As part of our Cultural Threads series, in this edition, we explore how Japandi – a fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics – is redefining modern fashion. From the wabi-sabi roots of Japanese minimalism to the hygge-inspired simplicity of Scandinavian design, this movement blends centuries-old traditions with contemporary craftsmanship – celebrating heritage while shaping a new vision of understated, intentional style worldwide.
Heritage, Philosophy, and the Rise of Quiet Luxury
Japandi emerges as a result of combining elements of Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian functionality that has made a strong mark in the world of interior design. However, this aesthetic movement is more than a design trend and one that is part of a broader cultural dialogue, including fashion. Rooted in the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi (the beauty of imperfection) and the Scandinavian concept of hygge (a sense of cozy simplicity), Japandi offers a distinctive lens through which minimalism is being redefined that results in relaxed silhouettes and impeccable layering.
As the fashion market shifts away from overt branding and logo-centric statements, the rise of “quiet luxury” observed since 2023 has made Japandi’s influence especially timely. The style leans into muted palettes, refined silhouettes, and high-quality materials; all of which are qualities that align with a growing desire for intentional, understated dressing.
Japandi isn’t just a visual trend, it’s a statement about longevity and craftsmanship. As furniture designer Jonah Takagi notes, “…I’d like to believe that this Japandi trend might in some ways be a philosophical reaction to this rampant consumption of stylish yet cheaply made and poorly designed goods” (BBC, 2019). This convergence of design philosophies from geographically distant cultures now finds resonance in fashion, standing not only as a style but also as a value-driven response to fast consumerism.
Japandi emerges as a result of combining elements of Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian functionality that has made a strong mark in the world of interior design.
Japan’s Lasting Influence on Global Fashion
Japanese aesthetics have shaped global fashion for more than a century, long before the current Japandi discourse. One of the earliest exchanges can be traced to the early 20th century, when Western fashion was in transition. The tightly cinched corsets and rigid silhouettes that defined European dress began to give way to looser, freer forms. Designers looking for alternatives found inspiration in the kimono, the straight seams and flat construction offered a stark contrast to body-restrictive Western tailoring, and its introduction into global fashion reflected a broader rejection of constraint.
This early cultural exchange was not one-directional. By the mid-20th century, American workwear and casual dress began to influence Japan, creating the style movement known as Amekaji (“American casual”). Japanese designers reinterpreted denim, varsity jackets, and military surplus through their meticulous eye for craft and detail, resulting in garments that carried both a sense of heritage and reinvention. As these exchanges deepened, Japanese traditional garments gradually seeped into streetwear. The haori jacket, noragi work coats, and wide-legged hakama trousers became quiet touchpoints in casual fashion, influencing silhouettes that today feel at once modern and timeless.
What emerged was not simply an adoption of Japanese garments by the West, but rather a constant dialogue between Japan and the global stage, shaping how fashion could be understood as both cultural artifact and an evolving language.
By the mid-20th century, American workwear and casual dress began to influence Japan, creating the style movement known as Amekaji (“American casual”)
Avant-Garde Revolution
The late 20th century marked a decisive turning point in how Japanese design principles disrupted the global fashion system. In the 1970s and 1980s, a new generation of Japanese designers entered the Paris fashion scene, spearheading what came to be known as the avant-garde movement. Figures such as Rei Kawakubo, Yohji Yamamoto, and Issey Miyake challenged Western norms aesthetics. Their designs stripped away the conventional emphasis on accentuating the body and instead celebrated asymmetry, volume, and imperfection.
Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons blurred the lines between beauty and distortion, through the language of deconstruction in fashion. Yohji Yamamoto explored gender identity through draped, non-bodyconscious garments that echoed the kimono’s fluid and unisex origins. Issey Miyake pushed innovation through fabric, pioneering pleating techniques and developing his A-POC (“A Piece of Cloth”) concept, where an entire garment is made from a single textile tube. Together, these approaches represented a radical departure from the polished, body-conscious silhouettes of Western runways, leaving an avant-garde legacy that continues to shape contemporary fashion.What connected these pioneers was a fidelity to the core elements of Japanese design principles: balance, restraint, and respect for materials. Even as they disrupted the status quo with experimental forms, their work carried the DNA of garments like the kimono and philosophies such as wabi-sabi. In this way, the avant-garde movement preserved the essence of traditional Japanese design while translating it into a language legible for the global fashion system.
