Technical and Futuristic Fashion Pieces and Accessories from Japan
By: XEONIQ [ Instagram | Tumblr ]
Contents
Introduction
I have been a regular user of the ZenMarket.jp proxy service since 2016, and over the years friends and followers on social media have asked where I’ve gotten certain pieces that I have worn and invariably the answer has been off Yahoo! Japan Auctions (Y!JP). ZenMarket.jp and I have partnered together to highlight items that I have found and curated to suit my audience of readers who are interested in futuristic and technical fashion. I know from speaking to many people online that there has been a barrier to using proxies to buy from Y!JP either in finding items they are interested in or in how to use the service. Hopefully this weekly article will help with that somewhat.
I strongly feel that there is too much clothing being made in the world and supporting “fast fashion” due to their low prices is part of the problem. However, not everyone can participate in “slow fashion” which is often higher priced to sustain its lower volumes and higher quality materials and construction methods. I feel that Y!JP auctions via ZenMarket.jp can be a good compromise with many brands and designer label pieces available that would overwise end up in a landfill providing considerably more quality and value over cheap fast fashion alternatives. Further, with so much of today’s contemporary fashion being heavily derivative and referential, there are huge volumes of clothing in pretty much any design aesthetic and feature you could think of available on these used markets; and even technical fashion has been around a very long time.
With the Japanese Yen significantly depreciated versus foreign currencies such as the US Dollar, the value and selection of buying from Y!JP auctions via ZenMarket is even higher.
Each week new Y!JP auctions will be included in this article. The list will be updated every week and the previous weeks’ worth of auctions will be further archived in the event some are still for sale, but most likely they will be unavailable.
I will try to cover a range of sizes but if you are interested in a piece that won’t fit you, there are tens of thousands of clothing auctions running on Y!JP; and ZenMarket.jp’s search function and English translations are very easy to navigate for your own searches. In fact if you do end up buying a piece from these lists, you’ll invariably want to find a few more to add to your parcel before having them sent to your home.
How to Use ZenMarket.jp
Last year, Joseph Gleasure [ Instagram ] and myself provided a guide on how to purchase fashion products from Japanese market places using proxy services, including Zenmarket.jp. A link to this article is included below.
ZenMarket has also provided a full tutorial for using their service on YouTube, embedded below. If there are any specific questions about using the service, shoot me an e-mail or message me on Tumblr or Instagram.
What I like to do personally is pick a handful of items totaling between Â¥20,000 to Â¥50,000 and then ship them together as a combined parcel using DHL Express. I don’t find DHL Express to be significantly more expensive than other options but I’ve had packages from ZenMarket arrive in Australia within 48 hours from when it was picked up by the DHL courier at ZenMarket’s warehouse.
As Zenmarket.jp is a proxy service there are no returns if things do not fit. I find that Japanese sellers on Y!JP are reasonably accurate with their measurements and if anything they overstate any damage on items. In the many years of using ZenMarket I’ve never received an item that was in poorer condition than I expected.
I have included the tagged size in the information table for each auction, however please check the actual measurements. I cannot overstate that enough. Real measurements can vary significantly between products even of the same brand. In general brands being sold in Japan have smaller actual sizes than their tag indicates, but not always.
Note to European Readers
Unfortunately, Y!JP is no longer directly accessible online to most European countries. While ZenMarket’s portal functions, embedded Y!JP auctions that are translated within ZenMarket’s site will not show up. In order to work around this, please use a VPN service or proxy. If you don’t use a VPN, Proton has a free VPN service [ LINK ] that is functional enough if you are only going to be viewing a handful of Y!JP auctions.
XEONIQ x ZenMarket.jp Picks
The auction lists will no longer be updated. A small collection of previously featured items are left up below as an archive. There may be one or two items still active. Otherwise, feel free to search using ZenMarket’s search function for similar items.
Neither ZenMarket nor I take any responsibility for the quality or condition of the items presented in these links, I am merely sharing items that I find interesting and priced well for readers to consider. Please check all measurements and the seller’s indication of item condition before making a bid or purchase. I have tried to only feature items in good or decent condition but this is subjective and you need to ensure the items meet your own expectations. Caveat Emptor.
