Grailed In The 6: A Visit With Blue Button Shop
- Words Grailed Team
- Date August 30, 2016
For a taste of Tokyo in Toronto look no further than Blue Button Shop. Despite a robust online shop, stocked with favorites from Engineered Garments to Kapital, the shop itself is a true gem. With an authentic Japanese feel and relaxed shopping environment, it's easy to spend an entire afternoon browsing through Blue Button Shop's racks while getting lost in the wide variety of unique odds and ends. We spoke with manager Tamae Miyazaki on bringing her beloved culture to Canada.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do.
I am Tamae Miyazaki, I manage our Toronto brick and mortar store. My partner Brian Cheuk takes care of our website and we do our buying together.
What’s the brief history of Blue Button Shop? When did you open? Why did you get started?
Actually, it is my partner started the store 3+ years ago, I joined him a couple of months later. He started the store without any background in fashion or retail business. He was a TV commercial producer in Asia and Toronto. He found that there wasn’t any stores in Toronto or the web in general carrying Japanese causal wear for grown-ups.
In your opinion, what’s special about Toronto’s men’s fashion scene and what sets your shop apart?
There are many good stores in Toronto, we want to bring a little Tokyo shopping experience to Toronto.
For those that have yet to visit, how would you describe Blue Button Shop and its vibe?
It's a comfortable and fashionable place for people to find what they like. We have brands from Japan and around the globe. We carry products from stationery to luggages. Rather than a clothing store, we are a lifestyle concept store, that’s what Blue Button Shop is about.
What are some of your favorite brands and labels to stock?
We always love Tamaki Niime scarves, Kapital, Orslow and Nanamica.
Any brands and labels you’re excited to add?
We’ll have N.Hoolywood and Descente Allterrain from Japan and MM6 Maison Margiela.
With so much of men's fashion retail moving towards e-commerce what’s the benefit of having a brick and mortar shop in 2016?
I think having a brick and mortar store sets the tone and it gives the soul to our web store.
What’s the future of Blue Button Shop look like?
We’ll keep on discovering new brands from Japan and around the world.