For many of us 90s teenagers, Nana wasn’t just our introduction to anime—it was our first step into the world of Japanese fashion. The story of two young women, both named Nana (we’ll call them Punk Nana and Kawaii Nana), one embodying punk rebellion, the other kawaii innocence, isn’t just about their intertwined fates. It mirrors a cultural deep-dive into the Punk movement, music, and style.

Nana, the love letter to Vivienne Westwood
When they meet, their lives intertwine, and so does their fashion journey. Every outfit echoing their personalities. Punk Nana, climbing her way to stardom with her band, embodies the rebellious aesthetic of 90s-00s Japan. Her style is heavily inspired by Vivienne Westwood and British punk culture. Corsets, tartan, and tweed become her armor, with Westwood’s iconic “Armour” ring serving as her emotional shield.

Shin, is the manga’s most androgynous and enigmatic character. He also channels the punk ethos with Westwood’s signature “Rocking Horse” platforms and provocative distressed tops.

Nana, a fusion of asthetics
Ai Yazawa, the creator of Nana, didn’t just draw characters in trendy clothes. She layered fashion into the very DNA of the series. Yazawa herself had a background in fashion, and it shows. Indeed, Nana captures the fusion of Harajuku subcultures with the raw spirit of British punk, making it a style bible of the time.
During the 1990s and early 2000s, the punk aesthetic left a significant mark on Japanese fashion. Harajuku emerged as the epicenter of bold, rebellious street style. But what sets Japan apart is its ability to absorb external influences and make them uniquely its own. Even if Nana’s punk vibe channels the Sex Pistols, the fashion takes on a distinctly Japanese twist, blending seamlessly with the country’s visual storytelling traditions, from punk to doll-like elegance.

Fashion as an exploration of the self
As a teenager, I didn’t fully grasp the depth behind the aesthetics. I thought Punk Nana was the epitome of cool, while Kawaii Nana seemed weaker to me. Maybe because she resembled me more in a way. But looking back, it’s clear these two characters reflect the duality within every woman: the strong, the soft, the punk, and the kawaii. One can’t exist without the other, and together, they embody the full spectrum of feminine strength.
Nana isn’t just about a punk band or a love story; it’s a deeper exploration of self, expressed through fashion, identity, and friendship. Eventually Nana should be watched as a crash course in relationships, identity, and, of course, fashion.
Vivienne Westwood may have opened her first Japanese shop in Harajuku in the late 90s, her punk legacy endures, living on in every punk rock stitch of Nana’s world.
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