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Fruits Paperback – January 6, 2001

by Shoichi Aoki (Photographer, Foreword)

4.8 157 ratings

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This extensive collection of portraits represents a unique documentation of the changing face of street fashion throughout the last decade. Colourful, fascinating and funny, this is the first time these cult images have been published outside Japan.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If you ever wondered where the catwalk got its claws, then the portraits gathered in photographer Shoichi Aoki's book Fruits, from the streets of Harajuku in Tokyo, point the way to an extraordinarily imaginative and invariably stunning glut of mongrel fashion heists. A best-of collection from the fanzine of the same name, and published for the first time outside Japan, Fruits keeps its style clean: front-on, razor-sharp images, ranging from the deadpan to the manic, of the sharpest collages of sartorial influence that, usually, little money can buy. From off the peg to off the wall, kitsch to bitch, each person bears a combination and philosophy as distinctive as DNA. All shades of aesthetic are raided, with exquisite, scrupulous attention to detail. Punk is a favorite, as is, appropriately, Vivienne Westwood, alongside Milk and Jean-Paul Gaultier, and the occasional Comme des Garçons. Many of the outfits, though, are second-hand or self-assembly, such as a skirt drooping petals of men's silk ties, Wa-mono, when tradition Japanese clothes are topped with, say, an authentic bowler hat, EGL (elegant gothic Lolita), and a swathe of tartans, pinks, and turquoises. The most malleable feature, unsurprisingly, is hair, with dreadlocks, mohicans, back-combing, and crops dyed an irradiated spectrum. While the eye is drawn, obediently, to the mannequins, the background is often worth a look, either for the vending machines against which a number are shot, or the ubiquitous Gap store and bags, a constant reminder of the global mass market.

One enterprising man wears a genuine British paperboy's delivery bag, and, to pick but one profile, Princess, 18, is trying to be a doll and is currently preoccupied with body organs. Mmm. All the subjects are asked the source of their clothes, as well as their "point of fashion" and "current obsession." The scope for sociopsychological discussion is vast, particularly with the preponderance of infantilization, through dolls, bonnets, pop socks, and Barbie, but this is a joyous documentation of the innovative, celebrating the inspirational polytheism of street fashion, captured with provocative, political zeal. Best let the street cats prowl. --David Vincent

Review

"A funny, funky look at Tokyo's street fashion... Guaranteed to give you that happy-all-over feeling."―Elle

"Fascinating... Inventive."―i-D

"Will delight all dedicated followers of fashion."―Glamour

"hat is exciting about [Aoki's] photographs is that he portrays teenagers' desires to express themselves through the way they dress. The originality and non-conformist attitudes they exude show little desire to follow trends. By taking in references as far flung as Blade Runner nihilism, Vivienne Westwood couture and Hello Kitty kitschness, Aoki's subjects pride themselves on creating a personal identity that is instantly recognisable as their own."―Dazed & Confused

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Phaidon Press; 26427th edition (January 6, 2001)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0714840831
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0714840833
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 13 years and up
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 8 and up
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.79 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.75 x 0.75 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #372,468 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #182 in Photography Collections & Exhibitions (Books)
- #196 in Fashion Photography (Books)
- #728 in Fashion Design

Customer Reviews:
4.8 157 ratings

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4.8 out of 5

157 global ratings

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C Merry

Art in motion

Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2003

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...
I love the colors and textures and looks they combine. What makes me happiest about this book is the couples. I like to think of them planing their funky wardrobe, calling, texting, sifiting through stores and closets and the original FRUiTS zines and meeting each other and smiling as they check out what their friend has put together and visa versa. SO many jeans and t-shirts on the street today, comfortable yeah but its safe. All the pretty details from hair ribbons to hats and all the velvets and cottons and tweeds in between are wonderful to pour over. Its also artistically pleasing when you want to see colors collide and patterns mix. All those combos make you smile for different reasons. And even if you want to stay safe in un-eye popping outfits you get a real escape looking at these happy people. Its also nice that these really look like fun OUTFITS not costumes- you know this isn't some Halloween parade somewhere. Some of them are very comfortable looking some look painful! But they are never uninteresting. Combine this book with TOKYO A Certain Style and you feel like you have a great view on these people's lives- where they come from where they live, how they express themselves in fashion that looks like something everyone can have if they can stand the stares :) What a great book- even if you aren't into fashion its a great human view- we are walking this planet and have our bodies to give something to the view of others and these people want to give a lot more than just another person walking by- and since we'd be arrested walking around naked.... You want to say THANKS for the fun :)

