Japan Luxury Resale: How and Why it’s the Best
Japan’s high-end taste is not to be reckoned with. With economic shifts and cultural trends, Japanese consumers always want to be part of the luxury trend.
Over the past several decades, major Japanese cities such as Tokyo and Osaka have become home to hundreds of recognizable high-fashion stores.
How luxury started in Japan
Japan’s miracle period was when the economy grew by over 400% in 20 years after World War II. During this time, technology and innovation grew, which created a cash flow. And so, the bubble economy led to assets, real estate, and spending increases, especially in luxury items.
And so, luxury fashion quickly became accessible to everyday consumers, leading luxury brands like Dior and Louis Vuitton to become popular in Japan after opening their stores and collaborating with Japanese artists.
Despite the bubble bursting in the 1990s, many Japanese consumers sought out luxury items. Whether they kept buying or only bought one item. Either way, it was enough for the luxury economy in Japan to keep going.
Japanese luxury during an economic crisis
Around the early 2000s, the luxury market was able to grow and surpass what it was before the bubble burst.
So many luxury brands, like Louis Vuitton, built flagship locations in high-end and fashionable neighborhoods like Ginza.
While Japan never fully recovered, it’s common for people to do small luxury purchases as a form of escapism, something to bring small joys in their lives.
Many Japanese consumers in 2009 also started to buy items that bring them joy and self-expression instead of status and self-worth.
Becoming a luxury powerhouse in Japan
Tourism is one of the biggest factors for Japan to hold many luxury brand names. Many tourists are willing to go to Japan and shop in-store. And with the yen becoming weak, it’s a major incentive to buy from there than from home.
With full neighborhoods dedicated to shopping and luxury retail, Japan is a top competitor to hold and house luxury brands.
Luxury retail in Japan
While shopping in-store is quite popular, e-commerce and online luxury shopping, like WeeklyLuxDrop, have made things 100x more convenient. They offer free worldwide shipping and amazing deals to give you the luxury you want.
From handbags, accessories, jewelry, and more.
Even on social media has contributed to luxury retails in Japan where people highlight specific neighborhood, what stores are there, and what they bought. It includes:
- Nakano Broadway: rare and collectible items
- Shibuya: has a store called Komehyo with 5 floors of luxury brands to shop at
- Harajuku: many secondhand and vintage stores
Why do people buy designer bags in Japan?
Whether you live in Japan, travel here, or shop online, you might wonder why so many people want to buy designer bags in Japan.
High-quality and authentic handbags
Japan’s anti-counterfeit law is very strict. So much so that businesses must get a special license to sell second-hand items as a business.
It’s one of the many ways to prevent any fake items from entering the resale marketplace, which ensures that anything you buy in Japan is always 100% authentic.
Preferring preloved to new
One of the many spending habits in Japan involves “mottainai,” or avoiding waste, respecting resources, and utilizing things to their full potential. This has been a practice for over thousands of years, but only recently started to be applied in the past decade.
So rather than throwing them away and buying new ones, people are starting to sell their unwanted items.
Safe travels
With the weak yen, many wants to travel around and do some shopping in Japan.
But “cheaper prices” after the conversion may be like your home currency. So, the next best option would be secondhand or preloved handbags.
While many are worried about getting a fake bag, Japan has strict anti-counterfeit laws to minimize them entering the resale market.
From auction houses to secondhand stores and online businesses, they are heavily regulated and require a license to buy, carry, and sell luxury items. The prices will vary depending on the condition and the original packaging.
Luxury brands and secondhand items
Secondhand markets help luxury brands in the long term.
Original handbag owners can clear out space, which allows them to buy new ones from their favorite brands. And for others, it allows them to get these items at a more affordable price.
Even if brands create their newest collections of handbags, their previous collection isn’t instantly going to waste, as many secondhand owners are willing to reclaim it as their own.
Many preloved luxury items in Japan are in good condition, almost like new, practically, which makes the Japanese luxury resale market desirable for those looking for high-quality secondhand luxury.
In closing
Japanese luxury resale will always continue to have demand due to Japan's counterfeit laws, affordable pricing, and amazing second-hand quality.
There’s nothing wrong with buying the latest luxury collection.
If you are looking for a preloved luxury item, then WeeklyLuxDrop is the place to check out. New weekly items are always being added. So be sure to check it out.