DEEPTOKYO
magazine
EN
DEEPTOKYO
magazine
EN
2026.04.27
A Store Where You Can Find Quality Vintage Clothing in the Back Alleys of Shimokitazawa
Nearest Station
Located in Shimokitazawa, “e’s yarn” is a shop specializing in vintage clothing from American casual and outdoor brands of the 1980s and 1990s, including “Eddie Bauer,” “GAP,” “L.L.Bean,” and “LANDS’ END.” The selection is limited to brands that the owner has actually worn. As a result, the shop is stocked with items in such good condition that it is hard to believe they are vintage. Inside, each piece is carefully prepared and neatly displayed for easy viewing. Thoughtful touches can be felt throughout the store, all designed to make it easier to choose clothing. Free from the influence of fleeting trends, it is a shop where you can find a piece that feels right for your own sensibility.
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“e’s yarn” is located on the side of Shimokitazawa Station opposite the main commercial area. It stands in a quiet corner reached by entering Kamakura-dori from the West Exit and then proceeding farther into a side street.The interior, based around wood tones, feels warm and calm. Lined up inside are vintage pieces from the 1980s and 1990s made by brands that the owner, Ryosuke Ebe, has actually worn over the years. Ebe says that because he deeply understands the characteristics, comfort, and quality of each brand, he is able to communicate their appeal to customers.What is more, only pieces in good condition make it onto the sales floor. After sourcing them, Ebe personally washes and irons each item carefully before putting it out in the shop. This sincere care, together with his reliable eye for quality, has earned the trust of many customers.
Kamakura Street is quiet, with only light foot traffic.
When you turn off Kamakura Street into the alley, a mint-green sign comes into view. It marks the location of “e’s yarn.”
The owner's desire to "make it a place you would want to visit as a destination" led to its opening in 2018 in a location opposite an area with many vintage clothing stores and restaurants.
The shop measures 22.8 square meters. Because covering all the walls in wood tones would make the space feel smaller, some white wall surfaces were intentionally left visible.
A record often played in the shop is Mort Garson’s “MOTHER EARTH’S Plantasia.”
Music plays from an octagonal speaker by “listude,” a brand based in Yamanashi, suspended from the ceiling.
Ebe says he became interested in clothing when he was in junior high school. He would tuck a 10,000 yen note from his allowance into the sole of his shoe and often visit vintage clothing stores in Amerikamura, Osaka.
The pieces at “e’s yarn” are vintage clothing from the 1980s and 1990s by American casual and outdoor brands such as “Eddie Bauer,” “GAP,” “L.L.Bean,” and “LANDS’ END.”The pieces at “e’s yarn” are vintage clothing from the 1980s and 1990s by American casual and outdoor brands such as “Eddie Bauer,” “GAP,” “L.L.Bean,” and “LANDS’ END.”
What Ebe places particular importance on when selecting items is sizing. Because American-standard garments often run large overall, the shop mainly carries S and M sizes. At the same time, some larger garments have been shrunk by powerful local dryers, resulting in sizes that can be worn in a well-balanced way.
Another characteristic of the shop is that it carries not only menswear but also a large amount of womenswear. When choosing women’s items, Ebe says he values the perspective of asking himself, “If I were a woman, what kind of clothes would I want to wear?” When it is difficult for him to picture the result, he sometimes asks a female staff member on site to try the item on so that he can check how it actually looks. Ebe travels alone to the United States to source items, and at times he purchases more than 900 pieces. Even so, he evaluates every single item with an uncompromising eye.
Menswear items are displayed on the left side when you enter the shop.
Womenswear items are displayed on the right side, including dresses and skirts.
The fitting room is at the back of the shop. Because Ebe himself places great importance on sizing, he says, “If there is something that catches your eye, please feel free to try it on.”
A men’s 1990s cotton anorak parka by “J.CREW,” known as one of the brand’s signature pieces from that era.
This tag is known as the “giant tag,” a label used in the 1990s.
Cotton knits made in the United States: “LANDS’ END” on the top and center, and “L.L.Bean” on the bottom.
