Baby, the Stars Shine Bright (brand)

Baby, the Stars Shine Bright
Company typeCorporation
GenreLolita fashion
Founded1988
Founder
  • Akinori Isobe
  • Fumiyo Isobe
Headquarters
Shibuya, Tokyo
,
Japan
Area served
Asia, Europe, North America
ProductsApparel, accessories
Websitewww.babyssb.co.jp

Baby, the Stars Shine Bright (株式会社　ベイビー、ザ スターズ シャイン ブライト, Kabushiki Kaisha Beibī, Za Sutāzu Shain Buraito) is a Japanese apparel brand created in 1988 by Akinori and Fumiyo Isobe.[1] The brand specializes in lolita fashion and has been widely known for its "sweet" aesthetic.[1][2] In 2004, Baby, the Stars Shine Bright launched Alice and the Pirates, a sub-brand centered on gothic and punk lolita apparel.

Brand concept

Gothic & Lolita Bible describes Baby, the Stars Shine Bright's designs as being "dominated by ribbons, lace, and flowers" that emphasize the wearer's youthfulness and sweetness.[3] The brand is one of the widely known brands in lolita fashion for its "sweet lolita" aesthetic, which features "pastels" and "cupcake" silhouettes.[4] The brand is named after the 1986 album of the same name by British duo Everything but the Girl.[5]

History

Nana Kitade (pictured in 2006) and Misako Aoki (pictured in 2014) wearing clothing from Baby, the Stars Shine Bright

Baby, the Stars Shine Bright was founded in Japan by Akinori and Fumiyo Isobe, a married couple.[5] They first opened a store in Shibuya in 1988.[5] The company's flagship store, opened in 1999 in Daikanyamachō, Shibuya, was relocated to Omotesandō in 2012.[6]

Baby, the Stars Shine Bright became more widely known after the release of the 2004 live-action film adaptation of Novala Takemoto's 2002 novel Kamikaze Girls,[1] of which they were featured in the film and produced the wardrobe for one of the main characters.[2]

By February 2008, Baby, the Stars Shine Bright had an English version of their website and allowed people outside of Japan to purchase their clothing.[7] In August 2009, Baby, the Stars Shine Bright opened its first store in the United States in San Francisco, California.[8][9] In July 2014, Baby, the Stars Shine Bright opened a store in New York City, New York, as part of a combination store with Japanese alternative fashion retailer Tokyo Rebel.[4] The New York store closed on February 28, 2018.[10] A location was also opened in Paris, France, but it closed on April 13, 2017.[11]

Products

Baby, the Stars Shine Bright sells apparel that is handstitched in Japan and cut from custom fabrics.[4] In May 2023, Baby, the Stars Shine Bright released their first fragrance, Baby Princess.[12]

Alice and the Pirates

A person wearing clothing from Alice and the Pirates in 2007

In 2004, Baby, the Stars Shine Bright launched Alice and the Pirates, a sub-brand dedicated to gothic and punk styles.[1] The name is inspired by Alice in Wonderland and Vivienne Westwood's 1981 Pirate Collection.[1] Mai Takita was hired as the brand's designer in 2006.[13] The first Alice and the Pirates store launched in Harajuku, Japan, on August 25, 2007.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Lolita fashion: Japanese street style". Victoria & Albert Museum. May 12, 2024. Archived from the original on April 17, 2024. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Godoy, Tiffany (2007). Vartanian, Ivan (ed.). Style Deficit Disorder: Harajuku Street Fashion. Chronicle Books. p. 142. ISBN 9780811857963.
  3. ^ "Baby, the Stars Shine Bright". Gothic & Lolita Bible. Vol. 1 (English ed.). Los Angeles: Tokyopop. February 12, 2008. p. 47. ISBN 9781427803474.
  4. ^ a b c Van Syckle, Katie; Whitford, Emma; Faibyshev, Dolly (July 22, 2014). "The Japanese 'Lolita' Subculture Takes New York". The Cut. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Nguyen, Michelle (February 12, 2008). "Gothic & Lolita History". Gothic & Lolita Bible. Vol. 1 (English ed.). Los Angeles: Tokyopop. p. 9. ISBN 9781427803474.
  6. ^ "ベイビー：下妻物語のロリータブランド本店が表参道にオープン". Mantan Web (in Japanese). September 28, 2012. Archived from the original on March 14, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  7. ^ Nguyen, Michelle (February 12, 2008). "Shopping Made Easy". Gothic & Lolita Bible. Vol. 1 (English ed.). Los Angeles: Tokyopop. p. 60. ISBN 9781427803474.
  8. ^ Tsui, Bonnie (June 24, 2010). "An All-Japanese Mash-Up". New York Times. Archived from the original on June 17, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  9. ^ Hill, Angela (February 10, 2020). "16 must-sees in San Francisco's Japantown, from ramen to shoji paper". The Mercury News. Archived from the original on June 6, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  10. ^ "Baby, the Stars Shine Bright's official New York store – BABY, the Stars Shine Bright New York City". Baby, the Stars Shine Bright New York City. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  11. ^ "Annonce importante // Important announcement". Baby, the Stars Shine Bright Paris. May 25, 2017. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  12. ^ "BABY初の香水「Baby Princess」が登場！イメージモデルはLiyuuちゃんが担当♡5月2日より海外版も販売開始！". Harajuku Pop! (in Japanese). May 1, 2023. Archived from the original on December 1, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  13. ^ a b Nguyen, Michelle (June 17, 2008). "Pirates Invade Wonderland: An interiew with Alice and the Pirates' designer Mai Takita". Gothic & Lolita Bible. Vol. 2 (English ed.). Los Angeles: Tokyopop. p. 102-103. ISBN 9781427803481.