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Urashibu Kei

Kana: 裏渋系

First Street Appearance: July 2006

First Published Appearance: Men's Egg September 2006

Last Published Appearance: Men's Egg December 2009?

Other Sources: Flickr

Osaka, June 16 2007 - Source

Urashibu kei is a gyaruo style that emerged from the psychedelic trance club scene, it's said to be the Shibuya version of Urahara. It's closely related to derikaa. At the time of writing, I sifted through some Men's Egg magazines from 2003 to 2006, but I couldn't find anything significant. Then I found an article from 2006 that mentioned Men's Egg featuring ura-shibuya kei in the September issue- so I ran to grab it. It's hard for me to get a grasp on Urashibu right now, it looks so similar to derikaa to me. But maybe I'll get a better eye for it as I learn about the fashion.

As a millennial with a raver dad in the late 90s, this style is so nostalgic. It reminds me of growing up with music like Shamen and Infected Mushroom. But I'm really curious why it boomed in 2006. By that time, this style was starting to become dated here in the UK.

Update: There is really very little in 2007-2008 also. Soul Sister and Soul Japan didn't produce anything either. Sources seem to think it was a very brief offshoot of derikaa combined with the club scene and nothing more... If you have any photos of urashibu style, please send them to me!!

Reoccuring motifs include tie-dye, neon, cyberdelia. Wide legged pants, beads, natural elements like leather and turquoise. There's a lot of psychedelic, African and Indian prints.

Brands include: Betty Blue Love, Trauma (虎馬), Place:Plan, Trip Travel, Shanit/Shanit Core

Street Snaps July 2006 (Source)