ARCHIVE
The following weeks’ items from: 10.07.22
C. P. Company Chair / Backpack | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
C.P. Company was well known for being experimental with its garments and accessories creating numerous iconic designs over the years. Modularity and dual-use items were one of their signatures with numerous examples archived in the influential text: Supermodern Wardrobe by Adam Bolton. This backpack with integrated folding seat is of that era of vintage C.P. Company and I’ve not seen one on Y!JP before nor for such a cheap price. While I find the concept a bit impractical and I’d not have a use for this, I think certain collectors of functional clothing or of archival C.P. Company would love this for their collections.
| Brand | C.P. Company |
| Tagged Size | N/A |
| Auction Start Price | ¥12,990 |
| Buy it Now Price | N/A |
CASIO PROTREK GPS Watch | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
One of CASIO’s first wrist watches to utilise GPS technology was the PRT-1GPJ released under their PROTREK line of technical outdoor watches. Extremely large in order to hold the expensive interchangeable CR2 lithium battery, this piece of retro tech is more a fashion statement than something viable you’d ever use in the age of GPS-equipped smart phones. Still, it has a technical charm to it and is fully functional. There are other copies up for auction at a cheaper price on Y!JP via ZenMarket, however I’ve included this piece because it is in great condition, working and complete with it’s box and optional nylon strap with built-in compass.
| Brand | CASIO |
| Tagged Size | N/A |
| Auction Start Price | N/A |
| Buy it Now Price | ¥28,000 |
HAI SPORTING GEAR Packable Anorak | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
HAI SPORTING GEAR was a 90’s Issey Miyake diffusion label that made men’s, women’s and unisex sportswear garments. Previously available for next to nothing, resellers on sites like Grailed have driven prices up and knowledge of the brand’s DNA as an Issey Miyake line has increased demand. Still, there are the odd pieces on Y!JP via ZenMarket that still provide good value and some have interesting technical features for casual outfits. This anorak has cord adjustment at the hem, a large zippered kangaroo pocket, snap cuff adjustment and is packable into itself for easy storage in your bag. I am not personally a fan of branding, graphics or text on a piece but if you are into 90’s sportswear, the Japlish text is well-placed and humourous if not positive.
| Brand | HAI SPORTING GEAR |
| Tagged Size | Medium |
| Auction Start Price | ¥17,900 |
| Buy it Now Price | ¥17,900 |
GROUND Y Adjustable Track Pants | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
GROUND Y is a unisex, youth-targeted diffusion line of Yohji Yamamoto. This pair of pants is being sold brand new at 40% off their RRP and on top of that the Japanese Yen is extremely weak at the moment compared to most Western currencies making this a good opportunity to buy brand new GROUND Y items and other brands on sale from Y!JP or Rakuten on ZenMarket. This pair of on-trend track pants are in a military green colourway, have draw cords and belt loops if you like wearing a tactical belt, and most interesting, the width of the pants can be adjusted with a Velcro-like push in fastening strip, shown below in the black stripes running on the front and back of the pants’ legs.
| Brand | GROUND Y |
| Tagged Size | 3 (Large) |
| Auction Start Price | ¥27,720 |
| Buy it Now Price | ¥27,720 |
Flagstaff x Tom & Co Suede Sneakers | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
A very interesting pair of sneakers by Flagstaff and Tom & Co who make bespoke sneakers in Japan, similar to Hender Scheme. This pair clearly reference the rare Nike SFB Trainer with the sock-like upper but have a Air Max style sole with hiking treads. The are unbranded on the visible parts of the sneaker and made from high quality suede. This would be great for people who don’t want a overtly military design for their casual outfits but still enjoy black, unbranded military-esque or technical outfits with out branding. For those who enjoy the Nike SFB Trainer design but don’t want to support Nike as a company, these are entirely Japanese made and bespoke without Nike involvement. I think this pair of shoes would go well together with the pants, anorak and watch above for a loose-fit urban technical casual look.
| Brand | FLAGSTAFF X Tom & Co |
| Tagged Size | 27 |
| Auction Start Price | ¥10,000 |
| Buy it Now Price | N/A |
ISSEY SKYLINE Bomber Jacket | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
Issey Miyake’s design studio teamed up with Nissan to create a range of ISSEY SKYLINE clothing to be sold along the R30 Skyline. This piece is one of the more notable examples with its assymetrical shoulder pauldron panel, single-armed elbow patch and fencing style jacket opening. I’ve owned one of these jackets before and while the quality is nowhere near mainline Issey Miyake, they are lightweight for a bomber jacket and would be fun to own if one had a Nissan Skyline or simply into the 80’s Japanese sportscar scene.
