Searching for a desirable fall 1991 Yohji Yamamoto Homme leather jacket or an incredibly elusive fanny pack from Louis Vuitton’s 1996 collaboration with Vivienne Westwood? Look no further than Casanova Vintage Ginza, one of four locations in Tokyo’s Casanova Vintage family. Tucked in Tokyo’s famous shopping district, this vintage retailer has made a name for itself sourcing mind-bogglingly rare pieces that capture even the most discerning collector’s eye—including best-dressed regulars such as Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, and Pharrell.
Attracting such an A-list customer base doesn’t come without cultivating your own taste, either, especially in a city like Tokyo, where well-maintained and coveted vintage pieces are the perhaps most saturated they have ever been. Creating a go-to spot requires personality and passion, two things of which Casanova Vintage manager Casanova Benkei doesn’t fall short. “I have been collecting what I like for ten years, and they are all here now,” says Casanova Vintage manager Casanova Benkei.
For many pieces, like a Hermès Kelly in rare Doblis (calf suede) or one of the 25 Kaws chairs ever made in collaboration with Fernando Campana, require years of patience—and a lot of luck at auctions and private sales. Speaking of the Yohji Yamamoto leather jackets, Benkei adds, “I consider it a miracle we have what we have.”
It’s easy to assume that with such luxurious items—some of which need to be handled with gloves—that Casanova Vintage could take on a sterile and intimidating feel. However, Benkei brushes off that intimidating notion and hopes that people come in, try on and feel the pieces, even sit and relax in the collector’s Kaws chair if they want to. With such eccentric pieces, he hopes customers can have fun with them too.
Director: Mike Sunda
Director Of Photography: Victor Ivanov
Editor: Mana Tagami
Executive Producer, PUSH: Aime Okamoto
Producer, PUSH: Urara Ogasawara
Senior Producer, Vogue: Bety Dereje
Creative Production Coordinator: Anisa Kennar
Assistant Camera: Alex Witmer
Gaffer: Ces Shaw
Audio: Masanari Sasaki
Photographer: Nadjim Khiari
Production Coordinator: Tanía Jones
Production Manager: Kristen Helmick
Line Producer: Natasha Soto-Albors
Assistant Editor: Billy Ward
Colorist : Oliver Eid
Post Production Coordinator: Holly Frew
Supervising Editor: Kameron Key
Post Production Supervisor: Alexa Deutsch
Fashion Features Editor, Vogue Japan: Saori Yoshida
Executive Producer, Vogue: Rahel Gebreyes
Senior Director, Video: Romy van den Broeke
Senior Director, Programming: Linda Gittleson
VP, Video Programming: Thespena Guatieri
Images Courtesy of: Columbus Museum of Art, Friedman Benda and KAWS x Campana, Daniel Kukla
Filmed on Location: Casanova Vintage Ginza
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