Today I was at a Starbucks in Ginza, I say "a Starbucks" because it feels as if there are ten of them. In Starbucks, I noticed something, there seemed to be a decline in the amount of blatant designer labels. I think the recessionistas are emerging in Japan.
Sitting in a Ginza Starbucks has usually led to a coffee shop of inescapable designer labels. Chanel, Burberry, Gucci, and what seemed to be a sea of maroon Louis Vuitton.
Tonight, I could only spot the green and red strap of a Gucci bag. The bag itself was a plain brown. I also spotted a woman in a Burberry plaid coat. Those two items were the only obvious designer labels I spotted in the three hours spent in that Starbucks.
This doesn't mean Ginza was empty and no one was shopping for high end goods. Just the opposite, Ginza was packed with shoppers. Boutiques and department stores were bustling. J-shoppers seem to be hiding their brands and not showing the world that they have a new Chanel bag. Also, many of the label recycle shops that carry used Louis Vuitton bags or Bulgari jewelry seem to be extra busy lately.
Possibly the new cool Japanese girl is, the J-Recessionista.
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