Difference between revisions of "Baby, the Stars Shine Bright"
Sage-blossom (talk | contribs) (Replaced infobox shop link to most current version (old link now redirects to porn)) |
Sage-blossom (talk | contribs) ('Tips for Identifying Pieces' section) |
||
| Line 357: | Line 357: | ||
|} | |} | ||
==Tips for Identifying Pieces== | |||
''As always, we recommend searching Lolibrary first both by item number and by any relevant tags/features. If neither of these bring up the item, the following are some tips for researching the mystery item, though you are always welcome to ask for assistance in the [https://discord.gg/s9kGmZpXUh Lolibrary Discord], or the [https://www.facebook.com/groups/eglresearch EGL Research Center] or [https://www.facebook.com/groups/324838797719110 What is that dress?] Facebook groups as well.'' | |||
*Wash tags for very recent releases (2021 and on for sure, possibly earlier) typically have item numbers, which can be easily searched for on Lolibrary, or used as confirmation for archived item information without images. | |||
*While the fabric brand tags have remained relatively unchanged, the wash tag can provide information on what years/time period an item was released in: [https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1dvBRSBS7_ZeLHpTGAnB8-7EWuGXMIkS6 BtSSB Washing Tags Brand Guide] | |||
*The brand's webshop images typically have the item number included in the image filenames/urls.: | |||
**2001-2018 release item pages and images: https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://babyssb.co.jp/mailorder/* | |||
**2018-2023 release item pages do not correspond to item numbers | |||
**2018-2023 release images: https://web.archive.org/web/*/https://babyssb.shop/resources/upload/products/* | |||
**2023-present release item pages: https://web.archive.org/web/*/https://store.babyssb.co.jp/products/* | |||
**2023-present release images: https://web.archive.org/web/*/https://store.babyssb.co.jp/cdn/shop/files/* | |||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
Latest revision as of 14:46, 19 June 2024
 | |
| Founded | 1988 |
|---|---|
| Country | Japan |
| No. of locations | 14 |
| Founder(s) | Akinori and Fumiyo Isobe |
| Website | website |
| Webshop | https://store.babyssb.co.jp/ (JP) https://shop.baby-aatp.com/ (US) |
| BABY_THE_STARS | |
| Blog | http://baby-aatp.blogspot.com/ (US) https://www.babyssb.co.jp/shop_list/ (JP) |
| babythessbofficial baby_the_stars_shine_bright | |
| baby20141123 | |
| Current status | Active |
| Lolibrary Link | |
Baby the Stars Shine Bright (ベイビー・ザ・スターズ・シャイン・ブライト）is a sweet lolita brand founded in 1988.
Concept
Baby describes their brand as:
In a time when one truly felt cute and elegant
like a beautiful princess,
happily dressing up in fancy frills and lace.
In a 2013 interview with NHK world Akinori Isobe stated "I believe there is a difference between splashy and kawaii. While people have their own take on kawaii, I personally don't want to create anything that is too conspicuous. Our policy from the start has been to offer designs that are seen purely and simply as kawaii"[3] Fumiyo Isobe added "We want to create designs that are elegant. When we work on patterns, we pursue refinement."[3]
Sub-Labels (optional)
Alice and the Pirates - Alice and the Pirates was founded on 2004.[4]
Production
Baby manufactures items in both China and Japan.[3][5]
In a NHK World feature in 2013, they showed the Baby Atelier office. It was an open concept space with several desks and multiple designers working in the same space.[3] Designer Saki Tachibana stated that they take inspiration from fairy tales, fine art books, illustrated books and vintage stuff, and that the design team talks about themes collectively. [3] In 2013, Baby was releasing at least one custom textile every month. They also showed computer software where there were approximately 50 pattern pieces drawn out for a specific OP.[3] Designer Mitsuki Yasui estimated that they typically use between 30 and 50 pattern pieces which is far more than is customary for a normal piece of clothing. She joked that they give the sewing craftspeople headaches due to the complexity. [3]
In 2013, Baby showed a factory in Ibaraki Prefecture Japan called Tokyoyoung co.,LTD.[3] This factory had been sewing clothes exclusively for Baby, the Stars Shine Bright for over 20 years at that time.[3] Manager Sumiko Watahiki explained that there is a ton of gathering, lace and layering which requires a lot of sewing. It's so complex, that when she first started, she was afraid she wouldn't be able to make these items.[3] Due to how complex the pieces are, the workers work in teams to iron and sew. 17 people worked in the factory in 2013, most of them were over 60 years old. [3]
Designers working in the Baby design studio
sketch
Fabric samples for custom textiles
This complex baby dress with lace uses approximately 50 pattern pieces, shown here in computer software.
