The Story of Vivienne Westwood in Japan

Vivienne Westwood began her fashion journey in London during the 1970s, crafting bold, handmade creations that captured the rebellious spirit of the era. The designer’s unique flair for fashion helped to define the punk look before she expanded her scope to include high fashion runways, and although many of Vivienne Westwood’s designs include a nod to her British heritage, her influence has grown over the years, transcending borders.

Since the early days, Vivienne Westwood’s designs have found a particularly devoted following in Japan, and the designer herself celebrated that connection by opening her first international boutique in Tokyo in the 1980s. This move only deepened the cultural link, fueling her impact on Tokyo’s street fashion during the 90s and 2000s. By the time Tokyo emerged as a global style hub, Vivienne Westwood’s influence was an unshakable presence in the local fashion scene, often seen in street snaps on the stylish streets of Harajuku. The eye-catching designs have even appeared in beloved manga and anime, solidifying the brand’s status as a regular part of Japanese fashion. Today, her signature Orb logo remains a common sight among Tokyo’s trendsetters, and the city continues to be a destination for Vivienne Westwood enthusiasts worldwide. It may not be the designer’s hometown, but some say that Tokyo is the best place to shop for Vivienne Westwood fashion in the entire world.

Shop Vivienne Westwood in Tokyo

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Nowadays, Vivienne Westwood boutiques can be found around the globe and across Japan, with each one tailored to reflect the character of its surroundings. The Vivienne Westwood Tokyo flagship is nestled in one of Tokyo’s most stylish districts, situated between the designer-lined avenue of Omotesando and the upscale Aoyama neighborhood. The Vivienne Westwood Aoyama boutique, tucked away on a quiet side street just off the bustling avenue, spans two floors with an additional small loft space. Its gallery-like displays present the collection as wearable art, featuring a mix of seasonal designs, timeless classics, and even an occasional item exclusive to Japan. If you want to check out all the iconic Vivienne Westwood designs that made the designer such a beloved staple of the Japanese fashion scene, this is the place to shop.

Vivienne Westwood Aoyama Branch (ヴィヴィアン・ウエストウッド 青山店)
5-49-2 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo
Hours: 11:00 – 20:00
Directions: 3 min from Omotesando Station (exit B2)
Official Website (jp)

The Vivienne Westwood Aoyama Selection

Seasonal Collections

The ample floor space at the Vivienne Westwood Aoyama branch gives the shop plenty of room to show off the full spectrum of Vivienne Westwood designs, which makes it a great place to look for the latest styles as well. When the Japankuru team went to check out the boutique in late autumn, that meant a selection of holiday pieces. Trying a few of the items on, they were cozy and perfect for layering throughout the coldest months of the year, without sacrificing any of the avant-garde flair we expect from Vivienne Westwood.

Standout designs include the S Coat, a slightly skewed version of a classic wool coat, made in their signature Harris Tweed with an asymmetrical cut. The fabric was chosen as a tribute to the Scottish Highlands, which strongly influenced the fashion house’s autumn/winter collection. When you slip the coat off, you’ll be treated to a glimpse of their Tossed Orb lining fabric. The slightly hidden pattern of the fabric is, as they put it, “synonymous with Vivienne’s vision of launching tradition into the future.” We couldn’t resist pairing the coat with the Pleat Midi Skirt, an interesting denim number that will find plenty of use throughout the holiday season (and the rest of the year). The sleek fitted shape, the unusual back slit and front pocket, and the small orb logo details make it eye-catching while still maintaining versatility.

Vivienne Westwood Tartan

Vivienne Westwood herself had a deep interest in history, and pulled strongly from the culture of the British Isles in her designs, helping to turn Scotland’s classic tartan fabric into a fixture of the punk scene before bringing it to high fashion runways. The influence of British textiles and tailoring traditions can be seen in collections as early as the 1980s, and as part of Westwood’s sustained commitment to environmental and social activism, the brand has partnered with local industries and artisans to make the most of the United Kingdom’s most recognizable fabric. Tartan is now an iconic Vivienne Westwood motif, clearly visible in this year’s holiday designs and throughout decades of Vivienne Westwood collections, and you’ll find it gracing some of our favorite pieces at the Vivienne Westwood Aoyama branch.

If you find yourself drawn to the bright red tartan used in the 2024 holiday collection, and want to add just a taste of it to your wardrobe, there are plenty of smaller accessories to match the S Coat. Grab one of the small purses or wallets, or bring home the thick red headband (seen at the top of the page) for a real statement piece! Customers searching for something a little more unconventional should look for pieces using the wild “draped tartan” pattern swirled with blues, reds, and yellows, which is ostensibly inspired by the wallpaper from Vivienne Westwood headquarters. This season you can find the fabric being used to add extra drama to a “Drunken Shirt,” which utilizes an off-center button placket and other unexpected tailoring tricks to evoke the wild designs of Vivienne Westwood’s early ’80s “Witches” collection.

Classic Accessories, From Orb Logos to Rockinghorse Shoes

The accessory selection at the Vivienne Westwood Aoyama branch isn’t just limited to tartan pieces, although those are certainly tempting. This boutique has everything you need to add the finishing touches to your outfit, so you can walk the streets of Tokyo like a runway. You’ll find purses and wallets, rings and necklaces, hats and scarves, and plenty of shoes too. If you’re looking for Westwood’s most timeless designs, both the Large Hazel Handbag and the classic Rockinghorse Ballerina Shoes shown above are bound to stay in regular rotation for years to come.

Pearls never go out of fashion, but in recent months, some of the most popular Vivienne Westwood jewelry pieces in Tokyo have been pearl-studded Orb designs. Both the Mini Bas Relief Pearl Bracelet and the Tillya Pendant have a dainty look that calls back to imagery the brand has been playing with since the late ’80s, and the delicate designs work well with both everyday outfits and special occasion looks.

Add a Little Vivienne Westwood to Your Tokyo Travel Looks

Vivienne Westwood’s punk spirit and her legacy of bold design continue to ignite passion within the fashion world and beyond, and her designs have left an unmissable stamp on the Japanese fashion scene. Whether you’re a dedicated admirer of her work or a fashion enthusiast eager to experience something new, the Vivienne Westwood Aoyama boutique is a must-visit destination in Tokyo’s high-end fashion district of Omotesando. You won’t want to leave Tokyo without shopping the unique designs that helped shape Japanese street fashion! Plus, with the yen currently at a historic low, there’s no better time for international travelers to take advantage of favorable exchange rates and tax-free shopping. Make the Aoyama boutique a highlight of your Tokyo itinerary, and experience firsthand the enduring impact of Vivienne Westwood’s vision in one of the world’s most vibrant fashion capitals.

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