Tokyo a la Mode. Web Magazine for Japanese Fashion and Urban Culture
Fashion: 11
Shopping on the Go
By Bobby / Sep 17, 2006
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A Tokyo girl is always on the go. Between work and play, when can she find the time to go shopping?
Shopping by mobile phone is taking off in Japan. When a young Tokyo woman is riding home on the train or waiting to meet friends at the coffee shop she can simply log on to an online shopping site and with a few clicks purchase the latest in fashion and accessories. In a recent poll, 20.8% of female respondents made purchases with their cell phones on such items as clothing, shoes, DVDs and books. That adds up to $3.5 billion dollars of mobile commerce in a market that is primed to explode in the years to come.
Just scan it
Japanese fashion magazines make shopping even easier. If Tokyo girl sees something she wants like a hot pair of jeans, she can scan the QR code—a new kind of bar code—right out of the magazine using her mobile phone and it will take her to a website where she can purchase the item. No digging for the right size and no waiting in lines!
Girlswalker.com is a popular mobile phone shopping site and carries a wide variety of Japanese brands such as Ash & Diamonds, Egoist, Alba Rosa and Coola. Xavel, the company behind Girlswalker.com, has taken mobile shopping a step further and organizes fashion shows under the brand Tokyo Girls Collection where the audience can purchase the fashions they like using their mobile phones as the models strut down the catwalk. Sugoi!
Sources:
www.japanmediareview.com
www.cnet.com.au
web-japan.org
I really like your site’s layout.. it reminds me of Napoleon ice cream ^_- Also, the fashion info in this article is fabulous; I loved the link to Xavel.com. Do you know any English sites that sell Japanese apparel? Thanks for the article and keep up the great work! I’m looking forward to the next fashion story ^_^
By Michelle on 2006 09 18
Thanks for your support! About websites that sell Japanese clothes in English there aren’t that many true Japanese brands that sell outside of Japan. You can try trendyoutfitter.com. A couple of sites that sell Japanese style but are not from Japan are http://www.onatoko.com and http://www.asiajam.com. Other than that, you’ll have to try eBay. Good luck!
By Bobby on 2006 09 19
O_O ohmygosh… I want to do this! I wonder how long it will take for the rest of the world to catch up with Japan on this…
Btw, your website rules!! I love reading your articles ^.^
By Batman on 2006 09 27
Hi Bobby! ^_^ Thanks for answering my question… I didn’t realize that you’d actually respond so quickly; I really appreciate the suggestions.
When I was searching online, I also found this new site called YesStyle.com; I think it’s affiliated with YesAsia.com. Have you checked it out? I’m not sure if they have any true Japanese brands either, but I thought I’d pass on the info to you anyway. Hope it helps!
Oh, and are you familiar with Little Tokyo in the LA area? If so, do you know of any good bookstores where I can find Japanese fashion magazines? I’d rather not drive out to Santa Monica Blvd in the Westwood area just to catch up on reading..
PS. I also realized after my first post that I meant Neopolitan, not Napoleon ice cream. I didn’t mean to say that your site resembled a little French guy with a compensation complex! ^_-
By Michelle on 2006 09 28
I knew of the bar code thing (some of my flyers have a bar code on them), but never realized you could actually browse and shop on the cellphones. If I had these I would never have any money -.-.
Really cool!
By Raeann on 2006 11 08
It good http://astore.amazon.com/japanasia-20
By suriya on 2007 08 06
This site is carrying All stuff from JAPAN.
If you like japanese fashion and trend, check this site!
By rucie on 2008 02 25
This site is carrying All stuff from JAPAN.
If you like japanese fashion and trend, check this site!
[url="http://www.vivalatokyo.com"]
http://www.vivalatokyo.com/data/vivalatokyo/image/GARCIAMARQUEZ.jpg[/url]
By rucie on 2008 02 25
very interesting stuff. i also found some in here urban trendy wear
By urban trendy wear on 2008 03 17
Also, please check this site.
owner is the same as VIVA LA TOKYO.
They will ship worldwide.
By also on 2008 03 18
Mode Shop
