Panic buying at H&M Tokyo

TOKYO — Never in my life did I ever dream of queuing up for something like this. The last time I seriously lined up was probably enrollment at UP in 1985. Twenty-three years later, I’m at Ginza lining up for fashion, namely Comme des Garçons’ collaboration with H&M.

The news came as a bit of a shock when it was announced last August — the mother of avant-garde fashion teams up with one of the world’s biggest mainstream retailers. It seemed impossible to Comme des Garçons fans that they could get pieces at H&M prices.

I decided then and there to be in Tokyo on November 8 when it happens.

The night before (Nov. 7) I had dinner with some Japanese business associates at the Jim Thompson café in Ginza.

Having said my intention to line up at H&M the following day, they gave me important tips such as, be prepared to line up for two hours and do not eat or drink (for obvious reasons).

By coincidence I was booked at the Mistui Garden Ginza, which was about eight blocks from H&M. The night before there were already 30 people in line at 11 p.m. It’s winter and it’s raining. I feel for these people.

I take a cab to my hotel and go under the fluffy hotel comforter. I make a plan to be there at 10 a.m. when it opens.

At 10 a.m., I go down into the street. The line has already snaked past our hotel and the Ricoh building right next door. I run with my umbrella to the end of the line where two cops are holding up an H&M sign and a counter.

In my meager Nihongo, I inquire what number I am: 500.

Behind me more people join the queue in their fall clothes and umbrellas. My friend Jay from Yokohama squeezes into the line, with the permission of my new “friends” in line, Ken and Kizu.

It’s so cold I can’t even text. My fingers are frozen. One hour later the line finally starts to move by a couple of blocks. By 11:45 a.m., my friend and I are already in front of the entrance, just five customers away from shopping heaven.

I can’t tell you how it feels to finally come in. We take the elevator to the third floor, and as soon as the doors open, I see panic buying and pandemonium. I spot a Japanese guy hoarding a ton of clothes in hangers. A few minutes later, I’m doing the same thing.

To save time, my friend Jay queued up at the cashier and we’re done in less than 20 minutes. Forget about queuing for the fitting room. I purchase a polka-dotted handbag, gray Comme des Garçons classic coattails, a skirt, two polka-dotted cardigans, T-shirt and shirt, while my total bill comes to 66,000 yen. Not bad for seven brilliant pieces.

It is now 12:20 p.m. Jay and I leave the store triumphant and collapse into seats in a tempura restaurant on the corner. From the second-level window we watch the line still snaking on Ginza Street.

We wolf down two bowls of tendon, crab tempura and grilled unagi, washed down by regular Coke.

And where was Rei Kawakubo all this time? Women’s Wear Daily reports she “made sure everything was going properly, but in her own way — she spent all Friday morning beforehand, folding her signature shirts with precision.”

As of this writing H&M stores all over the world are opening their doors to Comme des Garçons fans lining up in Europe and America.

I still can’t believe I did it. I’m so happy I made the trip and lined up, for this feels like fashion history.