| Brand | ISSEY SKYLINE |
| Tagged Size | Large |
| Auction Start Price | N/A |
| Buy it Now Price | ¥23,800 |
SEIKO Wrist Talk Digital Watch | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
The second retro-tech digital watch on this week’s list, this time from SEIKO. While having limited features, basically just a timer and an alarm in additional to normal digital time keeping, this watch tells the time audibly in Japanese. The late 70’s/early 80’s futuristic design and whimsical functional gimmick could be fun for a modern urban outfit. The all-black colourway makes this easy to style with technical and minimal outfits.
| Brand | SEIKO |
| Tagged Size | N/A |
| Auction Start Price | ¥9,000 |
| Buy it Now Price | N/A |
hobo x Danner Tachyon 6″ Boots | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
For those who like the Danner Tachyon design but who are not a fan of the 8″ jungle boot height, this pair of collaboration boots with Japanese brand hobo are offered in a arguably more casual 6″ height. I own the same pair in grey and in addition to the shorter height, they are also made in a much thicker suede rather than the lightweight polyester used in normal Tachyons. I’d still recommend standard non-GTX Tachyons for warm weather use over these, but if you want something more all-year than this pair of boots will be warmer and should last longer as they are substantially heavier.
| Brand | hobo X Danner |
| Tagged Size | 26.5 |
| Auction Start Price | ¥12,900 |
| Buy it Now Price | ¥12,900 |
alk phenix Waist Bag | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
alk phenix was an urban techwear brand by Daisuke Kamide (his current brand is TEATORA), that recently went bankrupt. alk phenix was one of the few practical techwear brands, in my mind, that was targeted as a realistic urban consumer and provided a range of lifestyle garments and accessories. You can read more about alk phenix’s background on my review of their Umbrella Coat here: LINK. There are still brand new items from alk phenix floating around on Y!JP via ZenMarket, like this bag which is offered new with tags for only 8,000 Yen. It has alk phenix’s modern, techno-organic design language and plenty of pockets, zippers, storage and adjustment in its webbing strap.
| Brand | alk phenix |
| Tagged Size | N/A |
| Auction Start Price | ¥8,000 |
| Buy it Now Price | N/A |
alk phenix Packable Light Weight Jacket | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
Another piece from alk phenix. This one is not brand new like the bag, but I thought for a summer urban technical look the pair would go very well together with this jacket stowed in its pouch and carried in the waist bag in case you need it. I handled this jacket in-store when it was being sold new in Tokyo and it’s extremely light weight, like a Uniqlo Airism t-shirt. It has a DWR coating to give it some weather resistance and it packs into a little pouch. These are usually around $USD250-350 used so I think this price is good for a black one in a harder to find large size. The large hood, reflective tabs for visibility to cars and numerous cord adjustment make this a great modern technical shell for warm weather.
| Brand | alk phenix |
| Tagged Size | Large |
| Auction Start Price | ¥15,000 |
| Buy it Now Price | N/A |
FINAL HOME Packable Anorak | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
Kosuke Tsumura’s post-apocalyptic streetwear brand FINAL HOME has achieved some level of hype over the years but there are still unique and high value items available from the brand on Y!JP auctions via ZenMarket. I’ve provided a little information about the brand in my review of the HOME1 Survival Parka here: LINK. This anorak looks very special for year round use in most climates. It’s packable with a large kangaroo pocket and is made from a light grey khaki nylon ripstop that you could wear over a tee in warmer months or put over an insulator in the cold. It has elasticated inner cuffs under its wide sleeves, as the HOME1 Survival Parka has and cord adjustment at the hood and hem. The colour and texture of the nylon ripstop make it an excellent urban military-inspired piece.
| Brand | FINAL HOME |
| Tagged Size | 3 (Large) |
| Auction Start Price | N/A |
| Buy it Now Price | ¥19,800 |
nonnative GORE-TEX Easy Pants | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
nonnative is a Japanese heritage brand with an emphasis on modernised traditional workwear and at times military-derived garments. Similar to Visvim, but the designs are much less reproductions. This pair of easy pants is called “The Camper” and it’s made from ePTFE GORE-TEX and has a built in webbing belt. The khaki green colour and contemporary easy pants design would be good for urban technical outfits or gorpcore looks. It’s rare to see pants made from ePTFE membrane especially for this price.
| Brand | nonnative |
| Tagged Size | 1 (Small) |
| Auction Start Price | ¥12,900 |
| Buy it Now Price | ¥12,900 |
CASIO PRT-4000 Titanium PROTREK Watch | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
The PRT-4000 was the first all metal case PROTREK design. It features a titanium case and a triple sensor with barometer, altimeter, compass , and thermometer. I’ve been into Casio’s PROTREK line for years but with the recent interest in outdoor-themed urban wear (gorpcore) these outdoor technical watches are a perfect match for styling. The extra functions on these triple sensor watches are a lot of fun to use even if they are not very necessary in urban environments. This is a 1 Yen auction and should go well under $USD100.
| Brand | CASIO |
| Tagged Size | N/A |
| Auction Start Price | ¥51 |
| Buy it Now Price | N/A |
STONE ISLAND Zip Sweatshirt | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
I don’t usually enjoy modern Stone Island and vastly prefer older designs which have more interesting designs and far superior quality and construction to the modern, more streetwear focused direction the brand has taken since being acquired. However, this sweatshirt has an interesting design I haven’t seen before and is starting at a very low auction price so I felt it worth including. A hidden placket covers a chunky zipper and the sweatshirt has deconstructed seams and a raglan design without a collar. There is a large Velcro strap pocket on the side of the torso as well. One thing I think modern Stone Island does well is its cotton fleece sweatshirts and the material on this piece looks to be of good quality.
| Brand | STONE ISLAND |
| Tagged Size | Medium |
| Auction Start Price | ¥510 |
| Buy it Now Price | N/A |
White Moutaineering x MILLET Technical Shell | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
White Mountaineering is a leading brand in Japan’s outdoor-inspired technical streetwear market. This shell is a collaboration with MILLET and features more zippers than I’ve seen on a shell in a long time. It’s a taped seam membrane so will be overkill in urban areas for wet weather use but definitely has the hardcore look and maximal design that is popular today. The khaki brown colourway looks great with the black contrasting waterproof zippers. At under $USD300, this is great value for a membrane shell with a special design.
| Brand | WHITE MOUNTAINEERING |
| Tagged Size | 2 (Medium) |
| Auction Start Price | N/A |
| Buy it Now Price | ¥38,000 |
CASIO DW-9100 RISEMAN | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
CASIO’s RISEMAN was a sub-line of G-SHOCK’s released in 1997 that featured a twin sensor module that allowed it to function as an altimeter and also provide air pressure trends for storm prediction and temperature readings. This particular watch is the first generation of RISEMAN models and features a titanium back, a nylon ripstop and three tone leather band and a black Y2K case design. I featured one of these a couple weeks ago and have sense purchased one myself. I am quite surprised how much I like the watch, the band is extremely comfortable compared to the typical resin G-Shock band and there is a plastic curved guard between the case and your wrist that helps keep it seated that works very well. This watch is brand new and wrapped with no bids at a $75USD start price. For those who prefer brand new, this is a great price for a dead stock new item.
| Brand | CASIO |
| Tagged Size | N/A |
| Auction Start Price | ¥10,000 |
| Buy it Now Price | N/A |
BRIEFING “Hugger” Backpack | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
BREIFING is an interesting brand in that it is designed in Tokyo with most of its products made in the USA. The luggage and accessories company started in the late 90’s and predates many of the techwear bag designs that are popular today. BRIEFING’s main selling point is it’s use of ballistic nylon in almost all of its bags, something you’ll also find in the PORTER HEAT range and which VISVIM has also utilised. This backpack is a little different to their usual. It’s the “Hugger” model and is form fitted to the wearer’s back. One thing that irks me about a lot of technical backpacks these days is their designs are often brick-shaped, like the Veilance Nomin and while they look fine on their own, when worn on your back they stand out in an unaesthetic way; hence you’ll mostly see fit pics with those bags holding it at their side rather than wearing it. The Hugger is a small backpack but has a integrated vest on the front straps, assymetrical waterproof zippers and it’s made from waterproof X-PAC material. This would be a great form-fitted modern urban every day bag.
| Brand | BRIEFING |
| Tagged Size | N/A |
| Auction Start Price | ¥14,900 |
| Buy it Now Price | ¥14,900 |
BUZZ RICKSON’S X William Gibson MA-1 | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
One of the first items I featured on these lists was a BUZZ RICKSON’S collaboration MA-1 with William Gibson. In Gibson’s popular Pattern Recognition novel, the protagonist wore a black BUZZ RICKSON’s reproduction MA-1. However, BUZZRICKSON, a Japanese brand specialising in reproductions of American military surplus pieces, never made a jacket in black. With so much demand, they collaborated with the author and created this jacket and dozens of other pieces, all in black and with a special William Gibson tag. These jackets retail at a very high price in the USA and it can be hard to find larger sizes on Japanese auctions, so this size 42US with a low $USD25 start price is a rare find.
