Creative Discovery at Laforet Harajuku: A Physical Encounter with New Talents

There was a time when the streets of Harajuku overflowed with creativity.

Once upon a time in Harajuku, designers known as 'mansion builders' were active largely due to the influence of street fashion snaps from magazines like 'FRUiTS'. Students from Bunka Fashion College snapped photos and had their works published in the popular magazine 'Zipper'. Making original items was a trendy part of this 'creative activity'.

The store 'Ai to Kyouki no Market (愛と狂気のマーケット)', located underground in Laforet, reminds of the times when Harajuku buzzed with creativity. Its striking name and diligently curated setup overflow with talent, making it stand out even in Laforet Harajuku. In this article, we spoke with Chiho Kanda, leader of Laforet Harajuku's Ai to Kyouki no Market, about Harajuku's current status.

市場愛と狂気, championed as a 'return to the origin of creative Harajuku', is an eyecatching store with a memorable name. Stepping into the store, one's heart jumps at the sight of the impactful interior unlike anything seen before.