The Japanese Subculture Inspiring Bōsōzoku Style

The Bōsōzoku (暴走族) began as biker gangs, young men looking for thrills after returning from the second world war. An iconic subculture developed, characterised by groups riding customised motorbikes and wearing heavily embroidered boiler suits and workwear. Often their Tokkofuku jackets were covered with slogans or patriotic symbols, requiring time and skill to create. Today the number of Bōsōzoku bikers is small, but the influence on street styles and high fashion is growing. 

Bōsōzoku fashion

Key to the Bōsōzoku look is the use of embroidery, slogans and symbols on the iconic Tokkofuku jacket. The skill needed to create the detailed, hand stitched jackets means they are often made by craftsmen who specialise in uniforms, workwear and Tokkofuku. But the style has also inspired the use of embroidery designs and symbols on a range of other clothes. Echos of Bōsōzoku style can be seen over the years from the jump suit costumes of David Bowie, designed by Kansai Yamamoto, to the biker streetwear of Shinsuke Takizawa at Neighbourhood. Recently the heavily embroidered biker style inspired designs on the catwalk of Casablanca‘s FW25 show in Paris. While Velarof’s Crystal Reborn and VLF Shield incorporate Japanese motifs with a playful reimagining of traditional symbols.

Discover Bōsōzoku style in Velarof

Japanese subculture fashions can bring new life to traditional designs and patterns. While Bōsōzoku style continues to fuel the imagination of artists and designers, the ideas it inspires will keep interest in the history of the original biker gangs alive. The rebellious spirit and need for expression felt by many of the Bōsōzoku, can perhaps be found at Velarof too, where each design begins a new story.