Specification sheet with detailed sizing and placement notes for the sewing factory.
Baby's Exclusive factory in Japan circa 2013
History
In August 1988, the company that would become Baby the Stars Shine Bright was first established as a manufacturing and wholesale company for women's clothing by husband and wife team Akinori and Fumiyo Isobe. Baby, the Stars Shine Bright was formally established in 1992.[4] The brand was named after an Everything but the Girl album from 1986.[6] In October 1999, Baby launched their website and opened their first directly managed store.[4] In 2001, they released the first version of their popular Milky Boots, and Usakumya appeared in an advertisement for the first time.[4] In September of 2002, the novel Kamikaze Girls, which featured the main character going to Baby The Stars Shine Bright, was first published.[4] Baby opened several new stores in 2003, and filming began for a movie version of Kamikaze Girls.
In a 2012 interview, designer Masumi Kano said that being featured in Kamikaze girls "was the biggest opportunity for us. Kyoko Fukada was the perfect model. It brought in new fans, and we were very busy after that. Before, lolita fashion was underground, but the film made Baby known to people outside of lolita."[7]
Notable Figures
Akinori Isobe (礒部昭徳) - CEO, Cofounder of Baby the Stars Shine Bright and husband of Fumiyo Isobe[3]
Fumiyo Isobe (磯部フミ子) - Chief Director, Cofounder of Baby the Stars Shine Bright and wife of Akinori Isobe[3]
Elle - Elle started out as a Baby designer and in an interview she said that she designed Usakumya based on concepts from the CEO/Upper Management.[8] As of 2019, Elle is an Alice and the Pirates designer.[8] In a 2019 interview she stated "For Alice and the Pirates, we try to tell stories through our designs, and are inspired by fairytales. Every month or two, we come out with a new design. We go back and forth between our two designers. Recently we have been interested in darker themes for our designs, and are including more backgrounds and characters in them. In general, we are able to create whatever we want."[8] Elle is the original designer of Baby's Millefeuille jumperskirt.[8]
Kumiko Uehara (上原久美子) - One of the lead designers at Baby the Stars Shine Bright.[9] She went to fashion school, sent her resume to Baby, and was rejected (baby had 0 staff designers at the time). So she started her own brand, and a year later after her brand was in a magazine, baby called her and hired her. She designs the orthodox/mainstream clothes. (For example, the standard style everyone says “this is the BABY style” that's made of solid color cotton material with torchon lace.) Also designs all shoes, bags and parasols.[10]
Kano Masumi (加納万須美) - One of the designers at Baby the Stars Shine Bright. She studied at Bunka Women’s University in the a fashion department.[7] She is assigned to designing classical style and princess motifs and was the designer for Fragrant Rose Memories and the Shooting Star A-La-Mode dress.[10]
Saki Tachibana - She went to fashion school and started as an assistant for Baby the Stars Shine Bright while still in school. She is the designer of Claudia, The Fairy Tale Princess[10][11] She cites a Snow White themed dress (likely Claudia) as being the first dress she designed from start to finish and said in an interview that "At tea parties when I see people wear that dress, it makes me glad to know that someone still has it. It has a lot of meaning to me.".[8] In a 2019 interview she said "For Baby, we have six designers working in teams of two. Each team goes their separate ways to discuss what they want for their next design. They consider textiles, the illustrations and the details they wish to use. This is how we proceed with design work."[8]
