Brooklyn Chamber’s Randy Peers (left) and Taisho University’s Masahiro Kashiwagi (right) serve as collaborator’s in Brooklyn Made’s Tokyo pop up starting April 24.
Photos courtesy of Brooklyn Made
For the first time since its launch, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce’s “Brooklyn Made” initiative is stepping beyond borough doors.
Beginning April 24, the program will debut its first international retail pop-up in Tokyo, bringing a curated mix of Brooklyn-based goods and artwork to Sugamo Ekimae Shopping Street through July 12. The three-month installation marks a significant milestone for the initiative, which has become a platform for showcasing local makers since its founding in 2023.
Set inside a two-level space, the pop-up will operate as both a retail shop and gallery. The ground floor will feature an assortment of Brooklyn-made products, while the second floor will highlight work from artists including Voodo Fé, Claudia Pearson, Adam Suerte, Miki Mu and Alicia Degener. Sugamo is often referred to as “Grandma’s Harajuku,” and is known for its emphasis on wellness and a close-knit community spirit.
The project is presented in partnership with Taisho University, whose students will run the store’s day-to-day operations. Already experienced in managing a retail space on campus, the students will now take on responsibilities ranging from merchandising to customer engagement—this time on an international stage.
The Brooklyn Made pop-up will feature borough-themed goods by local retailers.Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Chamber
“This is our first step in testing what Brooklyn Made can look like beyond New York. It’s about creating new pathways for our makers while building meaningful cultural exchange through retail,” Brooklyn Chamber CEO Randy Peers said in a statement.
The collaboration builds on an expanding relationship between the two institutions. Earlier this year, Taisho University established a satellite campus in Brooklyn, deepening its ties to the borough.
“In April, Taisho University established a satellite campus in Brooklyn. With the generous support of Mr. Randy Peers, CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, and his colleagues, we have continued to advance our international exchange initiatives,” Ma Kashiwagi of Taisho University said in a statement.”
Kashiwagi said in a statement that the Brooklyn Made program “empowers our students to take the lead in international business.”Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Chamber
He added that the “introduction of ‘Brooklyn Made’ to Sugamo — the home of Taisho University — creates new value by connecting our local and global communities. Most importantly, it empowers our students to take the lead in international business, gaining invaluable experience by working directly with the BCC team, who are at the forefront of small business innovation.”
The entrance of Taisho’s Sugamo pop-up in collaboration with Brooklyn Made.Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Chamber
Students involved in the project see the pop-up as more than a retail exercise.
“I am very happy to have this valuable opportunity to put into practice what I have learned at university. Through this pop-up store experience, I hope to grow further, and I am also looking forward to meeting and interacting directly with members of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce,” said a participating Taisho University student.
The collection will include two exclusive products designed for the Tokyo installation, created with Brooklyn-based makers Maptote and Natchie, which include a “custom Sugamo Ekimae Shopping Street map tote and a Taisho-exclusive notebook.”