“e’s yarn” is especially well stocked with cotton knits.
A men’s 1990s silk shirt by “TRAVEL SMITH.”
It is not a major brand, but according to Ebe, its garments keep their shape well even after washing and have strong designs.
A women's 80's "Eddie Bauer" animal series knitwear.
At the time, production increased under the influence of the outdoor boom, and the range of designs expanded as well.
The soft pale tones are something rarely seen today.
A women's 80's "Brooks Brothers" Irish linen shirt.
Irish linen is known as one of the finest kinds of linen.
Because the garment is well-worn vintage clothing, the fabric has developed a soft texture.
Women’s moc shoes: “Timberland” on the left and “LANDS’ END” on the right.
The shape is made of suede material and is easy to put on and take off.
It is made of leather and has the brand name on the sole.
The orderly interior is filled with fine details that are easy to miss at first glance.One example is the height of the racks. The positions differ between the men’s and women’s sections, and each is adjusted to a height that makes the clothes easy to see based on the average height of each group. In addition, all the garments are hung at equal intervals. Ebe says he gradually aligns them by placing three fingers between the hangers as a guide.There are many other carefully considered details as well, such as folding clothes while measuring their length with a ruler, and managing every item with a numbered tag.However, this is not simply because he is meticulous. Underlying it is Ebe’s consistent desire to put the customer first.
“It is partly to make the products look beautiful, but above all, I want customers to have a clean impression when they come into the shop, and I want them to feel comfortable while choosing clothes. People tend to assume that wrinkles and dirt come with vintage clothing, but I think it is only natural to wash each piece carefully. I also put effort into the display so that the appeal of the clothes in the shop can come across more clearly,” says Ebe.
The rack heights are designed around the average height of men and women, respectively. Ebe says the know-how behind this sales-floor design was cultivated during the eight years he worked at “UNIQLO” before opening “e’s yarn.”
All the clothes are hung at equal intervals. Some customers say they feel almost sorry to disturb the arrangement because it is so beautifully ordered. Even so, Ebe says, “Please do not worry about that—pick things up and take a look.”
He says he adjusts the spacing like this before opening and after closing.
When Ebe starts folding purchased clothes with a ruler before handing them over, many customers are surprised. One reason he continues this folding method is that it often sparks conversation. Even so, he adds with a laugh, “If a customer is in a hurry, I do not use the ruler—I just fold the item quickly and neatly and hand it over.”
A handmade tag attached to each individual item.
Information on purchased items is managed in a way that is linked even to who bought them. For regular customers, he may suggest a piece that goes with an item they previously purchased, based on their preferences and purchase history.
The name “e’s yarn” carries the meaning of “weaving your own story.” What “e’s yarn” proposes is a way of styling that freely incorporates what you like. Ebe says that by combining items chosen according to your own sensibility, without being bound by trendy colors or fixed ways of dressing, your individuality naturally comes through.
“I want people to enjoy clothes more. I do not think you need to force yourself to fit your lifestyle or a particular mold. Today, clothing itself is harder to sell, so there is a tendency for brands to make garments in fewer colors and in safe designs. But the 1980s and 1990s were a time when many clothes with a wide variety of designs were made. That is exactly why I think people can enjoy dressing more freely and in a way that feels true to themselves,” says Ebe.
Rather than relying on trends or fixed answers, he believes in combining items according to one’s own sensibility and giving form to one’s individuality. That way of enjoying clothes lies at the heart of this shop’s philosophy.
The top layers a 2000s cotton knit parka by “BANANA REPUBLIC” with a 1990s long-sleeve T-shirt by “PERRY ELLIS.” The pants are more recent military pants, altered to a cropped length.
A belt by “Eddie Bauer” that Ebe bought at a vintage clothing store when he was in the second year of junior high school. He still keeps it carefully and continues to use it.
A rare pair of “Dr. Martens” shoes issued only to postal workers of “Royal Mail,” the British postal service.
*Please contact the store directly for pricing details.
The information contained this article was correct as of 04/27/2026 (the time of publication)
