On December 14, Babylon opened its first retail location in Harajuku, Tokyo. Created by Lee Spielman and Garrett Stevenson - members of the hardcore punk band Trash Talk - Babylon is a street brand/store/community-based concept in Los Angeles.
The newly-opened Tokyo outpost marks the brand’s third store ever, but the very first outside of the U.S. To commemorate the opening, a limited collaboration with VERDY will be available at the new store, spanning a black long-sleeve T-shirt, hoodie and T-shirt with Babylon and Wasted Youth’s logos.
In addition to that, a special edition Visty vinyl figure is also revealed, coming in Babylon's signature all-black color scheme. Produced by SECRET BASE, the piece features a mix of matte and glossy finishes that nod to the interior details of the new store.
How often do you come to Japan lately?
Lee: At this point, one of us is in Japan every month and has been for the last few years or so. Both Garrett and I officially have spots there, so we split our time living between LA and Tokyo. I think sometimes we go back and forth so quickly nowadays that our friends in both cities don’t even notice we left. [laughs]
How did you decide to open a store in Japan?
Garrett: Japan has always held a special place in our hearts. From our early days diving into the Japanese punk scene to geeking out over fashion and the culture that surrounds it, opening a new store here just felt like the next natural step. We’ve been coming back regularly for around 15 years now and what started as trips turned into lifelong friendships. It’s like we have family here and the store is an extension of home. We’re just stoked to bring a little bit of our energy to Japan.
What’s the concept or theme for the store?
Lee: The store concept is centered around the idea of "Forever Under Construction," which has become a key tagline for the brand. It’s about ongoing growth, constantly building and evolving. The oversized smashed-in hole on the side of the Babylon Tokyo store is a direct tie back to the design of our LA location; It’s a symbol of breaking through barriers and always pushing forward – a window to the future. We wanted the store to reflect that same sense of movement and progress. "Forever Under Construction" isn’t just about being unfinished, it’s about creating space to grow.
“‘Forever Under Construction’ isn’t just about being unfinished, it’s about creating space to grow.” - Lee Spielman
Who worked on the interior design, etc.?
Garrett: We worked with the Italian architectural design firm, ASA, on the store design. It was a vibe from the jump working with Palo and Alberto, who headed up the project. From sketch to render to reality, the whole journey felt like we were building something that wasn’t just design, but a true experience. It’s been nothing short of amazing watching our ideas go from concept to something real. Honestly, we couldn't be more hyped about how it all turned out. Big love to the team for turning our thoughts into something that really speaks.
What are the differences between the Tokyo and LA stores?
Lee: Tokyo and LA are very different culturally, so the biggest difference for me is the things you can and can’t do in each city. For example, in LA there’s a lot more freedom to push certain boundaries, whereas in Tokyo, there are different standards and cultural expectations that you have to respect. At the end of the day, I think that makes for a far more elevated retail experience in Tokyo.
One thing that really stands out to me in Japan is the level of craftsmanship and attention to detail that goes into everything. It’s honestly next level. The Babylon Tokyo store is much more dialed in than any of our other spaces in the past. Every small bit has been considered with this new spot. One small detail I really love about the new store is that it feels like a house, just like our first location on Highland Ave in Hollywood. It feels like a completely hidden surprise when you enter the space, it’s like you would never expect it to be there.
“It’s all about creating energy in the space where collaborations and special projects can come to life.” - Garrett Stevenson
Are there any exclusive releases for the Tokyo store?
Garrett: We will always have exclusive products that you can’t find anywhere else in the Tokyo location. It’s all about creating energy in the space where collaborations and special projects can come to life. On top of that, we’ve got some womenswear pieces coming through that are Japan-only for now as well. We are trying to keep pushing boundaries and offer something that’s truly unique to the moment and to this place.
Lee: We’ve been working on some really rad projects with good friends and collaborators of ours - from Japan and beyond - for all of next year. The programming is looking insane. [laughs] We want to use Babylon Tokyo as a vehicle to bring a ton of new energy to the city from around the world that might not normally get the chance to pull up. For the opening weekend, we worked on a special capsule with one of our longest collaborators from Tokyo. There are a ton of surprises around the corner so stay tuned. We can’t give away all the secrets yet!
Obviously, Tokyo's retail experience is one of the best. But what’s the real significance of having a store in Tokyo for you guys?
Lee: Opening a store in Tokyo has always been a dream of ours. We’ve been drawn to the city ever since we first visited in 2008 to play music. There’s a unique energy here and the way people engage with culture really stands out when compared to other places. Tokyo has a deep respect for the stories behind what brands create, and that’s something we really connect with.
Retail can sometimes feel a bit transactional or trend-driven, but here, there’s a real appreciation for the history behind it all. To me, Tokyo is the perfect place for storytelling. It’s an environment that values meaningful experiences and people here genuinely appreciate it. For us as a brand, it’s always been more than selling products, it’s about sharing the things we love and have learned over the years as well as passing that knowledge on. Tokyo is open to new ideas but also heavily honors the past, so we’re excited to bring both of those elements to the shop.