Mitsuki Yasui - Designer. In a 2013 NHK world interview, she was shown working with the digital pattern piece software.[3]
Mitsuba - Mitsuba started as shop staff person, and then became a designer for Alice and the Pirates. She decides the schedule for a series and assigned the roles to each designer. She mainly designs all types of items including the original print series.[10]
Tomomi Nakamura - Like Mitsuba, she also started as shop staff person, moved up to a shop manager and then became a designer for Alice and the Pirates. She designs the items Mitsuba assigns to her. Also designs head accessories, hats, and bags in many cases. She generally decides the name of original prints, too.[10] Tomomi studied at design at a technical college.[7]
Mimi - Mimi graduated with a focus on pattern making / design from a design school. She is a Baby designer and designs clothing as well as accessories.[12]
Misako Aoki - former model
Midori - Model
Akira - Model
Selen - Selen is a Baby the Stars Shine Bright model, and an actress.[8] In a 2019 interview she stated "About ten or so years ago I met a hair and makeup artist who told me he thought I would be a good fit for Baby the Stars Shine Bright. He introduced me to the brand."[8]
Rin - Rin is a Baby the Stars Shine Bright model and a lead model for their annual tea party. In a 2017 guest announcement, it was stated that she had been featured in every annual Tea Party Fashion Show for the last 7 years. She also manages the flagship store.[12]
Hayashi Yasuhiro - Animator who has done fashion show opening animation for Baby/Pirates. They met him at a tea party in Tokyo in 2011.[7]
Sumiko Watahiki - Manager, Tokyoyoung co.,LTD. Baby's Japanese sewing factory
Characters & Design Motifs
Usakumya
Usakumya (♀) first shows up in 2001 in the GLARB I Fashion Show in the form of a very shaggy plush.[13][14] She is typically described as a bear dressed up as a bunny. In a 2019 interview, designer Elle said "Before Alice and the Pirates, I previously designed for Baby. I was actually the one who designed Usakumya. When the mascots were originally conceived, it was planned by the CEO and upper management. The Usakumya design they came up with had a sharp face and a smart, slim body. There wasn’t any lace or ribbons. It wasn’t as cute as they are now! They have been evolving to be cuter and cuter. We are adjusting to the taste of what girls now would like to see in a mascot."[8]
The Story of Usakumya
“Deep in the forest of a faraway land, there lived a stylish little bear. On a sunny afternoon, the little bear happened upon a very long-eared bunny. In that moment, his heart was stolen by those lovely ears. The little bear wanted nothing more than a pair of long ears for himself. Thinking he too could have long ears, the little bear sat in front of the mirror and pulled on his round ears until they turned red. The little bear cried and cried every day because his ears remained the same.
Then, one day, the little bear saw a lovely girl wearing BABY’s clothing. She listened to his story from beginning to end, and decided to grant the little bear’s wish! As if by magic, the girl presented the little bear with an exquisite bunny-eared bonnet. The little bear placed the bonnet on his head, and looked at himself in the mirror. All of a sudden, the tears stopped. The little bear looked just like a little bunny with red eyes from endless crying and long ears atop his head.
The girl exclaimed, ‘So cute! Where I am from, we call bears ‘Kumya.’ From now on, you will be known as ‘Usakumya-chan.” The little bear was so happy, he traveled to Candyland, where the girl resides. Everyone in Candyland wears BABY’s clothing, and everything there is cute and sweet. Usakumya-chan and the magical girl spent many fun-filled days in Candyland.“[15][16]
Kuma Kumya
A bear, pretending to be a bear.
