“Fashion, happiness, fantasy…is what helps people. After every night, there is a bright morning.”

“This moment reminds me of how my mother used to recount that during the war she would talk about movies and her favorite actors in the shelter,” United Arrows creative director (and Sartorialist regular) Hirofumi Kurino shared in a note to all employees. The company is keeping stores open. Kurino emphasizes the importance of continuing normal life, and fashion and beauty especially at a time like this.


In Japan, as earthquakes continue, fears of nuclear radiation grow, and snow falls in the troubled Tohoku region, many in Tokyo try to function somewhat normally.

At Garter and Spank!, two shops in the trendy neighborhood of Koenji, owners Koshiro Ebata and Tavuchi, respectively, tweeted and blogged that they are open for business. So is Xanadu in Harajuku, a hot spot for young Japanese fashion design. “If I don’t keep the store open, my designers can’t eat,” said owner Tatsuro Motohashi. “I have to support them.” Miharayasuhiro closed its Tokyo boutique, but part of the team, like PR manager Noe Okamoto, is at the office packing up their international deliveries to get them out by the end of the month. Street-style blogger Mamy, a fixture around Omote-sando, posted some photos today.


In two weeks i will be going to japan hopefully to not only support the culture and economy, but also to be there with friends who have had to go through this horrible disaster first hand. Hearing the news from outside sources sound terrible, however from the inside perspectives i am hearing, at least in Tokyo, people are banning together to try and get life back together and back to normal. 


it is amazing to see so many fashion houses coming to the Aid of this amazing country.  donations keep pouring in. Coach has pledged the equivalent of $4 million to the Japanese Red Cross, H&M has closed all Kanto area stores so employees can be with their families, but will continue to compensate all staff until stores reopen. The Tod’s Group announced today that it will make a donation of more than 100 million Yen to aid urgent
relief efforts in Japan. 

my heart goes out to all those who have been personally effected by all the tragedies.