| Brand | BUZZ RICKSON’S |
| Tagged Size | 42 (XL) |
| Auction Start Price | ¥3,200 |
| Buy it Now Price | N/A |
CIVILIZED Biker Cargo Pants | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
CIVILIZED is a Japanese urban technical fashion brand that often puts out casual pieces and items aimed at urban cyclists. This pair of biker cargos is laden with features including a gusseted seat, zippered ankles and a side-entry welt pocket. The patina on this pair in a grey green khaki has a great military casual feel that would work with brands such as C.P. Company and Stone Island.
| Brand | CIVILIZED |
| Tagged Size | 2 (Medium) |
| Auction Start Price | ¥5,000 |
| Buy it Now Price | ¥5,000 |
White Mountaineering Shell | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
Another White Mountaineering Shell, this one is quite new from S/S 2021 and in a on-trend colour blocked green with geometric paneling. Another big size, these are harder to find on Japanese auctions and with the Japanese Yen so weak at the moment, this is under $USD450 for an as-new shell. This piece doesn’t appear to be membrane and doesn’t have taped seams but for urban use would be more than enough for most people for weather protection.
| Brand | White Mountaineering |
| Tagged Size | 4 (XL) |
| Auction Start Price | ¥60,800 |
| Buy it Now Price | N/A |
TARAS BOULBA Vest | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
TARAS BOULBA was a outdoors fashion-targeted diffusion label created by ASICS Japan. Started in 1975, they ran for some years and there is quite a lot of modern interpretations of traditional outdoor garments available on Y!JP via ZenMarket for not very much money. This fishing vest actually closely resembles the much hyped Issey Miyake parachute bomber and vest in its pocket placement. This vest is about $3000 cheaper than its Issey Miyake cousin though. I think this would be interesting for layering in winter outfits or with a tank top or loose tee in summer.
| Brand | TARAS BOULBA |
| Tagged Size | Large |
| Auction Start Price | ¥6,900 |
| Buy it Now Price | ¥6,900 |
TARAS BOULBA Shell | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
This TARAS BOULBA membrane shell has a nylon face fabric, taped seams, Velcro cuff straps, and is in a on-trend military green colourway. This shell would work well with a gorpcore or casual militaria outfit and is very cheap for its as-new condition.
| Brand | TARAS BOULBA |
| Tagged Size | Medium |
| Auction Start Price | ¥8,900 |
| Buy it Now Price | ¥8,900 |
TARAS BOULBA Technical Pants | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
This pair of TARAS BOULBA pants is made in a technical blend of polyester and cotton with stretch elastane. It has an integrated webbing belt and a pair of drop pockets with extra zippered pocket on the outside. The tapered fit and black colourway works well with technical urban looks. I think these pants would work with any other other TARAS BOULBA pieces in this list.
| Brand | TARAS BOULBA |
| Tagged Size | Medium |
| Auction Start Price | ¥4,272 |
| Buy it Now Price | ¥4,272 |
TARAS BOULBA Jacket | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
A simple light jacket from TARAS BOULBA with a few subtle design features that I think make it a special piece. The off-white/sand colour is great for urban or outdoor looks and is a bit unique for this nylon ripstop treated fabric. The contrast black zipper pulls , zip off interior pocket that can be used on its own, keychain hook, corded hem adjustment, Velcro cuff straps, and stand collar all give this a nice 90’s militaristic casual look. The fact that most of the pieces in my list were made in the 80’s and 90’s demonstrates how much modern technical fashion derives from the past.
| Brand | TARAS BOULBA |
| Tagged Size | Medium |
| Auction Start Price | ¥3,290 |
| Buy it Now Price | N/A |
ASICS GORE-TEX Sneakers | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
ASICS is one of Japan’s leadering sportswear conglomerates and they’ve long been using technical and military derived materials and design features in their products. This pair of synthetic mid top sneakers have an 80’s aesthetic but feature GORE-TEX membrane under the canvas face fabric and zipper lace inserts reminiscent of military jungle boots. Since I featured so many pieces from TARAS BOULBA I figured a pair of retro tech sneakers from ASICS for a casual street look was warranted. There’s thousands of ASICS technical sneakers on Y!JP via ZenMarket and all very affordable for the most part.
