STEPPING INTO THE DARK WORLD OF JULIUS_7

Julius_7 stands among the cult labels of contemporary Japanese fashion: a brand that emerged from art, music, and underground culture to become a reference point for avant-garde, gothic-tinged streetwear. Founded in Tokyo in 2001 by Tatsuro Horikawa, the label began as part art project, part creative experiment, before fully evolving into a clothing brand in 2004.

Known for its uncompromising monochrome palette (black and grey as signature hues), Julius_7 creates garments that blend rugged minimalism, deconstruction and utilitarian sensibility. Its collections often include drop-crotch trousers, oversized outerwear, layered tops, asymmetric tailoring, distressed finishes and a striking fusion of streetwear, goth-inspired darkness and architectural silhouette.

Through each collection, Julius_7 expresses a consistent aesthetic language: garments designed as extensions of a lifestyle. Raw, moody and conceptually charged, they are deeply rooted in urban, underground identity.

ORIGINS & ARTISTIC ROOTS: FROM AUDIO-VISUAL ART TO FASHION

Julius_7’s story begins not in a traditional fashion house but in the creative underground of Tokyo’s art and music scene. Originally an art project combining film, visuals, sound and graphic elements, the project became a platform for expression blending multiple media.

By 2004, clothing became the main medium, a natural extension of the brand’s conceptual roots. Horikawa’s background in music, club visuals, ambient-sound culture and graphic art strongly influences the fashion output: design conceived like a cinematic or auditory experience, where shape, texture and tone are orchestrated with atmospheric intent.

This fusion between creative disciplines sets Julius_7 apart: garments are not just clothes, but pieces of wearable art, carrying references to architecture, underground music, dystopian aesthetics and subtle subcultural rebellion.

DESIGN LANGUAGE: MONOCHROME, DECONSTRUCTION & ARCHITECTURAL SILHOUETTES

Signature stylistic traits of Julius_7 include:

• dark monochrome palettes: primarily black and grey, symbolising despair, introspection and existential depth
• deconstructed tailoring & draped forms: elongated shapes, drop-crotch pants, asymmetric cuts, layered construction and distorted proportions
• industrial, utilitarian & gothic undertones: heavy boots, cargo-style trousers, rugged outerwear, and elements reminiscent of military or dystopian gear
• textural variation & distressed finishing: coated fabrics, washed surfaces, raw edges and subtle wear, giving clothes a lived-in, gritty presence
• unisex or fluid silhouette approach: many pieces transcend traditional gender norms, embracing layering, slouchy fits and silhouette-first design

The resulting wardrobe feels less like seasonal fashion and more like a timeless uniform for those drawn to darkness, minimalism, and expressive form.

PHILOSOPHY & CULTURAL IDENTITY: FASHION AS LIFESTYLE & STATEMENT

For Julius_7, clothing is not just about trends: it is about identity, mood, resistance and self-expression. The brand draws on influences from architecture, underground music, visual art, subcultural history, urban decay and conceptual atmospheres to craft garments that channel a particular worldview.

Wearing Julius_7 means aligning with a subcultural aesthetic, embracing darkness, rejecting mainstream fashion norms, and expressing an internal landscape outwards. It is an alternative to conventional beauty, rooted in emotion, contrast, texture, and philosophical depth.

The brand encourages individuality through uniformity, a paradox that generates unity among wearers while preserving personal identity.

WHAT JULIUS_7 OFFERS TODAY: CULT STREETWEAR, REDISCOVERY & PERMANENT CLASSICS

Over more than two decades, Julius_7 has built a devoted global following, especially among avant-garde, goth, underground and dark-fashion communities.

In recent years, the brand also launched a “Permanent” line, an archive-driven program that reintroduces iconic garments from its past, refined for contemporary wear while maintaining their original rough elegance.

For Orimono, carrying Julius_7 means offering a distinct segment of fashion: pieces that are not about seasonal trends, but about identity, legacy, and stylistic statement.

Explore Julius_7 at Orimono, online and in our Berlin store.