what i like about shopping in japan..

is the architecture of the stores! and also the way they are located. they are practically hidden! as if they do not want people to find their shop. but its this thing about it that is so captivating. i remembered on my tokyo trip last year, kym and i tried to find the martin margiela shop in daikanyama.. for like almost 2 hours, walking round and round residential area. it is so hidden, as in there is no signages (many hi-fashion brand stores in japan are very very low profile about their shop). it is right in the middle of a cluster of surbuban homes. but very pretty! however when we found it, it was already 6pm. and its closed! what a waste. here are some photos of how it looks like. (we did not take these photos, they are from www.archinect.com.)



btw, maison martin margiela is one of the famous designers from belgium, from the royal academy antwerp. he first worked for jean paul gaultier for 3 years before starting his own line 'maison martin margiela' in paris in 1988. besides him, i also like belgium designer, ann demeulemeester. i hope to visit antwerp, the fashion capital of belgium someday. to know more about martin margiela, check out www.maisonmartinmargiela.com. to see his latest fall 2006 ready-to-wear collection, check out style.com.