Similar stores existed 30 years ago. But the new type of select shop focuses on originality, according to Kawano. Agosto does not carry more than two of any item. With few items on sale, the open space of the shops emphasizes the exclusive nature of their merchandise. He said he did not mind waiting in line to purchase something that he really wanted.
Select shops vary in size, location, stock and fashion focus.
A shop in Daikanyama, Tokyo, carries vintage denim pants and handmade hats. Another in Ura Harajuku, Tokyo, has eccentric shirts and trendy shoes. The bottom line is that the shops sell merchandise that appeals to taste of the owner or his or her merchandise buyer irrespective of its marketability. Agosto has introduced more than 100 alternative brands, including those by independent designers, and new wave fashion. But another view holds that the diversity in taste, which coincides with increased popularity of select shops, is driven by lifestyle changes among young consumers.