Twice a year, hundreds of Tokyo's underground designers, artists and musicians pack into one venue to sell handmade goods to a crowd dressed entirely to the nines. Welcome to Artism Market.
Built for subculture
Started in 2013, Artism Market was created specifically to support subculture artists and designers. While it's often compared to Tokyo's giant Design Festa, Artism is smaller, darker and more focused—gothic, steampunk and lolita dominate the booths.
More than a marketplace
With a few hundred booths and roughly 2,000 visitors per edition, the event functions as much as a community gathering as a shopping trip. Attendees come to buy handmade fashion, CDs and art—but also to dress up, meet like-minded people and be accepted. Photo reports like those on Japanese Streets capture just how high the styling bar runs.
Why it's worth knowing
Events like Artism are where tomorrow's brands get their start, sold directly by the people who make them. For anyone serious about Japanese alternative fashion, the indie markets matter as much as the famous shops—they're where the subculture renews itself.
