How to Make Harajuku Style Clothing

Harajuku style is a fashion craze created by teens in the Harajuku shopping district of Tokyo. In the 1980s, Harajuku area youth began mixing elements of traditional Japanese attire with the more modern, Western clothing they were accustomed to wearing. Today, youth on the street continue to interpret and reinterpret Harajuku style. Singer Gwen Stefani helped it gain international popularity, but she is just one of its many fans worldwide.
Harajuku style is all about personal expression, and many garments are designed and handmade by the wearer. Dressing in layers is key, so a one-of-a-kind vest makes a useful and versatile addition to your Harajuku style wardrobe.

Things You'll Need

• A button-down shirt
• Scissors
• Needle and thread or sewing machine
• Patches, iron-ons, and/or stencils and fabric paint

Instructions

1. Cut off the sleeves of a button-down shirt, preferably one that fits you closely. Leave ½ inch of fabric all around each armhole.

2. Tuck the half-inch of fabric into each armhole and stitch all around.

3. If the shirt has a collar, you can leave it on or detach it, depending on the look you prefer.

4. Embellish the vest with patches of your own design or from another garment, iron-ons, or words or designs stenciled in fabric paint. The bottom line is to make it your own.

Tips & Warnings

• Before you design your vest, familiarize yourself with all the variations that represent this trend (see Resources below). These include Gothic Lolita (a Victorian look), Japanese punk (inspired by the punk movement of the 1970s), cosplay (dressing up like a cartoon, anime or video game character), kawaii (dressing in a cute, childlike manner), decora (a flamboyant, over-the-top, colorful style), and wamono (mixing articles of traditional Japanese attire with modern Western clothing). You can make your vest from just about any style top, including knits. Mix it up. Combine different patterns and styles. Accessorize with pins, scarves and belts to further personalize your look while fitting into one of the Harajuku style variations.

Resources

• HarajukuStyle.net