Neko Kumya
A bear pretending to be a cat
Princess Drop (プリンセスドロップ)
The Baby the Stars Shine Bright heart logo with the B in the center, or with the full name of the brand in the center is called a 'Princess Drop' by the brand. This motif is used liberally in prints, and as a charm on various items. Generic items like solid headbows with the logo charm are often named Princess Drop + the type of item.[17]
Locations/Sales Model
Shop List
Standalone Alice and the Pirates locations are listed on their appropriate brand page. [18]
| Shop | Country | Address | Status | Socials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flagship | Japan | 6-29-3 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Harajuku KY Building 2nd floor | Open
(1999-) |
baby_the_stars_shine_bright |
| Osaka | Japan | 2-10-24 Nishishinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Preview Building B1F | Open | blog |
| Sapporo | Japan | IKEUCHI ZONE B2F | Open | baby_sapporoten |
| Takasaki | Japan | 93-18 Torimachi, Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture Nonaka Building 1st floor | Open
(2003-)[4] |
blog |
| Kanazawa
(+AatP) |
Japan | 24 BELSEL 1F, Tatemachi, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa | Open
(2003-)[4] |
blog |
| Shinjuku | Japan | 〒160-0022 3-1-26 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku Shinjuku Marui Annex 7th floor | Open
(2003-)[4] |
baby_shinjuku |
| Yokohama | Japan | 2-15-13 Minamisaiwai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Yokohama VIVRE3F | Open
(2003-)[4] |
blog |
| Fukuoka
(+AatP) |
Japan | 1-12-56 Daimyo, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka THE SHOPS DAIMYO 2nd floor 207 | Open
(2004-)[4] (Relocated Mar 2020) |
blog |
| Sendai | Japan | 3-11-15 Ichibancho, Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi Sendai FORUS 7F | Open | blog |
| Sannomiya (+AatP) | Japan | 1-5-26 Sannomiya-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe Sannomiya OPA 4F | Open | blog |
| Kyoto (+AatP) | Japan | Kawaramachi, Chukyo-ku, Kyoto Shijojoru Kawaramachi OPA 2nd floor | Open | blog |
| Ikebukuro (+AatP) | Japan | 1-50-35 Higashiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo Ikebukuro P'PARCO 2nd floor |
Open |
blog |
| Nagoya Parco | Japan | 3-29-1 Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya City Nagoya Parco East Building 4th floor | Open
(Relocated October 2003)[4] |
blog |
| New York (Tokyo Rebel) (+AatP) | USA | 158 Allen St. New York, NY 10002 | Closed (2013-2018) | bssbnyc |
| San Fransisco | USA | 1746 Post Street, San Francisco CA 94155 USA | Open (2009-) | blog |
| Hiroshima (+AatP) | Japan | Kamiyacho, Naka-ku, Hiroshima Sunmall 4F | Closed | blog |
| Utsuomiya | Japan | Closed | blog | |
| Omiya | Japan | Closed
(2003-?)[4] |
||
| Nagano (+AatP) | Japan | 826 Minamichitosemachi, Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture C-one 3F | Closed (2007-2017?) | blog |
| Kobe (+AatP) | Japan | 1-5-26 Sannomiya-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo 650-0021 6F Sannomiya Bibure | Closed (2006-?) | blog |
| Mito (+AatP) | Japan | 1-2-4 Miyamachi, Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Mime Building 1F | Closed (2005-2014)[21] | blog |
| Paris (+AatP) | France | 72 avenue Ledru Rollin 75012 Paris, FRANCE | Closed (2007-2017)[22][23] | blog |
| Chiba (+AatP) | Japan | 2-2-2 Chuo, Chuo-ku, Chiba-shi Chiba Parco 2F | Closed (?-2016)[24] | blog |
| Fujisawa | Japan | 22-3 Minamifujisawa, Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture Fujisawa OPA4F | Closed (2006-2010)[25] | blog |
| Matsuyama | Japan | 1-6-3 Okaido, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture | Closed (?-2017)[26] | blog |
| Naha | Japan | 2-18-19 Matsuo, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture Naha
OPA (3F) |
Closed (2006-2010)[27] | blog |
| Okayama | Japan | Closed (2006-2014)[28] | blog | |
| Shizuoka (+BtSSB) | Japan | 6-1 Tenmacho, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City SHIZUOKA109 2F | Closed (2007?-2015) | blog |
| Daikan | Japan | 20-23 Daikanyama-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Daikanyama Tokyu Apartment 1F | Closed | blog |
| Kumamoto | Japan | Kumamoto Prefecture Kumamoto City Shimotori Matsuya Building 1F | Closed (2006-?) | blog |
| Fukuyama | Japan | 1-8 Sannomaru-cho, Fukuyama-shi, Hiroshima CASPA3F | Closed | blog |
| Umeda | Japan | 1-27 Chayamachi, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka ABC-MART Umeda Building B1 Umeda OPA | Closed (?-2019)[29] | blog |
Tips for Identifying Pieces
As always, we recommend searching Lolibrary first both by item number and by any relevant tags/features. If neither of these bring up the item, the following are some tips for researching the mystery item, though you are always welcome to ask for assistance in the Lolibrary Discord, or the EGL Research Center or What is that dress? Facebook groups as well.
- Wash tags for very recent releases (2021 and on for sure, possibly earlier) typically have item numbers, which can be easily searched for on Lolibrary, or used as confirmation for archived item information without images.