| Brand | ASICS |
| Tagged Size | 26.5 cm |
| Auction Start Price | ¥8,900 |
| Buy it Now Price | ¥8,900 |
SEIKO x Final Fantasy Digital Watch | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
With only 1,000 ever made, this SEIKO watch was a collaboration with Final Fantasy to make their own version of the “wrist holo” worn by Aki Ross for the Final Fantasy: Spirits Within animated film. The condition looks great and its fully functional. Some of these are being sold over $3,000USD on eBay. This is an auction listing ending soon so I imagine it to sell over $600USD but if you were looking for this rare model, this might be an opportunity to procure it cheaply. Final Fantasy collaboration or not, this is a unique design for a digital watch from Japan’s most respected watch making company and would work well in a suitably styled futuristic outfit.
| Brand | SEIKO |
| Tagged Size | N/A |
| Auction Start Price | ¥16,500 |
| Buy it Now Price | N/A |
BRIEFING Messenger Bag | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
BREIFING is an interesting brand in that it is designed in Tokyo with most of its products made in the USA. The luggage and accessories company started in the late 90’s and predates many of the techwear bag designs that are popular today. BRIEFING’s main selling point is it’s use of ballistic nylon in almost all of its bags, something you’ll also find in the PORTER HEAT range and which VISVIM has also utilised. I am not personally interested in messenger bags but I feel they serve a purpose for some urban bike commuters. The teal green and olive two-tone is a great modern combo for a summer technical look in my opinion and the bag is covered in enough zippers, PALS webbing and pockets to satisfy any miltec geek.
| Brand | BRIEFING |
| Tagged Size | N/A |
| Auction Start Price | ¥12,800 |
| Buy it Now Price | ¥12,800 |
C.P. COMPANY Nylon Zip Shirt | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
One of my favourite brands that makes up a good portion of my current wardrobe is Massimo Osti’s C.P. Company. While the brand has been bought and sold a few times (and is currently owned by the company that started and runs Nautica), they have made some very good designs over the years that I think stand out from other brands as being refined in taste, having a very nuanced application of materials that suit a particular design and make clothing that is comfortable and enjoyable to wear. This shirt is differentiated and modernised from your typical short sleeve button up by using a nylon fabric, a hidden placket and a zipper main closure with no pockets on the front to minimalise the design. I think it would work very well with the Stone Island pants featured below.
| Brand | C.P. COMPANY |
| Tagged Size | 3 (Large) |
| Auction Start Price | ¥4,000 |
| Buy it Now Price | ¥6,000 |
STONE ISLAND Easy Pants | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
I don’t usually enjoy modern Stone Island and vastly prefer older designs which have more interesting designs and far superior quality and construction to the modern, more streetwear focused direction the brand has taken since being acquired. However, this pair of light easy pants are in an on-trend tapered fit, have welt zippered pockets, painter pant-style panelling and are offered in an attractive bone white that would work well in the summer and with the green C.P. Company top above.
| Brand | STONE ISLAND |
| Tagged Size | 30 |
| Auction Start Price | ¥2,300 |
| Buy it Now Price | N/A |
DANA DESIGN Backpack | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
DANA DESIGN was an outdoor pack and bag brand founded by Dana Gleason and Renee Sippel-Bake in Montana, USA in the 1980’s where it became a trailblazer in the industry. It was eventually bought by K2, owner of Marmot and other brands, however the acquisition and transfer of Gleason to Washington state led to the decline of the products and brand until K2 decided to kill the brand and absorb some of the models into Marmot’s line. Gleason and Sippel-Bake went on to found the now popular Mystery Ranch, which has taken over where the original DANA DESIGN left off. Y!JP has the odd vintage backpack from this brand still listed once in a while and the prices are significantly cheaper than you’ll find on eBay or other American marketplaces. This small backpack is compact has a very modern, urban design compared to most outdoors packs and is in a blue, blue-grey, black triple tone colourway that would work well with the greens and whites in the pieces above for a summer technical look.
