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Ametora: How Japan Saved American Style
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Look closely at any typically “American” article of clothing these days, and you may be surprised to see a Japanese label inside. From high-end denim to oxford button-downs, Japanese designers have taken the classic American look—known as ametora, or “American traditional”—and turned it into a huge business for companies like Uniqlo, Kamakura Shirts, Evisu, and Kapital.
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Start your review of Ametora: How Japan Saved American Style
Japanese teenagers spend an inordinate amount of time, effort, money, and energy in pursuit of fashionable clothing, especially when compared to their global peers. America, with a population 2.5 times larger than Japan, has fewer than ten magazines focusing on men's style. Japan has more than 50.
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This is not a book, however, about the intricacies of clothing patterns or design concepts. Our story follows the individuals responsible for introducing American clothing to Japan, as well as the ...more
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This is not a book, however, about the intricacies of clothing patterns or design concepts. Our story follows the individuals responsible for introducing American clothing to Japan, as well as the ...more
Honestly? This was THE best book I've read all year. Which is just as well, because 2016 is now almost over and I have just managed to hit my target reads for the year.
Ametora: How Japan Saved American Style is a MUST for anyone with any interest in fashion, particularly Japanese fashion. In fact, fashion aficionados of the 21st century now know that you cannot possibly disentangle the geneneralised concept of 'fashion' from 'Japanese fashion', the most vibrant and diverse fashion industry in ...more
Ametora: How Japan Saved American Style is a MUST for anyone with any interest in fashion, particularly Japanese fashion. In fact, fashion aficionados of the 21st century now know that you cannot possibly disentangle the geneneralised concept of 'fashion' from 'Japanese fashion', the most vibrant and diverse fashion industry in ...more
I read a few books about fashion in 9th grade when I thought that was my thing (Dior's autobiography, Yohji Yamamoto wrote a book, some things about Comme des Garcons etc brands of interest), and I've leafed through a few Japanese mags in my day but this is definitely the best, definitely the meatiest book about fashion I have ever read.
I mean look. I transitioned out of half-hearted otaku's eye view """"Harajuku"""" style to hot mess gay style with """"Harajuku"""" elements to Uniqlo and Muji ...more
I mean look. I transitioned out of half-hearted otaku's eye view """"Harajuku"""" style to hot mess gay style with """"Harajuku"""" elements to Uniqlo and Muji ...more
I read this on the heels of Julian Cope's "Japrocksampler," which is another excellent book about post-war Japan's adaptation of a Western form. I found "Ametora" a bit more engaging, perhaps because I'm getting older and menswear is now more interesting to me than obscure Sabbath clones. In any case, this book is absolutely wonderful. The way it contextualizes each wave of Japanese men's fashion within a historical and economic moment makes it a great primer on post-war Japan as well as a
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"it ain't about who did it first, it's 'bout who did it right"
This book is deeply informative and helps the audience to understand the origins of many popular American fashion trends. The amount of information that is included in this book is astounding. The author does a great job at explaining storylines and introducing influencing aspects that created trends in Japan that were then brought to America. The book describes in depth a wide array of things like photography and cultural events that were important in shaping trends. The topic of fashion
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This shit wild.
Excelllent read for understanding the apporpiation, improvent and exportation of culture between countries and how it affects the culture.
Jun 18, 2017
Jeffrey Wu
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
Vivian wang
Shelves:
culture-critique
Ametora, written by W. David Marx, is a historically exhaustive survey of cultural flow between Japan and the United States. While seemingly dense for a niche issue and topic, Marx keeps it interesting by centering the book around the story of a few movers and shakers. People like Kensuke Ishizu of VAN Jacket, Nigo from A Bathing Ape, and Masayuki Yamazaki of Pink Dragon dot the fashion landscape as they took what was familiar in American fashion and made something distinct from it.
If culture ...more
If culture ...more
Page-turning and packed with information
Ametora's introduction features a quote by William Gibson- fitting, since it was his twitter where I first heard of this book.
Anyone can make a nonfiction book informative, many can make them entertaining- and some deeply thought-provoking. But Marx manages to do all three with his fascinating history of the Japanese obsession with American fashion, from black market blue-jeans to young Americans rediscovering classic collegiate style in the painstakingly ...more
Ametora's introduction features a quote by William Gibson- fitting, since it was his twitter where I first heard of this book.
Anyone can make a nonfiction book informative, many can make them entertaining- and some deeply thought-provoking. But Marx manages to do all three with his fascinating history of the Japanese obsession with American fashion, from black market blue-jeans to young Americans rediscovering classic collegiate style in the painstakingly ...more
Ametora is an amazing book that is very informational while managing to stay easy to read and quite succinct. All its stories, from the rise of Ivy style, to the domination of international streetwear with A Bathing Ape, to the obsession and mastery with first finding vintage American denim, and then later with its production, are enthralling. A perfect example on how the history of fashion can be interesting.
