Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on December 2009

Courtesy of Vulcanize London

Fancy a shirt made by James Bond’s tailor, or a hat by Her Majesty’s milliner? Want to lounge next to a Jag just like Austin Powers? No, there’s no need to go to Saville Row: all this and more can be found at one shop on Kotto Dori in Aoyama. Vulcanize London started life in 2002 as a small-scale operation selling just two brands, but it’s grown dramatically since then. Last month, the company opened a new shop in the space previously occupied by Hugo Boss, bringing together around 60 brands in one location to recreate the experience of a London shopping arcade. Ladies and gents with refined tastes will find everything they need here, with names including Turnbull & Asser (shirt tailor to Prince Charles and all the 007 actors), Fox Umbrella, and the Japan-born, London-based hatter Misa Harada, who was selected by Queen Elizabeth to create a hat for her Golden Jubilee in 2002. Luxury daily goods like Truefitt & Hill shaving gear and exclusive fragrances by Penhaligon’s will give Limey expats a taste of home, while the interior, with its Jaguar car emblazoned with the Union Jack and smartly dressed mannequins surrounded by a rainfall of teabags, is the epitome of British cool. Putting a modern spin on the tradition of afternoon tea, the shop also includes an organic café, providing a relaxing haven for harried shoppers.

5-8-5 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-5464-5255. Open daily 11am-8pm. Nearest stn: Omotesando. www.vulcanize-lon.com