| Brand | DANA DESIGN |
| Tagged Size | N/A |
| Auction Start Price | ¥3,900 |
| Buy it Now Price | ¥3,900 |
Arc’teryx ZETA SL Shell | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
Arc’teryx is a outdoors brand that originated in Canada, now owned by Chinese conglomerate AMER Sports, who also owns Salomon. While they lack the performance pedigree of TNF’s top level equipment, they have produced many attractive designs over the years and have enjoyed popularity recently in the technical and outdoors fashion communities online. The ZETA SL is a packable GORE-TEX Paclite shell designed for carrying one’s back while hiking to remove for emergencies. Being lightweight, I think it can serve as a urban technical piece for brief jaunts in the rain. The khaki green colourway has a warm tone to it that works in urban outfits and while the branding on Arc’teryx products is often a bit much for me, the logo could be dampened by a marker easily and the zipper pulls replaced with something less contrasting. The price of this shell is about one third of what I can find on eBay and other Western markets.
| Brand | Arc’teryx |
| Tagged Size | Small |
| Auction Start Price | ¥16,800 |
| Buy it Now Price | N/A |
Issey Miyake Titanium Sunglasses | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
The vast majority of branded designer sunglasses sold in the west are made by Luxxotica, an Italian conglomerate that produces cheap plastic frames for a few dollars on license for large designers, selling them for hundreds in their vertically integrated retail stores or partner designers’ boutiques. As a consumer it can be hard finding a well made and designed pair in this market. These frames from Japanese designer Issey Miyake are constructed from titanium and have a versatile aviator design with a few subtle features in the frame, minor sunshield on the arms and ends. Titanium is flexible while retaining its shape, lightweight and runs cool to the touch making it an excellent frame material for sunglasses.
| Brand | Issey Miyake |
| Tagged Size | N/A |
| Auction Start Price | ¥13,800 |
| Buy it Now Price | ¥14,000 |
DESCENTE Fleece Vest | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
DESCENTRE is one of Japan’s leading outdoor garment manufacturers. This piece is from their mainline and while there have been dozens of brands putting out polyester fleece vests the last few seasons, this vest is differentiated with a dark charcoal colourway, geometric, modern panelling, and a subtle hexagonal print with a ripstop treatment on the nylon panels.
| Brand | DESCENTE |
| Tagged Size | Medium |
| Auction Start Price | ¥7,900 |
| Buy it Now Price | ¥7,900 |
CASIO RISEMAN Digital Watch | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
CASIO’s RISEMAN was a sub-line of G-SHOCK’s released in 1997 that featured a twin sensor module that allowed it to function as an altimeter and also provide air pressure trends for storm prediction and temperature readings. This particular watch is the first generation of RISEMAN models and features a titanium back, a nylon ripstop and three tone leather band and a smoked olive plastic Y2K case design. This is a very low auction price and the piece is running in great condition for its age. I think it would work in gorpcore and military-themed casual looks or just be a nice watch for hiking where you’d like to check your altitude on an ascent.
| Brand | CASIO |
| Tagged Size | N/A |
| Auction Start Price | ¥21 |
| Buy it Now Price | N/A |
meanswhile Cargo Shorts | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
meanswhile‘s Naohiro Fujisaki has been blending technical, military and at times traditional Eastern design details into casual fashion and streetwear pieces since the label’s inception in 2014. The meanswhile pieces I’ve owned or handled have had good construction and many of the garments are made in Japan. This pair of shorts features a pleated design with contrast YKK hardware, black webbing waist adjustment and a khaki colourway as a nice modern update of army cargo shorts.
| Brand | meanswhile |
| Tagged Size | 2 (Medium) |
| Auction Start Price | ¥5,900 |
| Buy it Now Price | ¥5,900 |
The North Face Summit L5 Shell | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
TNF needs no introduction, they are one of the world’s biggest outdoor apparel manufacturers and have created numerous iconic designs over the last few decades that influenced many modern brands today. TNF can sometimes be conflated with inferior technical products because like Patagonia, they also have a strong budget market sold in retail shopping malls; however, this brand also has designs that have been used to scale Mount Everest, something that many of their competitors cannot lay claim to. This shell is from the 2017 iteration of the L5 Summit. This was a line meant to scale Mount Everest and is one of the most hardcore mountaineering jackets I’ve handled. The fuseform technology blends panels together on the loom without using stitches and this was the first L5 shell to use GORE-TEX with fuseform together. This dark teal grey is a unique colour for a shell and works very well for urban and military themed technical looks.