Truly a fascinating read for anyone interested in either fashion, design, or Japanese culture. Well researched and detailed. I enjoyed the chapters on the Take Ivy photography series, as well as the vintage Americana obsession that launched (revived?) Harajuku. Could have done without the streetwear section, as I wasn't convinced of the connection to the rest of the historical arc, which was a weakness. Anyway, very interesting stuff.
Anyone interested in Japan or fashion will enjoy this book.
I'm going to do that thing I do--I'm glad I lived in Japan in the later 00s, because I got to see Ura-Harajuku in the post-2000 heyday. I've been to the A Bathing Ape store, wandered through a bunch of the vintage shops, and watched all the people dressed with more style than I had realized was possible.
I didn't buy any clothes, of course. I wasn't nearly as cool then as I am now.
I have some issue with Ametora's subtitle, as most of the book is a history of post-war Japanese fashion. It starts ...more
I didn't buy any clothes, of course. I wasn't nearly as cool then as I am now.
I have some issue with Ametora's subtitle, as most of the book is a history of post-war Japanese fashion. It starts ...more
The first word that comes to mind when reflecting on Marx's book is "informative". I've gotten into menswear over the past 2+ years and have absorbed information from blogs, Instagram and the occasional magazine article. I haven't found any detailed non-editorialized background on the origins of particular styles, trends and Japanese designers on the level of this book.
The most enjoyable part of the book, aside from the overall context, is the collection of niche anecdotes related to the people ...more
The most enjoyable part of the book, aside from the overall context, is the collection of niche anecdotes related to the people ...more
Saw this in the bibliography of a book about the history of blue jeans. What a wonderful surprise. Marx is a scholar of Japanese fashion history and was lucky enough to meet many of the actors from the post war and document the history of teaching the Japanese consumer about "American traditional" or Ametora. Now it is the Japanese teaching the US about American traditional clothing. Great historical analysis and sources; empathetic; a real treat to come across and to read.
Fascinating book delving into the history of fashion in Japan throughout the years, through the lens of American influence, and the cultural impacts of the different movements, from the classic Ivy style, to Heavy Duty, to the modern streetwear and workwear era, and more. I have had a love for Japanese garments and reading this book has certainly deepened my obsession, but I think that even those not necessarily interested in fashion would take an interest.
Super fascinating read if you are at all interested in fashion. Learn how vintage became a thing, where and how raw denim started, and also who the rise of streetwear should really be credited to. It's definitely relevant to today's globalization of trends and you won't be able to stop noticing the back and forth of influence in style after this book.
Oddly compelling. You probably have to be a bit of a weird fashion nerd with a style crush on a few Japanese people and he doesn't even mention Mana from Malice Mizer nor Novala Takemoto (of course, very few men follow their fashions!), but if you're a weirdo who actually likes history or men's fashion, this book is full of both!
This is such a well-written cultural history. While I can't say I know much about anything relating to fashion, Marx's writing kept me interested throughout, and the conclusions that he draws at the end of the book about the interplay between the Japanese and American fashion world is fascinating. Highly Recommend
Very interesting overview of the Japanese early trends in Men's fashion and How America influenced Japan as a whole. It really made me think about how America has influenced fashion all over the world and wonder about the reasons behind American culture being so highly valued in many developed or developing countries.
Incredible work by David Marx. The book explores the short, yet complex timeline of Japanese fashion - from the Ivy craze to the street style era of the 90’s and the turn of the century. A must read for everyone with an interest in global fashion and specifically, the state of menswear in Japan. Well done!
Succinct yet comprehensive retrospective of the both-ways flow of fashion across the Pacific Ocean (and beyond). The history is compelling and fun to read, though I feel at time his argumentation relies to heavily on anecdotal evidence. I particularly enjoyed the denim chapter.
If you’re interested in fashion or culture, you’ll love this book. Marx’s research is impressive and his narrative is fascinating.
A must read for any American man interested in Fashion, visiting Japan, or buying Japanese goods.
I enjoyed this book far more than expected. I recommend it highly to people interested in fashion, particularly in menswear.
Some of the best sociological fashion writing I’ve ever read!
Really cool book on how Japan influenced modern menswear from Ivy, Denim, and Streetwear. If you're into men's style like me you will certainly enjoy this historical and sartorial journey.
Fun look at the history of fashion exchange between the Japan an the US.
Those of you who know me, also know I'm a bit obsessed with Japanese-Americana fashion, specifically raw denim. This book is a history of how that style evolved in Japan.
It's a fascinating topic. Starting right after the Pacific War, with The Occupation, Japan was obsessed with the stuff that was coming from America. With an almost reverential obsession, fascinated Japanese tailors reversed engineered American fashion, and sell it to an urban Japanese youth.
The effect was interesting, like a ...more
It's a fascinating topic. Starting right after the Pacific War, with The Occupation, Japan was obsessed with the stuff that was coming from America. With an almost reverential obsession, fascinated Japanese tailors reversed engineered American fashion, and sell it to an urban Japanese youth.
The effect was interesting, like a ...more
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