Jun Takahashi is one of my favorite Japanese fashion designers and the man responsible for the brand UNDERCOVER.
Jun was the vocalist of the cover band “Tokyo Sex Pistols” and his role model was Vivienne Westwood (fashion designer best known for bringing modern punk and new wave fashion into the mainstream and was inspired by promoter and manager, Malcom McLaren, who managed the Sex Pistols).
Jun would launch UNDERCOVER in 1990 with fellow Bunka Fashion College Design student, Ichinose Kobo. And he would launch Nowhere, a retail venture in Ura-Harajuku with Nigo of A Bathing Ape (BAPE).
June is married to Riko Morishita, a model who handled the design of the children’s line for Undercover, known as RICO for UNIQLO. And the two have one son and a daughter, Dolce & Gabbana model La La Takahashi.
And along with UNDERCOVER, NOWHERE, UU (UNIQLO UNDER COVER), AFFA (Anarchy Forever Forever Anarchy), Jun Takashi is known for collaborations with his UNDERCOVER line and back in 2015, Jun launched MAD, a new line that is part of his UNDERCOVER brand.
Jun’s first store was the MADSTORE UNDERCOVER at Shibuya Parco and in November 2016, Jun opened his MADSTORE UNDERCOVER concept store at Laforet Harajuku (in the Shinjuku Jingumae area).
Unfortunately, I left Japan a week before the store opened. But I told myself that in 2017, it would be a priority for me to visit the concept store and purchase a few things.
One thing that I noticed that the clothing featured at MADSTORE UNDERCOVER vs. the UNDERCOVER store is pricing. It’s much cheaper at the concept store but at the same time, the Laforet Harajuku store focuses on street style with t-shirts, hats, beanies, accessories, etc.
In fact, one of the things that the employees were really trying to upsell is the UNDERMAN action figure. While I felt it was cool to see and in the past, I would have no doubt made the purchase, but the wannabe minimalist side of me is trying for a reduction of things in the home (which is proving to be more difficult than I thought).
But there were things that I knew that I wanted. The UNDERCOVER x NEW ERA hat was a must at nearly Y10000. I struggled because I wanted to get various colors of the hat and I also wanted the beanie. But I kept to a few items that I know that I wanted.
But for those looking for cool designs and a fresh style from Jun Takahashi, definitely check out the MADSTORE UNDERCOVER concept store at Laforet Harajuku.