Issey Miyake’s A-POC (“A Piece of Cloth”) concept
Scandinavian Style: Hygge, Functionality, and Timeless Elegance
At the heart of Scandinavian design lies hygge, a concept that celebrates life’s simple pleasures and cultivates a sense of comfort, warmth, and well-being. While most visible in interior design through the soft glow of natural light, tactile materials such as linen or wool, and the soothing effect of muted palettes, the same philosophy shapes how Scandinavians approach fashion. The clean silhouettes and focus on quality natural materials are not just style choices but reflections of a lifestyle that prizes coziness, functionality, and a deep connection with nature. This cultural foundation gave rise to the Scandinavian fashion sensibility we recognize today: understated, practical, and timeless, yet quietly indulgent in its textures and quality.
Scandinavian fashion is deeply connected to the rhythm of daily life, where city and countryside coexist seamlessly. The lifestyle demands practicality, from cycling to work in Copenhagen or navigating Nordic winters calls for clothes that move easily between settings. “To us the Scandi style is all about simplicity,” note Amalie and Cecilie Moosgaard of Lié Studio. “We bike to work every morning, so we maintain a practical mindset when it comes to getting dressed.” This ethos explains why layering is central to Scandinavian wardrobes: garments must be adaptable, comfortable, and durable, designed to carry wearers across changing seasons and climates. In this way, Scandi style is less about fleeting trends and more about building a core wardrobe that can be reconfigured endlessly.
Yet practicality does not come at the expense of elegance. Scandinavian fashion has mastered the balance between functionality and sophistication, often described as “effortless.” Neutral palettes create calm cohesion, while tone-on-tone layering introduces depth without complication. As Celine Aagaard observed in Vogue (2023), “For me the Scandinavian style is the combination of functional dressing and elegance. The garments we buy should preferably be worn all seasons. It’s built on tradition and the way we live; we are practical, like to stay warm, but like the sharp lines.” This philosophy underscores a design approach that values adaptability and durability while still embracing refinement.
Ultimately, Scandinavian fashion is a celebration of simplicity, functionality, and natural beauty. Clean lines and minimal shapes evoke a sense of calm, while quality materials ensure longevity – echoing the same principles that guide Scandinavian interiors. By encouraging wear that transcends seasons, Scandinavian designers reject the churn of fast fashion in favor of timelessness.
Timeless Minimalism, Global Influence
Today, as Japandi fashion takes shape alongside its interior design counterpart, the legacy of avant-garde pioneers is unmistakable. Their radical reinterpretations of tradition not only disrupted Western norms but also created space for a broader understanding of minimalism, one that values restraint, asymmetry, and quiet experimentation. This groundwork makes Japandi’s rise in fashion as a continuation of a dialogue: Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics meeting on common ground in their shared pursuit of simplicity, longevity, and authenticity.
What makes the fusion compelling is the balance of contrasts. Japanese design honors imperfection and disruption, through asymmetrical lines, gender-fluid silhouettes, and an embrace of the unfinished. While Scandinavian fashion brings in the calming order of hygge, rooted in clean lines, muted palettes, and tactile comfort. Together, they reject the Western fixation on body-conscious, logo-driven fashion and instead champion clothes that are both wearable and meaningful. Built from natural fibers, constructed to last, and designed to transcend seasons, Japandi fashion embodies a hybrid philosophy: elegance in comfort, beauty in imperfection, and sustainability in restraint.
Globally, the influence of Japandi can be traced across “quiet luxury” brands such as Lemaire, Minju Kim, and The Row, where subtle craftsmanship and understated design take precedence over overt branding. Their collections echo the Japandi ethos: timeless, classic, and built to last, one that will surely transcend seasonal trends.
If you missed our previous Cultural Threads features, explore how South Asian craftsmanship and China’s fashion movements are reshaping global style.
Sources
- Japan: Its Influence And Contributions To Global Fashion
- How did japanese fashion influencing Western fashion begin
- Amekaji: A Marriage of American Tradition and Japanese Style
- More Than Minimal: A Shoppable Timeline of Scandi Influence in Fashion
- What Are The Principles Of Scandinavian Design?
