Acne Studios announces the relocation and expansion of its flagship store in Tokyo, located in the heart of the city’s Aoyama district. Occupying a corner position on one of the area’s main shopping streets, the three-floor store is composed in pink-hued granite – a nod to Acne Studios’ signature colour – with monochromatic fittings seeming to appear from the stone itself.
Led by Acne Studios creative director Jonny Johansson and Swedish architecture studio Halleroed in an ongoing partnership, the Aoyama location continues the brand’s global store ethos – seeing Acne Studios’ singular design language, where the brands aesthetic meets a countercultural energy, influenced by local architectural vernacular.
For the Aoyama store, Johansson and Halleröd drew inspiration from the urban scale of compact Tokyo retail stores for the smaller upper levels, while a light-filled basement is significantly larger, with Japanese matte plaster evoking serenity and softness. A postmodern elevator, preserved from the former retail building, runs between floors, alongside a monumental curving staircase clad in further pink granite.
Furniture comes from longtime collaborator Max Lamb, whose undulating seating is upholstered in high-gloss pink patent leather or collaged woven fabric, while Benoit Lalloz – another longstanding collaborator – contributes distinctive custom strip-lighting fixtures across each level. On the ground floor, a monolithic payment desk is hewn from pink granite, while stainless steel fixtures in the basement lend an industrial juxtaposition.
“Japan has always held a special place in both my heart and in the story of Acne Studios. We’ve been in Aoyama for 15 years now, and there’s something special about that area. It inspired us to create something that feels like a home — welcoming, open, almost like a creative school. We wanted it to feel more democratic, inviting.” says Johansson.
‘We have always considered Tokyo to be one of the most fascinating cities in the world and have visited it many times since the late 90s,’ says Christian Halleröd. ‘The city is home to the most interesting and experimental fashion brands, as well as a rich tradition of craftsmanship, food culture, art, and architecture. Therefore, we were incredibly excited when we were tasked with designing Acne Studios’ new flagship store in Aoyama, an area we love to walk through and draw inspiration from.’
To celebrate the opening, Johansson has worked with contemporary Japanese ceramicist Takuro Kuwata on a series of vessels which capture Kuwata’s vibrant, unconventional approach. Rooted in the aesthetic traditions of ‘wabi-sabi’ – an embrace of imperfection and impermanence – and ‘kintsugi’, whereby breaks or mistakes are repaired with gilt lacqueur, his works present a contemporary riff on Japanese teaware.\
As part of the collaboration, Takuro Kuwata worked closely with Jonny Johansson to reinterpret a selection of Acne Studios’ iconic pieces, infusing them with his bold, colorful signature. The capsule includes the Camero bag, trompe-l’œil denim, and a range of small leather goods. Acne Studios Aoyama opens its doors on July 11th, debuting these exclusive pieces in-store alongsidefall/Winter 2025 looks from both the men’s and women’s collections, as well as shoes and accessories— including the signature Camero and multipocket bags.