Chris Gibbs Announces Union Tokyo Store

After launching its own made-in-Japan line last year, Union is set to return to the country to open a Tokyo location. The Shibuya store — which will be the first new Union location since the Los Angeles outpost was launched 27 years ago – will officially open its doors in April.

Chris Gibbs, who started working at Union L.A. in 1996 before climbing the ranks and taking charge of the company, told Business of Fashion that the store will have some similarities to the existing location: “We largely want to take what we’ve been doing in L.A. to Tokyo, but what’s going to be different is the ratio.” This new ratio will see the Tokyo store reduce the number of Japanese brands stocked, and focus on its mix of American labels. The Japanese venture will be a partnership between Union and Jack Inc., a company that has worked with Stüssy for more than 35 years.

Gibbs also described his aims for the store, explaining that he hoped it became “a social hub for young creative people, something you don’t often see in Japan.” To launch the space, more than 30 collaborations will drop over the coming year, including releases with Kaws, ALYX, Awake NY, OAMC, WTAPS and NEIGHBORHOOD. Keep checking back for more news on the store’s opening and the upcoming collaborations in the coming months.

In other fashion news, NOAH has released the lookbook for its Spring/Summer 2018 collection.