| Brand | THE NORTH FACE |
| Tagged Size | Small |
| Auction Start Price | ¥17,900 |
| Buy it Now Price | ¥17,900 |
and wander Climbing Pants | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
and wander is a Japanese label founded by two ex-Issey Miyake designers featuring designs that cater to the lite-outdoor fashion market. While not often the most technical or practical designs, and wander has a distinct Japanese aesthetic to their pieces and often uses technical materials and trim. This particular pair of climing pants is made from a lightweight polyester with an inner mesh for breathability and comfort. There are cord adjustments at the hem and the elastic waist has a built in webbing belt. While the branding on this piece is a bit excessive for my tastes, it is mostly low contrast and the colour of the pants would work well for a summer outdoor technical look.
| Brand | and wander |
| Tagged Size | 2 (Medium) |
| Auction Start Price | ¥9,900 |
| Buy it Now Price | ¥9,900 |
DANA DESIGN Backpack | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
DANA DESIGN was an outdoor pack and bag brand founded by Dana Gleason and Renee Sippel-Bake in Montana, USA in the 1980’s where it became a trailblazer in the industry. It was eventually bought by K2, owner of Marmot and other brands, however the acquisition and transfer of Gleason to Washington state led to the decline of the products and brand until K2 decided to kill the brand and absorb some of the models into Marmot’s line. Gleason and Sippel-Bake went on to found the now popular Mystery Ranch, which has taken over where the original DANA DESIGN left off. Y!JP has the odd vintage backpack from this brand still listed once in a while and the prices are significantly cheaper than you’ll find on eBay or other American marketplaces. This bag, the T2500 is black nylon ripstop and brimming with buckles, webbing and features and at only 25L would make a great EDC pack.
| Brand | DANA DESIGN |
| Tagged Size | Medium/Large |
| Auction Start Price | ¥8,000 |
| Buy it Now Price | N/A |
Y-3 Cargo Pants | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
Y-3 is Yohji Yamamoto’s futuristic collaboration with Adidas and features the odd technical piece to mix with mostly casual fashion or sportswear items. These cargos are in a light fabric with oversized pocket flaps and an integrated rope drawstring. The black colourway, light material and tapered cut would make them a good pair of daily pants for a military themed or technical look.
| Brand | Y-3 |
| Tagged Size | Small |
| Auction Start Price | N/A |
| Buy it Now Price | ¥10,560 |
meanswhile Field Shacket | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
Another meanswhile piece this week, made from a light nylon this shacket has rope adjustment at the hem, an interesting zipper placket with cut out section and Velcro cuff closure. It also features hand pockets and I think would make a night light outerwear for warmer months. meanswhile is putting out a lot of recent collections that provide a novel interpretation of classic military pieces for casual fashion use.
| Brand | meanswhile |
| Tagged Size | Medium |
| Auction Start Price | ¥5,900 |
| Buy it Now Price | ¥5,900 |
THE NORTH FACE GORE-TEX Shell | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
TNF needs no introduction, they are one of the world’s biggest outdoor apparel manufacturers and have created numerous iconic designs over the last few decades that influenced many modern brands today. TNF can sometimes be conflated with inferior technical products because like Patagonia, they also have a strong budget market sold in retail shopping malls; however, this brand also has designs that have been used to scale Mount Everest, something that many of their competitors cannot lay claim to. This earth two-tone shell is in a robust GORE-TEX membrane and it’s design and colourway would work well for the current gorpcore trend. Y!JP auctions have so many TNF GORE-TEX pieces you could easily spend hours looking through them.
| Brand | THE NORTH FACE |
| Tagged Size | XL |
| Auction Start Price | ¥2,100 |
| Buy it Now Price | N/A |
nonnative WindStopper Down Vest | ZENMARKET.JP LINK
nonnative is a Japanese heritage brand with an emphasis on modernised traditional workwear and at times military-derived garments. Similar to Visvim, but the designs are much less reproductions. This down vest is made in GORE-TEX’s WIND STOPPER material which has mild weather resistant properties and is further coated in Dupont’s version of DWR. It is made in Japan and has a number of military bomber references in its design.
| Brand | nonnative |
| Tagged Size | 3 (Large) |
| Auction Start Price | ¥7,900 |
| Buy it Now Price | ¥7,900 |
Ethical Statement: ZenMarket.jp has sponsored me (XEONIQ) to prepare this article with weekly updated lists of Y!JP auctions. Each link posted navigates to ZenMarket’s portal which translates the Y!JP links to their own interface. The links include suffix code which assists ZenMarket in determining the origin of clicks, however there is no compensation or commission provided to myself whether or not a reader decides to bid on or purchase an item via one of the hosted links in this article. A recurring payment was negotiated for promoting ZenMarket’s service, which contributes to the costs of running Shell Zine.