"axes femme" Exhibits at Germany's Largest Japanese Culture Event "DoKomi"

IGA Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture, President: Shojun Igarashi), which develops the apparel brand "axes femme (axes femme)", was invited to "DoKomi (Dokomi)", one of Europe's largest Japanese pop culture events held in Düsseldorf, Germany from May 29 (Fri) to May 31 (Sun), 2026. We participated by setting up a sales booth and joining the fashion show.

Record 230,000 Visitors, "axes femme" Booth a Huge Success from Day One

"DoKomi (Dokomi)" is Germany's largest convention for anime, manga, and Japanese culture. Held annually in Düsseldorf, Germany since 2009, it is known as one of Europe's leading Japanese pop culture events.

The venue brought together exhibitors from a wide range of fields related to Japanese culture, including manga, anime, games, cosplay, and fashion, filling numerous exhibition halls. This year, a record-breaking 230,000 people attended. Amidst the incredible energy filling the entire venue, many customers lined up at the "axes femme" fashion booth immediately after its opening.

The store was bustling every day from opening, with items featuring axes femme's signature floral patterns, girly-style clothing, and items in bright and bold colors selling one after another. Due to the high expectations of local customers, approximately 80% of the initial stock prepared was sold out on the first day alone. The response far exceeded expectations, with almost all products selling out before the final day.

Interaction with Fans from Around the World, Photo Event with Misako Aoki Held

At the venue, visitors included existing fans who have used our Japanese stores or our cross-border e-commerce (axes femme from JAPAN), as well as those who discovered the brand for the first time at this event, and customers who "learned about the brand through vintage clothing." People who love the brand in diverse ways visited. Visitors came not only from within Germany but also from around the world, including France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Nordic countries, and even Malaysia and Brazil, all gathering for "axes femme."

Additionally, a collaborative event with Misako Aoki, a leading figure in Lolita fashion, was held as a guest. Many fans flocked to the photo event, which began on the second day. Some brought photos from their visit to the same event 10 years ago, and some local fans were moved to tears, providing an opportunity to reaffirm the brand's immense popularity and influence in Europe. Through Misako Aoki's Instagram live broadcasts and measures to guide visitors to the online shop, further brand recognition was achieved locally.

Over 30 Times the Application Rate! Glamorous Fashion Show by 12 Local Models

In the fashion show held during the event, 12 local models selected through a prior open call appeared on stage alongside our President Igarashi and Misako Aoki.

Approximately 400 enthusiastic applications were received for the model slots. On the day, the world of "axes femme" was expressed amidst enthusiastic cheers from fans. We have built a strong relationship with the models who graced the runway through social media, establishing them as powerful partners for future European promotions.

Following the show, a talk event was held with Misako Aoki and President Igarashi. They spoke about the brand's core concepts, the passion of the local fans felt through this event, and their deep gratitude for being able to connect directly with fans across borders.

Touching upon the brand's potential in Europe, Igarashi delivered a powerful message: "axes femme will continue to deliver the 'excitement and thrill' that fashion brings to the world, crossing borders." The venue erupted in applause.

SDGs Initiative: Showcasing Outfits from Sustainable Remake Brand "PASTEQIDOR"

On the stage during the talk event, Igarashi appeared wearing remake items from "PASTEQIDOR (Pastekidol)," a remake brand handled by our company.

"PASTEQIDOR" is a sustainable project that transforms cherished vintage clothing collected from customers and fabric scraps generated during production into unique garments with new value, meticulously cut and reconstructed by artisans.

This initiative, viewed from an SDGs perspective, garnered significant attention locally, especially as many European fans expressed that they "connected with axes femme through vintage clothing" during this on-site survey. This endeavor, which solves the problem of clothing waste while preserving the brand's distinctive designs, will be widely promoted not only domestically but also globally in the future, contributing to the future of sustainable fashion.

Future Outlook: Confidence in Global Expansion and Improved Convenience

IGA Co., Ltd. is rapidly advancing its global expansion to deliver "excitement and thrill" to fans worldwide.

Last winter, we fully launched our Taiwan operations. We established a local subsidiary and opened the official Taiwan online shop and the community hub "axes femme Taipei LAB." We are expanding our local fan base through both physical stores and e-commerce. Moving forward, we aim to further expand our fan base with flagship store openings and new store locations, using Taiwan as a model case. We will also accelerate expansion into other Asian regions with significant potential fan bases, not just Taiwan.

Furthermore, since last year, we have been actively approaching the U.S. market, including exhibiting at "Anime Expo," one of North America's largest anime events, and engaging in local wholesale. We are gaining solid traction from the positive response at events and the fact that orders from the U.S. are among the top for our cross-border e-commerce.

While our operations in Asia and the U.S. are progressing, the European market had not been as extensively targeted until now. However, through our participation in "DoKomi," we are convinced of the high level of enthusiasm for Japanese culture, Japanese fashion, and Lolita fashion, as well as the market's potential.

We are sincerely addressing valuable feedback from local customers regarding "improving convenience" and "expanding size options" for our cross-border e-commerce and products, and we are working on improvements. Moreover, this exhibition has opened up new possibilities for brand recognition and sales expansion in Europe, including participation in other European events and connections with local Lolita-focused shops. We will materialize these connections and expand our sales channels and promotions in the European region.

▼axes femme from JAPAN▼

https://axesfemme-kawaii.com/

▼axes femme from JAPAN Official Instagram▼

https://www.instagram.com/axes_femme_from_japan/

▼Taiwan Official Online Shop▼

https://www.axesfemme.tw/

▼axes femme Taiwan Official Instagram▼

https://www.instagram.com/axes_femme_tw/?hl=ja

▼axes femme Taiwan Official Facebook▼

https://www.facebook.com/axesfemmetw

▼"PASTEQIDOR" Homepage▼

https://pasteqidor.jp/

IGA TOKYO

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Press Contact

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Mail: axesfemme-press@iga-group.com

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