Earth Music & Ecology
Stripe International · Japan
Earth Music & Ecology (earth music&ecology) is the main apparel brand of the Japanese fashion company Stripe International, headquartered in Okayama. Launched in 1999, it was central to the company's move to an own brand, vertically integrated model.
| Brand launched | 1999 |
|---|---|
| Company | Stripe International Inc. (formerly Cross Company) |
| Company headquarters | Kita Ward, Okayama, Japan |
| Company renamed | March 2016 |
| Segment | Mass market and fast fashion |
What is Earth Music & Ecology?
earth music&ecology is a Japanese casual fashion label and the main brand of Stripe International Inc. According to Japanese Wikipedia it was launched in 1999 and was central to the company's shift to a vertically integrated apparel model (SPA).
The company behind it
Stripe International began in June 1994 as a women's select shop called Cross Femme in Okayama City. It was incorporated as Cross Company in 1995 and was renamed Stripe International in March 2016. The founder, Yasuharu Ishikawa, resigned in March 2020. The company is headquartered in Kita Ward, Okayama.
Brands and business
Besides earth music&ecology, the group's brands include E hyphen world gallery, SEVENDAYS=SUNDAY, KOE, American Holic, Lebecca boutique, 913 and Garage of Good Clothing. Non-apparel activities include the mechakari clothing rental service, a home delivery cleaning business and restaurant and ice cream operations. The company passed 200 directly operated stores in 2009. Investments and acquisitions include the French brand Kitsune in 2016 and Vietnamese subsidiaries from 2016.
Why it matters
The brand is an example of a Japanese regional start up that grew into a national apparel group with its own brand model. The source does not state the shareholder structure of Stripe International, and this profile has not verified any ownership change since the cited page, so ownership is described only at company level.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Earth Music & Ecology?
earth music&ecology is the main brand of Stripe International Inc. of Okayama, Japan. The shareholder structure of the company was not verified for this profile.
Where is Earth Music & Ecology from?
It is from Japan. The brand was launched in 1999 by the company then known as Cross Company, based in Okayama.