Hysteric Glamour

Japanese designer Nobuhiko Kitamura created the brand to reflect the style that he was seeing overseas. After seeing a poster for the Tokyo Mode Gakuin Fashion School slapped on the outside of his favorite record store, Kitamura decided to attend.

After graduating in 1984, the designer went to work for Ozone Community, the brand many believe to be the founding father of the preppy-style movement that would go on to influence many Japanese-fashion subcultures, including Japanese-Americana. It was there that he would learn the basics of pattern making and sewing, and soon he launched his first personal collection under the branding Hysteric Glamour in 1984. 

Since its creation in 1984, Hysteric Glamour has been known for its unique interpretations of classic American looks. Part of its significance lies in the fact that it laid the groundwork for what would eventually evolve into the Harajuku scene. From cut and sew denim to graphic tank tops, the brand took staples from the 70s and flipped them on their head completely, creating new pieces that would go on to inspire decades of counterculture movements in Japan and across the world.