Baby, the Stars Shine Bright (株式会社 ベイビー、ザ スターズ シャイン ブライト, Kabushiki Kaisha Beibī, Za Sutāzu Shain Buraito) is a Japanese apparel brand created in 1988 by Akinori and Fumiyo Isobe.[1] The brand specializes in lolita fashion and has been widely known for its "sweet" aesthetic.[1][2] In 2004, Baby, the Stars Shine Bright launched Alice and the Pirates, a sub-brand centered on gothic and punk lolita apparel.
 | |
| Company type | Corporation |
|---|---|
| Genre | Lolita fashion |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Founder |
|
| Headquarters | , Japan |
Area served | Asia, Europe, North America |
| Products | Apparel, accessories |
| Website | www |
Brand concept
editGothic & Lolita Bible describes Baby, the Stars Shine Bright's designs as being "dominated by ribbons, lace, and flowers" that emphasize the wearer's youthfulness and sweetness.[3] The brand is one of the widely known brands in lolita fashion for its "sweet lolita" aesthetic, which features "pastels" and "cupcake" silhouettes.[4] The brand is named after the 1986 album of the same name by British duo Everything but the Girl.[5]
History
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Baby, the Stars Shine Bright was founded in Japan by Akinori and Fumiyo Isobe, a married couple.[5] They first opened a store in Shibuya in 1988.[5] The company's flagship store, opened in 1999 in Daikanyamachō, Shibuya, was relocated to Omotesandō in 2012.[6]
Baby, the Stars Shine Bright became more widely known after the release of the 2004 live-action film adaptation of Novala Takemoto's 2002 novel Kamikaze Girls,[1] of which they were featured in the film and produced the wardrobe for one of the main characters.[2]
By February 2008, Baby, the Stars Shine Bright had an English version of their website and allowed people outside of Japan to purchase their clothing.[7] In August 2009, Baby, the Stars Shine Bright opened its first store in the United States in San Francisco, California.[8][9] In July 2014, Baby, the Stars Shine Bright opened a store in New York City, New York, as part of a combination store with Japanese alternative fashion retailer Tokyo Rebel.[4] The New York store closed on February 28, 2018.[10] A location was also opened in Paris, France, but it closed on April 13, 2017.[11]
Products
editBaby, the Stars Shine Bright sells apparel that is handstitched in Japan and cut from custom fabrics.[4] In May 2023, Baby, the Stars Shine Bright released their first fragrance, Baby Princess.[12]
Alice and the Pirates
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In 2004, Baby, the Stars Shine Bright launched Alice and the Pirates, a sub-brand dedicated to gothic and punk styles.[1] The name is inspired by Alice in Wonderland and Vivienne Westwood's 1981 Pirate Collection.[1] Mai Takita was hired as the brand's designer in 2006.[13] The first Alice and the Pirates store launched in Harajuku, Japan, on August 25, 2007.[13]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Lolita fashion: Japanese street style". Victoria & Albert Museum. May 12, 2024. Archived from the original on April 17, 2024. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
- ^ a b Godoy, Tiffany (2007). Vartanian, Ivan (ed.). Style Deficit Disorder: Harajuku Street Fashion. Chronicle Books. p. 142. ISBN 9780811857963.
- ^ "Baby, the Stars Shine Bright". Gothic & Lolita Bible. Vol. 1 (English ed.). Los Angeles: Tokyopop. February 12, 2008. p. 47. ISBN 9781427803474.
- ^ a b c Van Syckle, Katie; Whitford, Emma; Faibyshev, Dolly (July 22, 2014). "The Japanese 'Lolita' Subculture Takes New York". The Cut. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
- ^ a b c Nguyen, Michelle (February 12, 2008). "Gothic & Lolita History". Gothic & Lolita Bible. Vol. 1 (English ed.). Los Angeles: Tokyopop. p. 9. ISBN 9781427803474.
- ^ "ベイビー：下妻物語のロリータブランド本店が表参道にオープン". Mantan Web (in Japanese). September 28, 2012. Archived from the original on March 14, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
- ^ Nguyen, Michelle (February 12, 2008). "Shopping Made Easy". Gothic & Lolita Bible. Vol. 1 (English ed.). Los Angeles: Tokyopop. p. 60. ISBN 9781427803474.
- ^ Tsui, Bonnie (June 24, 2010). "An All-Japanese Mash-Up". New York Times. Archived from the original on June 17, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
- ^ Hill, Angela (February 10, 2020). "16 must-sees in San Francisco's Japantown, from ramen to shoji paper". The Mercury News. Archived from the original on June 6, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
- ^ "Baby, the Stars Shine Bright's official New York store – BABY, the Stars Shine Bright New York City". Baby, the Stars Shine Bright New York City. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
- ^ "Annonce importante // Important announcement". Baby, the Stars Shine Bright Paris. May 25, 2017. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
- ^ "BABY初の香水「Baby Princess」が登場！イメージモデルはLiyuuちゃんが担当♡5月2日より海外版も販売開始！". Harajuku Pop! (in Japanese). May 1, 2023. Archived from the original on December 1, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
- ^ a b Nguyen, Michelle (June 17, 2008). "Pirates Invade Wonderland: An interiew with Alice and the Pirates' designer Mai Takita". Gothic & Lolita Bible. Vol. 2 (English ed.). Los Angeles: Tokyopop. p. 102-103. ISBN 9781427803481.
External links
edit- Official website (in Japanese)