8 people found this helpful

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GreenBanana

Get this book even if you are "normal"

Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2002

Verified Purchase

I am not an extreme dresser. One look in my closet will reveal a scale of solid earth tones. Pick any two items and there's a 90% chance they'll match. I look to GQ, Maxim, FHM and Stuff for fashion guidance.
Even so, I am absolutely in love with this book. I don't buy into that "dare to be different and question the establishment" BS. Those are excuses used by teenagers with personality issues. Simply put, these Japanese teens are using outfits to practice their creativity. It allows them to deal with the confusion, frustration, and feelings of omnipotence associated with the teenage years of development and expend all that energy. This is what's so engrossing about this book: youthful energy and creativity in every outfit. It is easy to draw humor from the oddity of this book and shake ones head in disbelief. But that would be missing the point of the exercise. Although some outfits are sure to draw ridicule, others are mesmerizing beautiful. Against the shimmering backdrop of busy Japanese city streets, each picture offers layers of depth that a reader can truely spend some time exploring.
I am not changing my dressing habbits anytime soon. They will find a cure for Jerry's Kids before I wear platform shoes. In the meantime this book has been allotted a semi-permanent spot on my coffee table where it will draw the attention of anyone who dares to sits down on my beige sofa.

9 people found this helpful

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Skizzard

Wonderful, just wonderful

Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2016

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My white, middle-aged, Midwestern father had a copy of this book that he'd flip through whenever he needed a smile. Everyone he showed it to enjoyed it. He ended up giving it to a friend's teenage daughter after she fell in love with it. After years of hearing him reminisce about what a great book it was, I hunted down another copy for him and he was ecstatic. Both endearing and artistic, the outfits in this book are fascinating. It's a great coffee table book, I guarantee it'll start a conversation.

11 people found this helpful

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NH

High school Memories

Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2021

Verified Purchase

Came in very good used condition. I love Fruits have some of the old Fruits cards that I love and was pretty excited about this book. Same great vibe. Brings back memories.

2 people found this helpful

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gio

a bit damaged

Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2021

Verified Purchase

The media could not be loaded.

one of my new favorite books

4 people found this helpful

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3girlzn3boyz

Love this book

Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2015

Verified Purchase

Love this book. I have the other one too. I love all the pictures and the little details about the style and ages and outfits of the people. My kids also enjoy these books. The outfits are a great starting point for coming up with ideas of our own for one of a kind outfits. They also help us to see its okay to be different and have fun with our clothing choices. No need to be beige!

3 people found this helpful

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Iris Ahn

love

Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2019

Verified Purchase

Great book to explore fashion in Harajuku Japan, the book condition was good with little worn on the cover

2 people found this helpful

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octokyophile

Yummy Fruits!

Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2004

Verified Purchase

Okay, so some of the shots are obviously staged. That does not take away from the charm of this book. It is just so colorful, each page is a treat for the eyes. The way some of these teenagers dress is mind-boggling --> how long does it take to put on all those layers, anyway? If you are looking for a book that takes a peek at Harajaku's fashion scene, then Fruits is for you. It is filled with colorful photographs, each one more interesting than the next! Take a trip to Harajaku without the 14 hour flight! Highly recommended if you are interested in Japanese culture or life.

2 people found this helpful

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Edilene Donadon

Livro pra ser folgado e se inspirar.

Reviewed in Brazil on April 2, 2022

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Eu gosto de desenhar e o livro é inspirador pelas cores.

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Amazon Customer

Street fashion Japan

Reviewed in Canada on November 10, 2018

Verified Purchase

This book is a great compendium of Japanese street fashion. It’s too bad that the magazine that this book was based on has closed up shop but this book is a real documentary of street fashion through the late 90’s and into the 2000’s. Phaidon is always quality

cornermouse

my own copy is not much better and it's very tricky to find a copy which ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 16, 2017

Verified Purchase

This book is vibrant and very inspiring. On this occasion I bought it for a friend for her birthday: I've got a copy myself. The copy that I got recently was slightly damaged but not by much, my own copy is not much better and it's very tricky to find a copy which isn't a little dog-eared. Still very happy with it.