Affordable avant-garde brands

[moviesanddonuts]

I love Japanese-style avant-garde style clothing – Comme des Garcons, Yohji Yamamoto, Issey Miyake, Junya Watanabe etc... the kind of thing you find at Dover Street Market. But, I most definitely cannot afford these brands at full price! 😂I have quite a few pieces that I've bought second hand (I had an amazing time in second hand stores on a trip to Tokyo a few years ago!) and a few very lovely Christmas/Birthday gifts from DP but was wondering if anyone knows any good quality yet high-street-priced brands with a similar style?

The quality has declined in recent years but Cos does have the occasional bit. I saw a trouser and dress combo in Issey Miyake style. Some of the goth brands might be worth perusing but the quality isn't great.

For high quality and not too high prices I'd encourage looking at Japanese workwear for carpenters, sportswear (Judo, Kendo, etc.) and temple garbs like, Tabi and Hakama trousers.

@botemp thanks! I do like a lot of the cos stuff but find the fit is often just really weird…

I love the idea of looking at Japanese workwear brands!

Muji? Or not avant garde enough?

No idea about the quality, never bought from them but interesting
https://www.dumymun.com
They seem to be on radio silence on most social media but are posting on their youtube channel.

@GeriKellmansUpdo I do love Muji's simplicity but was more specifically after brands with interesting / unusual constructions (doesn't have to be Japanese either – Japanese designers just tend to do this very well!)

@Pestispeeved ohhhh! This looks promising – they have some lovely stuff!

I picked up some baggies from The Slow Wardrobe. If you are after baggy linen that lasts for ever they are great https://www.theslowwardrobe.co.uk/collections/layercake/trousers

If you want to go down the martial arts uniform route, I bought some kids gi from tozando website in cotton with sashiko stitching one was unbleached cotton and 1 was aizome so navy blue.

If you buy hakama, there are two types: one is like a skirt and one is like trousers. They don't cover the upper thigh on the side, theres a large hole here so you wear a short kimono or a gi (which you want to come down almost to your knees) underneath to be revealed through this gap. They are the equivalent of chaps sort of.

There's also a uk website: Wafuku, that sells vintage Japanese clothes. I have a couple of haori and hakama from there.

Oska / Ischiko ? Sadly out of my price range though sales are often good..
Oska

@Pestispeeved I love these! (and they also have some great knitting patterns!)

You could try Forgotten Tribes.

@Laska2Meryls the Oska stuff is great! I love the selection of colours! Will def keep an eye out for their sales. Thanks!