looking for vintage Issey Miyake? here's a great place to start
for half-priced pleats please Issey Miyake and rare affordable japanese gems
Sometimes (often), thrifting rabbit holes will lead me to pretty great places.
One of those is NẾP.
NẾP sources rare pieces from Issey Miyake, Comme des Garçons, Yohji Yamamoto, and other masters of Japanese design.
While half-priced Pleats Please will always catch my eye, it’s their more affordable “Japanese vintage” pieces that made me stop in my scrolling tracks.
Each of these textured pieces have so much character!
Intrigued, I went to their Vinted member profile and quickly found their website and brand, NẾP, an actual treasure trove for all Japanese fashion enthusiasts.
Their slogan is “amusing little seams and witty little pleats”. And doesn’t that perfectly capture what we all love so much about Japanese fashion?
Their curation is impeccable. I got one of their beautiful Japanese vintage pleated tops. People have asked if it’s Issey Miyake (it’s not!).
Here are a few faves I spotted on their website (though, really, their entire selection is incredible):
Sky blue pleated top, XS/S/M, 50€ - a perfect top to channel that y2k blue
Crinkled buttoned up top, XS/S/M, 40€ - this one is so chic!
Red fish bone pleats tank, S/M, 40€ - love this red color!
White textured long sleeve, XS/S/M, 40€
Brown Pleats Please skirt, S/M/L, 200€ - a nice change from black, to wear year-long
Issey Miyake pleated shirt, One size, 220€ - a splurge, but it’s in impeccable shape & reversible.
I reached out to their founders to hear more about their story: who they are, how do they source these garments, and more.
Below, they share their thoughtful answers. For example, they describe themselves as collectors, and have deep knowledge about every piece they find.
A team of collectors
NẾP was founded by four Vietnamese collectors who share a deep appreciation for Japanese craftsmanship. Our passion and dedication shape NẾP as more than just a retail store — it is a homage to tradition, time, and enduring design.
The story behind NẾP
NẾP is a tribute to time, created to honor the enduring beauty found in the folds and pleats of garments. It is a space where the past and future coexist, embodied through clothing that carries layers of meaning — from the creases in fabric to the fine lines of experience etched in life.
The brand curates rare, iconic pieces from masters of Japanese design, focusing not on fleeting fashion trends but on timeless elegance and craftsmanship. Each garment is seen as a living story that adapts and transforms with its wearer, celebrating the memory and poetry within every fold.
Japanese aesthetic: unique & timeless
Japanese style can be defined as a dialogue between structure and movement, between avant-garde and tradition, and between what is carefully constructed and what is allowed to flow freely. It is distinct because it doesn’t simply chase newness or trends, but creates pieces that endure over time, adapting and transforming with the wearer.
This aesthetic highlights a subtle balance between rigor and fluidity, with deep attention to detail and material. It’s a style that carries memory, story, and silent poetry embodied in every fold, texture, and movement.
The art of sourcing pieces
We work with networks of collectors, specialized resellers, and enthusiasts of Japanese fashion around the world, including in France.
Each piece is carefully chosen not only for its rarity or signature, but above all for its soul—its story, its texture, its movement. The selection is guided by instinct, certainly, but also by a deep knowledge of the archives of Japanese designers.
We seek garments that already carry a memory and are ready to welcome a new one. [Ed note: how beautifully put.]
Thank you so much to the team at NẾP for answering my questions and sharing their story. Your approach to thrifting is inspiring.
To get (or should I say collect?) one of their beauties, just DM the team via Instagram. Luckily for all of us, they ship worldwide :) Also make sure to follow them, they share their new pieces and drops.
How do you like this type of post spotlighting a tip/place to shop secondhand?
As always, thank you for reading, I am thrilled to share this little gem with you all 🫶
— Laure
p.s: just in case, this isn’t sponsored, just genuinely love what NẾP is doing.
THANK you for this! (I love Yohji, this is a great find of a site!) x
i wish my entire closet was issey miyake 🤩 i loved this post and learning about the story behind the founders and how they source!