Fruits (magazine)
 Cover of issue 95. | |
| Editor | Shoichi Aoki |
|---|---|
| Categories | Tokyo fashion |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Publisher | Shoichi Aoki |
| Founded | 1997[1] |
| Country | Japan |
| Based in | Tokyo |
| Language | Japanese |
| Website | Official site |
Fruits (stylized "FRUiTS") was a monthly Japanese street fashion magazine founded in 1997 by photographer Shoichi Aoki. Though FRUiTS covered styles found throughout Tokyo, it is associated most closely with the fashion subcultures found in Tokyo's Harajuku district. The magazine primarily focused on individual styles found outside the fashion-industry mainstream, as well as subcultures specific to Japan, such as lolita and ganguro, and local interpretations of larger subcultures like punk and goth.
Content
FRUiTS featured a simple layout, with the bulk of the magazine made up of single full-page photographs accompanied by a brief profile of the photographed person, which included their age, occupation, and a description of what brands they were wearing (if applicable), as well as their self-described "point of fashion" (style inspiration). Most issues included only a couple of advertisements, and typically only for local businesses. Occasional special-edition issues of FRUiTS also included more extensive profiles of frequently photographed people, or reader-created artwork.
Worldwide reception
FRUiTS helped lead Western interest in Japanese fashion as some of its photographs became first popular in the fashion community, then synonymous with Japanese fashion in the West.
A selection of photographs from its earlier issues were showcased in the books Fruits (2001) and Fresh Fruits (2005), both published by Phaidon Press. An exhibition of Aoki's photographs for the magazine, developed by the Powerhouse Museum, has toured museums in Australia and New Zealand.[2][3]
Closure
After 20 years and 233 issues, Shoichi Aoki announced in February 2017 that FRUiTS magazine would cease publication effective immediately because "there are no more cool kids to photograph"[4].
See also
References
- ^ "Fashion Magazines". Benjamin Kanarek Blog. 19 July 2009. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
- ^ "Fruits: Tokyo street style - photographs by Shoichi Aoki". Powerhouse Museum. Retrieved 20 January 2007.
- ^ Elizabeth Levermore (20 January 2006). "Fashion and fiord mix it up in exhibit". The Southland Times. p. 15.
- ^ ""オシャレな子が撮れなくなった" スナップ誌「FRUiTS」が月刊発行を終了した理由". Fashionsnap.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-07-05.