Highsnobiety
Japan is way ahead of the game when it comes to its expertise on subcultures and the impact of social movements on fashion in particular. The influence that the American lifestyle has had on Japanese fashion and its industry's approach to collecting garments is an important factor when thinking of Japan's style history.
The concept of vintage Americana has seeped so deeply into Japanese culture, specifically in Tokyo, it's estimated that 70% of vintage clothing worldwide is now held by the Japanese. To understand why there was such a vintage boom in the '60s, it's paramount that we go back in time. After WWII came the US occupation, and with that, the slow ingraining of Americana ideals into the Japanese sartorial psyche. The visual aesthetic of US army clothing began to diffuse amongst the Japanese youth. Top that with the veneration of Hollywood icons like James Dean, Rock Hudson, and Marlon Brando, whose donning of aviator jackets, denim jeans, and button-down shirts spread like wildfire, and you've got a shift in the paradigm of what it meant to dress well and look cool. As time went on, with the added influence of music and sports, the rise of bootleg clothing began due to more and more individuals yearning for that 'authentic American look'.