If you are into vintage denim and workwear and you don’t want to spend full price on expensive brands such as Levi’s, Carhartt, Ralph Lauren, Burberry, Dickies, etc., a visit to Anchor is a must if you’re in Japan.
Anchor is a used clothing store specializing primarily in Nishi-Kaigan or West Coast Americana fashion and aesthetic for men and women – think faded Levi’s jeans, button-down shirts, varsity sweaters, vintage jerseys, vests, pants, Carhartt jackets, vintage sneakers, cowboy and leather boots, as well as accessories such as worn-out bags, cowboy hats and trucker hats, all styled with a laid-back, rugged confidence.
If you’re into that, you’ll get exactly that at Anchor. The best part? You get to buy those branded high-end jeans and denimwear at second-hand prices.
So far I’ve visited Anchor’s Omotesando (near Harajuku’s Takeshita Street) and Shimokitazawa stores (they have stores across Japan so you’ll get plenty of opportunities to visit an Anchor shop) and dude, the amount of racks dedicated to denim at Anchor is. A. LOT. It can get pretty overwhelming at first because if you just wanted a denim jacket you’ll get PLENTY of options to try on – it’s actually a good thing though because plenty of options means more options to choose from, right?
Everything is just distinctly American and distinctly vintage inside their stores. Anchor’s vibe basically draws from California’s skate, surf, and workwear, like something between a desert road trip and a 90s college campus, and that retro feels just give off that “effortlessly cool without trying too hard” vibe.
Though items are used, the prices are still on the expensive side which is probably due the fact that everything is curated and one-of-a-kind and most items would pass as new. As for visibly used items like worn-in sneakers and boots, they have their own charm too. Items are of course still cheaper than the regular price and most items would pass as new, and oftentimes they would bring out their clearance rack so make sure you visit earlier than usual to get the best picks out of it.
Check out Anchor’s website for the list of store locations around Japan, and to get updates on their latest sale events.
