BEAMS JAPAN to Launch First-Ever US Retail Pop-Ups

BEAMS is one of Japan’s most influential and best-known retailers, with fans across the globe eyeing its covetable collaborations and intelligent curation. The boutique has never dabbled in brick-and-mortar outside of Asia — though its BEAMS Plus sub-label is stocked internationally and BEAMS COUTURE’s Ziploc collection did emerge stateside. This all changes in 2019, however, as BEAMS JAPAN prepares for its first-ever Western retail launch.

First established in 1976 by Etsuzo Shitara, who was later succeeded by his son, current owner and CEO Yo Shitara, BEAMS started off as a retail space in Harajuku, Tokyo. The store is famed for the major role it played in, among other things, importing Western style and international brands to Japan. It’s coming back full circle as the label’s BEAMS JAPAN sub-label plans its American debut in the form of a uniquely curated pop-up space at Fred Segal Sunset in LA and Nordstrom in NY.

The collaborative retail project the result of a relationship that stretches back to 2011 when Fred Segal became one of the first stores to introduce BEAMS products stateside. Since then, the LA-based store has been a passionate supporter of BEAMS’ in-house labels; similarly, Nordstrom has channeled its appreciation of the Japanese imprint as the sevent edition of its Concept series. Attendees can expect a special edit of Japanese products from the eight-floor BEAMS flagship in Tokyo along with goods from sub-labels that include BEAMS Plus, BEAMS BOY (womenswear) and BEAMS COUTURE (limited accessories). Key collaborations include Diaspora Skateboards, Flagstuff, Orslow, Koji Yamaguchi, Naijel Graph, Yusuke Hanai, Sasquatchfabrix and Teatora, with remixed items in collaboration with American heritage companies like Polo Ralph Lauren, New Balance, New Era and Brooks Brothers.

All of the goods will be sold exclusively at the pop-up and online at Nordstrom’s web store and Fred Segal’s website.

BEAMS’ pop-up at Nordstrom begins on November 7 and its event at Fred Segal Sunset will launch on November 14, running until January 2020. Relive two decades of BEAMS via its 20th anniversary BEAMS Plus video below.

Meanwhile, the Japanese store recently tapped Champion and Suicoke for exclusive seasonal goods.