Monki opens in Japan

The quirky Scandinavian fashion concept Monki will fulfill a longtime dream in the spring of 2013 with the brand’s arrival in Japan. The first store will open right in the heart of central Osaka in the spring of 2013, with a store Tokyo’s famed Harajuku district following in the early autumn.“Monki feels very at home in Asia”, says Chief Operating Officer Henrik Aaen Kastberg. “Opening in Japan feels like a natural step for us, building on our strong following in Europe and our recent expansion into mainland China.”

Monki’s internationally recognised store designs (where visitors are welcomed into, for example, a magical underwater world full of sunken carousels, shipwrecks and sea monsters) are the center of a whole Monki world, where anything can happen and imagination rules. The Monki world is full of music, stories, inspiration, creativity and adventure, and is peopled by a playful gang of twelve “monkis” – cute and colourful characters with names such as Moluna, Ikmo, and Kyo.

Monki seeks to boost young women’s self-esteem, encourage creativity, and make individual style available to everyone with Scandi-chic-meets-edgy-street-style designs priced at 5-200€.“From the very early beginnings of the brand, Monki has been inspired by Japanese street style and fashion”, says head designer Tallulah Topac. “Japan is in our DNA and it’s going to be incredibly exciting to finally close that circle.”