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      <p><span>With a fresh wave of thrift store founders taking over the retail scene, there&rsquo;s a growing mission to champion sustainability in every aspect of fashion. The eclectic lifestyle of thrifting has reached new heights in our city.</span></p>
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      <p><span>Two years ago, amid the pandemic&rsquo;s grip on travel, Shimokita Space burst onto the scene as a bastion of creativity. Its genesis? The brainchild of Jay, who at 24 this year, harboured a whimsical yet hopeful dream: to infuse a taste of &ldquo;Japan&rdquo; into Malaysia. More than just a venue, Shimokita Space embodies an entire experience &mdash; a harmonious blend of fashion, music, art and tantalising cuisine. Its lively ambience acts as a magnet, drawing in passersby, rendering it nearly impossible to resist stepping inside when you chance upon it.</span></p>
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      <p><span><em><strong>How did you end up with the name Shimokita Space?</strong></em><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">The name Shimokita or Shimokitazawa originates from a neighbourhood in Japan known for its thrift stores, cafes and live music venues. About six or seven years ago when I was in Japan, my friend from a band called Lucie Too invited me to watch their live show in a place called Shimokitazawa. At that time, I had never heard of Shimokitazawa because it wasn&rsquo;t a tourist hotspot like Harajuku or Shibuya. However, as soon as I stepped out of Shimokitazawa station, I instantly fell in love with the area, which is why I chose &ldquo;Shimokita&rdquo; as the name for my space.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;"><em><strong>I love how the premises have been designed: every corner is a good spot for taking pictures. Is that intentional? What was the thought process behind the space?</strong></em><br /></span><span>We&rsquo;re glad you&rsquo;ve noticed our efforts to make every corner of our space perfect for photo opportunities. Our inspiration was to recreate everyday scenes from Japan, as well as scenes from dramas and films that I grew up watching. I&rsquo;ve incorporated elements such as train station signage, train announcements, classrooms, arcades, thrift shops, cafes, fast food joints and neon signs commonly seen on Japanese streets. Perhaps it&rsquo;s a bit ambitious to combine all these elements into one small space, but we&rsquo;re thrilled that people appreciate the effort.</span></p>
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      <p><span><em><strong>As a collector, how do you maintain a varied catalogue of clothing styles, sizes and trends to allow inclusivity?</strong></em><br /></span><span>At Shimokita Space, our thrift section is a collaboration among four different vendors: me, Dig Deep Within, ModoPreloved and Hammer&amp;stone. By working together as a team, we ensure there is a diverse range of clothing styles, sizes and trends to promote inclusivity.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;"><em><strong>Do you think that Malaysian thrift stores have their own unique flavour? Tell us about your thrifting experiences and the adventure of shopping in Malaysia.</strong></em><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">Absolutely! Malaysian thrift stores have their own unique charm. Shopping in Malaysia is an adventure with surprises awaiting at every turn, whether you&rsquo;re exploring low-budget thrifting or curated vintage finds. Each experience brings its own joy, yet the diversity of styles and cultural richness reflects Malaysia&rsquo;s distinctive fashion scene and heritage.<br /><br /></span><strong style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><em>What are the behind-the-scenes challenges the customers don&rsquo;t see when it comes to collecting and marketing your offerings?</em><br /></strong><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">We encounter several challenges in collecting and marketing our pieces. A major hurdle involves sourcing unique and high-end pieces while maintaining their quality. Additionally, keeping pace with the fast-changing fashion trends is another challenge. This demands constant updates and adaptability to ensure we meet the evolving preferences of our customers.</span></p>
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      <p><span><em><strong>The space you have created here is more than just a place for shopping. People can come here to chill, hang out and find some creative inspiration. Has that always been on your mind when you first started the business?</strong></em><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">To be honest, profits were never the main motivation behind starting Shimokita Space. It was more about sharing my passion and giving back to the community by providing a space where people can find creative inspiration and enjoy themselves. While there are opportunities to focus solely on profit, I prioritise our customers having a unique experience beyond just shopping.<br /><br /></span><strong style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><em>Following that, what&rsquo;s your next move?</em><br /></strong><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">Our next move is something we&rsquo;ve carefully considered. While expansion is certainly on our radar, we&rsquo;re currently prioritising the enhancement of our management to guarantee that any future branches uphold the quality and experience our customers have come to expect. Once we feel confident in our management capabilities, we&rsquo;ll then explore the possibility of opening another branch.</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">CREDITS:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Photography</strong> Floyd Grey<br /><strong>Creative direction &amp; Styling</strong> Syazil Abd Rahim<br /><strong>Photography</strong> assistant Absor<br />Special thanks to Shimokita Space, <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">Dig Deep Within, ModoPreloved and Hammer&amp;stone</span></p>

Earth Day Special: Jay of Shimokita Space on the thrifting culture in Malaysia

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