An Unexpected Treasure Hunt: Closet Edition

Published: March 28, 2019

Like clockwork, the weather turns warmer, the birds start singing, and I get an itch to update my closet. It’s an indulgent itch, but one that comes with a niggling and persuasive side-note about how exciting it feels to put on a new outfit in the morning, ready to start the day.

 

So I want to find new clothes, but I don’t want to spend a ton of money. Which means, it’s time to hit up Riverfield.

 

 

Yup, that up there is Riverfield, a small apparel shop that most passers-by might only casually glance at. But this little local business holds more than meets the eye, filled as it is with high-quality, trendy clothes at mere fractions of retail price, all thanks to its owner, the grandfatherly Mr. Kawano.

 

Without further ado, let’s go digging.

 

 

Riverfield’s selection is a hodgepodge styles and functions, from cute t-shirts and tops…

 

 

To pyjamas and loungewear…

 

 

And even formalwear, and what feels like everything in-between!

 

 

And everything is so affordable! Even large items like winter coats sometimes go for only a few thousand yen. Occasionally, I would find clothes without price tags, to which Mr. Kawano would randomly assign a cost—generally around 500 yen. I showed him a perfectly lovely spring cotton jacket, and his reply was… “500 yen!”

 

But why the frankly ridiculous pricing, Mr. Kawano?? (Not that anyone is complaining, I’m sure.)

 

 

“Oh, I get my clothes at a really good price from friends who work in the fashion industry,” he replied with a laugh. “We go way back. 40 years. I think we keep each other alive because we don’t want to inconvenience each other’s business,” he joked.

 

Jokes aside, his lasting friendship with fashion workers plays a large part in the stock he receives. “A lot of these are what we call “sample” pieces. That means they were part of the small stock that were made of newly designed clothes. They’re used in photo shoots and promotional pictures, before mass-production catches up. So, those clothes you see the models wearing in magazines and catalogues? After the shoot is over, they end up here.”

 

 

This means that many of the clothes at Riverfield are actually from brand name shops. Mr. Kawano cuts the tags off of these, but the quality and design often speak for themselves.

 

The only downside to shopping here is that everything is in limited stock. Many sample pieces don’t come in multiples, so this is one store where it’s not wise to mull things over or come back another day. If you see something you love—go ahead and get it!

 

I had a hard time narrowing down what I wanted, given the low prices and above-mentioned limited availability. As I combed through the racks, separating the rows and rows and ROWS of densely-packed clothing, it was amazing the kind of stuff that came out! Cocktail dresses! Dress jackets! Lace-trimmed blouses! Skirts, pants, summer dresses…and even a huge selection of essentials, like camisoles and socks! Wow.

 

 

After debating it over, I ended up purchasing five pieces of clothing, ranging from pyjamas to dress shirts. Mr. Kawano rang me up at the dry cleaner’s next door (which he also runs), and the total price was…2160 yen, including tax! This was definitely the most thrillingly good bargain I’d received in a while, and I was giddy with shopper’s adrenaline.

 

“Come back again soon!” Mr. Kawano said with a cheery smile as I left.

 

Places like Riverfield are so much fun to explore, and one reason Koto City and its mishmash of small businesses are great. You never know what you might find, but on a lucky day, you might end up with exactly what you wanted—or better! And at Riverfield, where you can bask in Mr. Kawano’s friendliness and generous disposition, a spring (or summer, or autumn, or winter) wardrobe update doesn’t have to break the bank at all!

 

 

So go forth, fellow fashion-lovers! The wardrobe of your dreams await.

 

 

Story by Xianru Shen（Koto City Office Coordinator for International Relations）