Acne Studios Unveils Layered Flagship in Tokyo

Swedish fashion house Acne Studios has opened its new three-storey flagship in Tokyo’s Aoyama district, a project shaped by creative director Jonny Johansson in collaboration with Stockholm-based architecture practice Halleroed.

Conceived as a creative home rather than a conventional retail space, the store draws inspiration from the dense, layered fabric of the Japanese capital while reflecting the brand’s longstanding affinity with the country.

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The interior takes visitors on a journey through material and sensory contrasts. Seating by British designer Max Lamb merges woven textiles with high-gloss pink patent leather, creating an interplay between softness and sheen. Custom lighting by Benoit Lalloz establishes rhythm and atmosphere across the levels, while ghostlike mannequins by artist Daniel Silver stand as expressive sculptural presences. A further dimension is introduced through bold ceramic works by Japanese artist Takuro Kuwata, whose cracked textures and warped forms bring a sense of playful imperfection that resonates with the surrounding architecture.

This flagship goes beyond retail, offering a space where people can engage with Acne Studios in more tactile and experimental ways. Sculptures, furniture, and artworks made specifically for the store blur the line between fashion and contemporary art, tying back to the brand’s identity while honouring its Japanese context.

To mark the opening, Acne Studios partnered with Kuwata on a limited-edition capsule collection, available exclusively in Aoyama. Reinterpreting signature pieces such as the Camero bag and trompe-l’œil denim, Kuwata infused his ceramicist sensibility into clothing and accessories, creating objects that explore the tension between fragility and rupture. His practice, rooted in wabi-sabi and the tradition of kintsugi, finds new expression in wearable and collectible forms.

The collaboration was sparked by a visit to Kuwata’s studio in Tajimi, a city with a rich ceramic heritage. There, surrounded by explosive glazes and electric colour, Acne Studios recognised an approach that mirrored their own: reimagining the familiar through layering, friction, and collaboration. In Tokyo, this ethos is embodied in a flagship that merges local spirit with Scandinavian design vision.

Images courtesy of Acne Studios via Designboom

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