lululemon lands in Asia with its first global flagship in Japan, captured by TDM.Space.
Updated: 11 minutes ago
lululemon has recently opened its APAC flagship in Harajuku, an anchor for the brand’s expansion across Asia. Located at the intersection of Harajuku and Omotesando, the flagship was delivered by an international team spanning three continents: lululemon’s Global Retail Design team in Vancouver, the brand’s APAC design and construction team, and specialist Japanese contractors and artisans.
The new flagship was captured by TDM.Space, marking the first lululemon project the studio has delivered in Asia and extending a long-standing relationship documenting the brand’s stores across international markets.
The store brings contemporary retail design together with Japanese materials and specialist craft, with details including forged sequoia tile and hand-raked plaster reflecting an emphasis on materiality throughout the space.
Three commissioned artworks connect the store directly to its Tokyo surroundings. Japanese architecture studio Torafu Architects collaborated with Japanese furniture maker Karimoku on a ground-floor window installation using woods native to the nearby Meiji Jingu forest. Artist Taku Bannai worked with Tokushima-based washi paper manufacturer Awagami Factory on a paper collage inspired by Yoyogi Park, while Japanese artist and sculptor Maito Otake created an installation using deadstock materials sourced within Harajuku.
“Meeting at the intersection of the Harajuku and Omotesando districts, we knew this was a truly powerful location in the Tokyo landscape to land a flagship store. The façade brings movement to the street with flowing sculpted forms. The staircase offers a sense of discovery, wrapped in a handcrafted envelope of rich timber, which opens out into a ceiling of light designed in 3D-printed lattice with a nod to the heritage craft of Japan.”
Neil Sharman
VP, Creative Director, Global Retail Design, lululemon
“Months of design development, prototyping and mock-ups culminated in a cohesive and highly crafted execution — from plaster artisans and master joiners who usually work on monasteries to specialist contractors who brought exceptional attention to every detail.”
Sam Bradley
Design Director, Store Development APAC, lululemon
“We're proud that this store celebrates the local Japanese community and craft. With authentic collaborations — from a Meiji Jingu forest-inspired beacon at our window, partnering with Torafu and Karimoku, to an Awagami Factory paper mural by Taku Bannai depicting movement and mindfulness in Yoyogi Park.”
Andrew Quinn
Senior Creative Director, Global Retail Design, lululemon
Documenting The Store
TDM.Space has been photographing lululemon stores for many years, from high-street locations to flagships. Harajuku is the first lululemon project TDM.Space has delivered in Asia.
The flagship was captured from pre-dawn through first light, documenting the changing exterior as Tokyo woke up alongside the store’s interiors, materials, craftsmanship and commissioned artworks. The project included both photography and film, as well as imagery from the opening event and the brand’s presence across the surrounding neighbourhood.
“TDM.Space have been photographing lululemon stores for many years, making Tom and his team a natural choice to document the launch of our new flagship. Their work speaks for itself, capturing the materiality, craftsmanship and warmth of the store in a way that truly reflects the experience of the space.”
Sam Bradley
Design Director, Store Development APAC, lululemon
TDM.Space in Asia
Harajuku marks the first lululemon project TDM.Space has delivered in Asia, extending a long-standing relationship that has seen TDM.Space photograph the brand’s stores and flagships across other international markets.
The project also marks the next stage of TDM.Space’s growing presence in Japan and the wider Asian market.
TDM.Space’s new website has been developed with dedicated language pages for its key territories, making its work accessible in Japanese for the local market.
Over the past quarter, TDM.Space has developed a trusted Tokyo-based crew of photographers, videographers and assistants — establishing a local production network designed to maintain the quality, reliability and consistency of TDM.Space’s work as it expands further into the Asian market.
Harajuku is the first lululemon commission TDM.Space has delivered through this Tokyo network.
“Harajuku feels like an important moment for TDM.Space. It’s our most significant project in Asia to date and really plants the flag on what we’ve already been building across the region. We have established crews and production capability across Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Macau, Beijing and other major APAC cities, and we’re proud to have been called in to support our longstanding client lululemon as they continue to expand across the region.”
Tom Morgan
Creative Director and Founder, TDM.Space
Global Standards, Local Production
TDM.Space’s production model combines trusted crews on the ground with a centralised creative and post-production hub, ensuring consistency across every market.
Local teams bring knowledge of their city, light and logistics, while TDM.Space centrally oversees creative direction, grading, retouching standards and the client relationship.
The model allows international clients to commission TDM.Space across multiple territories while maintaining the same quality, visual language and production standards — whether a project is photographed in Tokyo, London, Paris or elsewhere in TDM.Space’s international network.
With the Tokyo network now established, Japan becomes part of TDM.Space’s wider international production capability and a base from which to continue growing its work across Asia.
“It’s always good to work with Tom Morgan, Founder & Creative Director of TDM.Space, and his team. On our latest project in Tokyo, Tom took time while on site to discuss edits and tweaks to the shots, while also bringing his point of view on what works best.”
Andrew Quinn
Creative Director, Global Retail Design, lululemon
Photography and film: TDM.Space
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