Atelier Pierrot: Brand History, Where to Buy, News

Atelier Pierrot (stylized: ATELIER PIERROT) is a gothic lolita fashion brand from Tokyo, Japan. Started in 1969, it is one of the original pioneer Japanese lolita fashion brands. Their head shop is located inside LaForet Harajuku.

Atelier Pierrot logo.

History

In September 1969, the brand started under the name “Pierrot” making casual clothes. It was based at Yoyogi-Hachiman and mostly did wholesale. The representative was Masamichi Yamada.

In September 1975, Pierrot opened an original shop at the Harajuku Central Apartment Plaza (which is now Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku).

In October 1978, LaForet Harajuku opened. Pierrot opened their new Harajuku shop on the LaForet opening day, October 28, 1978. The representative at the time was Kimiko Harajuku.

In April 1993, Keiko Ohashi was appointed as the new company representative at the select shop. At this time, their clothes are all black. The original casual concept disappeared and shifted towards mode design. Mode was mainstream during this era. The brand name changed from Pierrot to Atelier Pierrot. Ohashi started the original brand Atelier Pierrot in 1999.

In 2006, Yuko Ashizawa joined Atelier Pierrot as a manager and designer. In June 2013, she became the representative director for the brand.

In 2019, they started a sub-label named Vallée Lys. In 2022, they started releasing extended sizing for select pieces.

Style

Atelier Pierrot’s items fall under gothic, gothic lolita, and classic lolita styles. Their signature pieces are known to have corset bodices and bustle skirts. Most of their pieces use solid fabrics utilizing shantung, satin, chiffon, and custom laces. Their items can also fit a variety of sizes since many blouses and dresses have generous amounts of elastic shirring.

Atelier Pierrot also runs a select shop featuring many smaller brands from across the world. Select brands include: Sheglit, Na+H, Moi-meme-Moitie, uF, Pina Sweet Collection, Marble, Physical Drop, Triple Fortune, Estrellas, and many more.

Alternate Names

  • アトリエピエロ
  • AtePie

Staff

Designers

  • Yuko Ashizawa – CEO/Designer (since 2006)
  • Keiko Ohashi – Former owner/designer

Shop Staff

  • Chie – Harajuku shop staff
  • Sasaki – Harajuku shop staff
  • Minami – Harajuku shop staff
  • Rika – Osaka shop staff
  • Jack – Shinjuku shop staff
  • Satsuki – Yokohama shop staff
  • Connie – International brand manager

Home Page

Where to Buy Atelier Pierrot

Online

In-store

  • LaForet Harajuku shop
    1 Chome−11−6 LaForet Harajuku Floor B1.5, Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
  • Shinjuku shop
    3 Chome-1-26 Shinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0022, Japan
  • Yokohama shop
    2 Chome−15番13号 3F, Minamisaiwai, Nishi Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 220-0005, Japan
  • Osaka shop
    Shinsaibashi Residence, 201, 1 Chome-15-9 Nishishinsaibashi, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0086, Japan
  • Harajuku Hearts (USA)
  • Trip in the Dream (France)

Trivia

Atelier Pierrot is one of the oldest lolita fashion brands. They pioneered lolita fashion in Tokyo.

The term “gothic lolita” may have been coined by Atelier Pierrot in the 90’s.

Atelier Pierrot used to share a shop with Atelier Boz. Atelier Pierrot convinced Atelier Boz to start making lolita designs.

Atelier Pierrot and Angelic Pretty opened a joint venture called Carina e Arlequin in Utsunomiya in 2003.

Atelier Pierrot has a good relationship with Sheglit. Pierrot often sells exclusive colorways of Sheglit items at events.

Atelier Pierrot has several unofficial brand mascots:

  • Kumappe is a teddy bear that lives inside the Harajuku shop. He is a top host in Kabukicho who lives in a glittering penthouse in Shibuya, but he spends all his money on Atelier Pierrot items and his apartment is now so crammed full of gothic lolita that he just lives in a cardboard box on the street.
  • Black cat Noir and white cat Lily appear on a lot of novelty items.

Most pieces are made in Japan. They’ve worked with some manufacturers for over 10 years.

Ohashi’s design style was to design as she goes. In contrast, Yuko’s design style is the opposite where she has to plan the design before making it.

Posts featuring Atelier Pierrot

Big Black Wings

During Japan’s quarantine, Atelier Pierrot was one of the many brands creating hashtags to promote staying home during the pandemic. The shop staff created a new Twitter account (@PierrotStaff) to…

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