You guys have a lot of friends here now and then, how do you think the Tokyo scene has changed since you first came?
Lee: I wouldn’t say Tokyo has changed as much as it’s become more globally connected. It’s been amazing to see the next generation of creatives here linking up with people from all over the world. I love seeing our Tokyo friends in places like Paris, LA and Hong Kong. There’s a real energy with the youth of today in Tokyo, and that energy is crossing borders.
When we first started coming to Japan, we’d go home and talk about all the music, brands and artists we discovered and loved, but it always felt a bit out of reach. Over the years though, that gap has definitely gotten a lot smaller. Tokyo and LA have always felt connected to me mostly because I have good friends in both cities working in the same creative spaces. The only real barrier has always been the language. With Babylon, we want to use the store as a space to connect those worlds more and bring new projects to life.
How do Trash Talk activity and Babylon influence each other?
Garrett: The ethos of what we do with the band really shines through in Babylon. We’ve always done things on our own terms - win or lose - and that’s been in our DNA from day one. Babylon's voice and direction come straight from the young punk rock versions of ourselves. I feel as if through both the music and the brand, we don’t have to grow old. We just keep pushing forward, staying true to what we started, no matter where we are or how much time passes.
When a brand gets bigger, it will usually be harder to control in some ways, how do you maintain the balance between the business and being creative?
Garrett: The beauty of running your own business is you can be as hands-on as you want. For us, that’s always been a big part of it. The authenticity of what we do is front and center in every decision we make. We’ve kept a tight team because that’s what works best for us. Even though honestly, I could probably use a bit more sleep. But at the end of the day, it’s always been about making sure our creative output reflects who we are as people, not just a brand. It’s real, it’s us and we’re always staying true to that.
“It’s been amazing to see the next generation of creatives here linking up with people from all over the world…There’s a real energy with the youth of today in Tokyo, and that energy is crossing borders.” - Lee Spielman
You’ve collaborated with many artists and brands, how do you select your collaborators?
Garrett: We’ve been super lucky to be surrounded by insanely talented friends, artists and brands honestly, which made everything so much easier. I can’t think of a single brand or collaborator we’ve worked with where it didn’t start with a real friendship or as solid support behind the scenes. It’s all about those genuine connections with us. The projects always feel more natural when there’s trust and respect there from the jump.
Are there any people you would like to collaborate with in the future?
Lee: The list is long! I could go on and on about bands and artists I want to work with forever. There are definitely some dream music collabs out there I’d love to do, but it’s tough because I’m not too into all the license-based collaborations. They always feel a bit forced. My favorite projects are the ones where we are able to actually connect with the artist or brand and create something special together. As for dream collabs, we’ve already worked with the Bad Brains so I’m not really sure what’s left. [laughs] But in all seriousness, I’d love to work on a project directly with Raymond Pettibon. That would be a bucket list one for me.
How would you like Babylon to grow in Tokyo?
Garrett: For us, it’s really about constantly connecting with new people, whether it’s creatives or brands and continuing to grow this whole global network. I genuinely believe you’re only as cool as the company you keep, so we’re always tuned in, listening to what’s going on in the streets and what the community’s saying – that’s the energy we want to bring to the brand. It’s bigger than just what we can do on our own it’s about the conversations, the collaborations and growing together. That’s how we see the brand evolving, here in Tokyo and beyond.
“We’re always tuned in, listening to what’s going on in the streets and what the community’s saying – that’s the energy we want to bring to the brand.” - Garrett Stevenson
What’s next for 2025 and the future?
Lee: 2025 is a huge year for us. It’s the 10th anniversary of Babylon and the 20th anniversary of Trash Talk, so we’ve got a lot planned to celebrate both milestones. For Babylon, you can expect a year full of special projects and high-level collabs that highlight everything we’ve built with the brand over the past decade. Babylon Tokyo will be the main center point for all of those moments.
For Trash Talk, we’re celebrating 20 years with activations and shows around the world. There are so many cities we’ve missed over the year and they’re long overdue for a visit. Every show we’ve played in the last year has been absolutely insane, it feels like the energy has only gotten crazier. I’m really looking forward to leaning into that as we hit the 20-year mark. It’s surreal to think the band is still going harder than ever after all these years.
Besides Japan, is there any interest in opening a second store in the APAC region? If so, what cities would it be?
Garrett: We were lucky enough to spend some time in Seoul a few months ago, and the energy there is just next level. The scene is alive – music, fashion, all of it. There's a real sense of creativity and forward-thinking happening. I’d love to build more out of that vibe and tap into what’s going on in that city. Right now, there’s so much fresh, exciting stuff coming out of Seoul, and it’s definitely a place we want to be more involved with.
BABYLON TOKYO
4-Chome-28-7 JIngumae
Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
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