- While the fabric brand tags have remained relatively unchanged, the wash tag can provide information on what years/time period an item was released in: BtSSB Washing Tags Brand Guide
- The brand's webshop images typically have the item number included in the image filenames/urls.:
- 2001-2018 release item pages and images: https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://babyssb.co.jp/mailorder/*
- 2018-2023 release item pages do not correspond to item numbers
- 2018-2023 release images: https://web.archive.org/web/*/https://babyssb.shop/resources/upload/products/*
- 2023-present release item pages: https://web.archive.org/web/*/https://store.babyssb.co.jp/products/*
- 2023-present release images: https://web.archive.org/web/*/https://store.babyssb.co.jp/cdn/shop/files/*
Gallery
Footnotes
- ↑ "Brand". Baby the Stars Shine Bright.
- ↑ "About Us". Baby The Stars Shine Bright SF.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 "Tokyo Fashion Express". NHK World.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 Baby, The Stars Shine Bright eMook.
- ↑ "Fairy Topialium Tag (2014)".
- ↑ "Baby, the Stars Shine Bright". Wikipedia.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "Designing Decadence – Baby, the Stars Shine Bright and Alice and the Pirates (interview)". J Generation.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 "Victorian Elegance & Storybook Looks: An Interview with A-Kon 2019 Fashion Guests Saki Tachibana, Elle, and SELEN". A to J Connections.
- ↑ "Babyssb Designer Interview". EGL.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 "interview - Baby, the Stars Shine Bright and Alice and the Pirates". Tokyo Rebel.
- ↑ "Tekko 2018 is pleased to announce BABY, the Stars Shine Bright and ALICE and the PIRATES!". Facebook.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "BABY the Stars Shine Bright & Alice and the Pirates". Kawaii Kon.
- ↑ "2001年9月14日 FASHION×LIVE EVENT『GLARB-I』". Baby The Stars Shine Bright.
- ↑ "2001年9月14日 FASHION×LIVE EVENT『GLARB-I』Coordinates". Baby the Stars Shine Bright.
- ↑ "Lolita Hime: Translation of Usakumya's Story". Tumblr.
- ↑ Kuma Kumya-chan Wearable Fleece Blanket Book. 2013.
- ↑ "Princess Drop Baby the Stars Shine Bright". Lolibrary.
- ↑ "Shop List". Baby the Stars Shine Bright.
- ↑ "今までありがとうございました！". ♡ BABY / PIRATES Hiroshima store ♡. May 13, 2020.
- ↑ "Notice of Closure". ★ BABY, THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT Utsunomiya store ★. Mar 10, 2015. Retrieved Feb 17, 2021.
- ↑ "Last Greeting". BABY, THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT / ALICE and the PIRATES Mito store. Retrieved Feb 17, 2022.
- ↑ "♪ Notice of opening of Paris store ♪". BABY, THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT. Archived from the original on Mar 23, 2007. Retrieved Feb 17, 2022.
- ↑ "Annonce importante // Important annoucement". BABY, THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT PARIS. May 25, 2017. Retrieved Feb 17, 2022.
- ↑ "About change of reservation method due to closing of BABY Chiba store". ☆ BABY, THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT Chiba store ☆. July 22, 2016.
- ↑ "Important Notice". BABY, THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT Fujisawa store. Aug 12, 2010. Archived from the original on Feb 13, 2011. Retrieved Feb 17, 2022.
- ↑ "Notice of closure of Matsuyama store". BABY Matsuyama store. Mar 27, 2017. Archived from the original on May 1, 2017. Retrieved Feb 17, 2022.
- ↑ "Important report from Naha store". BABY THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT Naha store. Sep 30, 2010. Archived from the original on May 22, 2015. Retrieved Feb 17, 2022.
- ↑ "[Last Greeting]". BABY, THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT Okayama store blog. Oct 5, 2014. Archived from the original on May 1, 2017. Retrieved Feb 17, 2022.
- ↑ "BABY Umeda store closing notice". BABY Umeda store blog. Feb 23, 2019. Retrieved Feb 17, 2022.
External links
- So you want to buy a Kumya – Guide to fake vs real BTSSB garment tags, size/price comparison of models of the Usakumya bags
- Teddy Bear Picnic: A look at Teddy Bears through JFashion [Part 3 – Lolita Fashion]
- BtSSB SF Official Facebook
