll find Westwood’s iconic punk touches on each and every item. The check and tartan skirts like the Tartan Check Mini Skirt (center) are both classic schoolgirl-chic and classic Vivienne Westwood all in one! And while loafers and white socks fit in perfectly with the preppy look, you can copy the subtle addition of sheer black stockings underneath to add a little spice.

^{_{Images courtesy of Vivienne Westwood}}

Not everything in the Vivienne Westwood RED LABEL autumn-winter collection is leaning all the way into that preppy look, however. Through a veil of vintage style, some of the pieces look like they’re pulling inspiration from the latest Harajuku trends. We think the combination of the Cotton Fleece-Lined Animal Cut Top and the Organic Cotton Broadcloth XXL Shirt (left) comes together to give off an air of Harajuku’s own girly-goth Jirai Kei fashion, especially in combination with the socks, stockings, and loafers. The Melton Short Cut Beaver Wool Trench (right) could be seen as a classic outerwear piece, but the styling shows how it fits right in with the goth and lolita looks seen roaming the streets of Harajuku today. If you want to bring home a Vivienne Westwood piece as a souvenir to remember Japan, just search the collection for a little bit of Tokyo style.

Vivienne Westwood MAN Recommendations: Shape & Substance

^{_{Images courtesy of Vivienne Westwood}}

For the cooler months on the horizon, our favorite aspect of the Vivienne Westwood MAN collection is all the different materials and unique silhouettes the designers are playing with. The autumn-winter collection includes silky velvets, rough denims, soft fleeces, and jacquards with a gleaming sheen. To the Japankuru team, it certainly looks like they’re having fun with that textural contrast, exemplified in dramatic pieces like the Velvet Hals Collar Denim Jacket (left), with its decadently draping velvet collar resting on the stiff denim shell.

To try out this kind of textural contrast on a simple scale, you can always copy the Vivienne Westwood MAN lookbook and combine textiles like the crisp woven fabric of the Multi Stripe Long Hooded Shirt with the soft, flowing knits of the Shadow Roo Hoodie and the Shadow Felpa Trouser (all center). Even the intense visual texture of the Mist Check Waistcoat, Long Shirt, Trousers, and Cap (right) adds a surprising kick to what would otherwise be a classic Vivienne Westwood plaid suit. 

^{_{Images courtesy of Vivienne Westwood}}

It’s not just the mix of textiles that gives the Vivienne Westwood MAN collection its distinct look for the coming season, however. There are unmistakable touches of Vivienne Westwood’s punk aesthetic, repeated motifs like the Twin Eagles (right), and of course the baggy, slouchy silhouettes that give the whole line a sense of cohesion. For warmer autumn days, we recommend the loose styling of the Cropped Wash Denim Trouser (center and right), which are cropped right in the middle of the calf to create a bold look. If you want to show off your footwear, bring this Japan-exclusive item home with you.

Find Exclusive Vivienne Westwood Items on Your Next Trip to Japan

^{_{Images courtesy of Vivienne Westwood}}

Whether you love Vivienne Westwood designs so much that you make your trip to Japan a mission to find new pieces, or you want to find a cool limited-edition souvenir or two to remind you of your Tokyo travels, one of the many Vivienne Westwood boutiques scattered around Japan would be a great place to start. The coming season promises a whole selection of vintage-inspired looks reimagined as modern designs, and Japan is known for offering items found nowhere else. If you’re heading to Japan, don’t miss the latest Vivienne Westwood collection.

For more info and updates from Japan, check Japankuru for new articles, and don’t forget to follow us on X (Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook!