RM GANG, the brand created by stylist Lambda Takahashi, will open its first pop-up store at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building , 6th floor, Men's Contemporary, from June 16th (Wed) to June 24th (Thu). During the event, the store will feature the Spring/Summer 2021 collection, as well as collaborative items specially prepared for this event with INOUT and MARS.

Takahashi, who is active in various media including magazines such as "SILVER" and "SWAG HOMMES," is someone who has been immersed in street fashion since the 1990s. His cutting-edge visual creations and RMGANG are right in the heart of Tokyo in 2021. We got a glimpse into his personality.

Knowing 90s street culture is your greatest asset.

The 1990s were the peak of Japanese street fashion, and Lambda Takahashi was right in the middle of it all. Fashion magazines were the source of information, and powerful keywords like "Shibuya casual," "Ura-Harajuku," and "vintage mix" were everywhere. While everyone was reveling in the golden age of fashion, Lambda was at the forefront of it all.


"Shibuya and Harajuku were the places to buy clothes and hang out. Then Nakameguro and Ebisu started to get really lively. Back then, my friends and I would go to America and buy tons of vintage clothes, and we'd sell so much at weekend flea markets that we'd cover the travel expenses. I even appeared in street style photos for a magazine that came to interview me, and I joined BEAMS in Shinjuku as part of the opening staff. It was an incredibly exciting time for me."

After working as a stylist's assistant, he became independent, but then went back to being a vintage clothing buyer. However, at the age of 28, he had a change of heart and started walking the path of a stylist once again.

"I decided to study properly again and became an apprentice to Haruhisa Hakusan. I think I'm one of the oldest people to become an assistant at this age. After studying under my mentor for four and a half years and then going independent, I worked as a stylist while also doing magazine editing and writing, helping with clothing production, and doing all sorts of things related to fashion. I studied not only styling, but also everything from magazine layout to film sizes for photographs. I feel like I've learned from many different angles how to create a space to showcase clothes."

Last year, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she launched a YouTube channel. Along with introducing her favorite items and sharing trendy styling techniques, she also talks about the basics of being a stylist.


"I want to create a textbook for stylists. Right now, there's an environment where any young influencer can start out as a stylist. But I think the most important job of a stylist isn't just putting together clothes, but creating a whole world. To do that, you need to know not only about clothes, but also about photography, videography, how to use light, and how to frame a space. You also need the knowledge and skills to fulfill the client's requests. I'm aiming to create a channel where students at fashion design schools can learn what they learn in class through videos."

They started out with zero experience in video production, working alongside friends, but as their work gained recognition, they launched a new team called "RM GANG PROJECT," named after their own brand. This summer, they will be producing a video that transforms the Isetan department store into a runway.

Fashion is a reflection of one's roots and one's genuine feelings in the present moment.

Lambda Takahashi, whose official title is stylist, is a multi-talented creator. He is a painter who depicts how clothes look in their surroundings, and a musician who creates a session between clothes and people. The collections of his own brand, RM GANG, are one piece of the mosaic of the worldview he creates.

"My original brand started about three years ago when I created eight pieces that were like my own haute couture. I didn't intend to mass-produce them, but after I held a kind of unveiling event, I suddenly got inquiries about wholesaling. In fact, I've even had a women's line at Isetan department store."

I was handling everything from production management to shipping by myself, which inevitably started to affect my main job, so the brand was put on hold for a year and a half. I reorganized the system and restarted it last summer.

"I don't really have a collection theme, but I value my mood at the time, drawing from various sources of inspiration. My roots are in vintage clothing, so I often modernize my own archives."


This season's collection also includes items that appear to be based on vintage clothing. The shape is that of a 1940s baseball shirt, but it has been repurposed with a polyester print and comes as a set with shorts. The pattern is said to be a mix of African batik and the brand logo. If you look closely, you can see drawings of pizza, adding a playful touch.


This oversized parka features a geometric pattern reminiscent of sportswear from the 90s. It comes with matching full-length trousers. "Doesn't it look like something a Black woman in New York would wear every day? (laughs)," she says, but the details are meticulously reproduced, revealing a level of craftsmanship only those familiar with vintage clothing would appreciate. It's the kind of piece that fellow vintage enthusiasts would understand with a simple glance.

From Wednesday, June 16th to Thursday, June 24th, a pop-up shop will be set up on the 6th floor Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building . Along with this season's collection, collaborative items with friends INOUT and MARS have also been specially prepared for this event.

The development of outdoor items reflects Takahashi's current lifestyle, as he now enjoys camping and playing outdoors with his children. He recalls that the roots of this lies in his childhood memories of traveling all over Japan in a car during summer vacations.

"I remember traveling with my father from Hokkaido, sleeping in the car along the way. When we reached a coastal road, we'd stop the car and dive in to catch fish, or we'd leave the doors wide open and take naps at roadside rest stops. When those wild memories are combined with the current outdoor boom, it feels like I've created my own collection."


Lambda Takahashi pours everything he has experienced in his life into his work, holding nothing back. Being a stylist is truly a creative job. Having experienced 90s street culture firsthand, he understands better than anyone how closely clothing is connected to the era, culture, and personality. When he said, "Fashion is a reflection of my honest feelings right now," his eyes behind his sunglasses were fixed powerfully forward.


View RM GANG product list