I know of at least 2 US market Fashion Avenues that were sold in the hot pink FA boxes (but with Japanese wording) for the Japan market.1996 Barbie Boutique Collection, stock #15856- I found this one at a local doll show. The fashion is the same as the one sold in the US, just the box is different.
The back of the box shows FA's that were all available for the US market. I don't know if all of them were also available in Japan.
From the archives, here is my US version on a doll:
1995 Barbie Boutique Collection, stock #14363- This is the only other fashion I have seen in the Japan box. I don't own it. The pictures are from ebay and, once again, the outfits pictured on the back are ones that were also available in the US.
Next up is a large group of fashions that were specifically packaged for the Japan market. US-market FA's were never sold in this style of packaging. Since a few of these fashions were the same ones as were being sold in regular FA boxes in the US, these Japan fashions are often referred to as "Fashion Avenues". But many of the fashions were unique to Japan and were never sold in other markets (to my knowledge). I don't know what the Japanese words say, whether it says anything equivalent to "Fashion Avenue", but it is not the same wording on all the packages. These fashions were not included on the original Fashion Avenue ID website so I did not try to collect them all, but over the years a few ended up in my collection. Here are the ones I own:
1998 Japan Fashion, stock #21398- unique to Japan:
1998 Japan Fashion, stock #21404- unique to Japan:
1999 Japan Fashion, stock #23733- unique to Japan:
1999 Japan Fashion, stock #23734- identical to the main pieces from 1999 Barbie Sweet/Charm Styles Fashion Avenue #24215 called Tea in London:
1998 Japan Fashion, stock #23741- unique to Japan. This is my favorite of my "Japan FA's" and as a treat to myself I decided to de-package this one and put it on a doll. First the packaged pic:
And Barbie wears it well. Love the little pompoms on the end of the scarf:
1999 Japan Fashion, stock #25913- unique to Japan:
1999 Japan Fashion, stock #25915, unique to Japan:
2000 Japan Fashion for Kelly, stock #27614- identical to the main pieces from 1999 Kelly Fashion Avenue #24305 called First Day of School:
Here are all the fashion pieces for First Day of School:
The back of the Japan package shows an interesting variation on 1999's Yipes Stripes for Kelly (stock #24304). The Japan dress has the Yipes jumper fabric replacing the striped bodice of the US version.
All the pieces for Yipes Stripes:
The following pictures are of Japan Fashions that I don't own. Most of the pictures are from ebay auctions.
Japan Fashion, stock #21402- unique:
Japan Fashion, stock #21408, unique:
Japan Fashion, stock #21411- unique:
Japan Fashion, stock #23736- unique (reminds me of Dawn doll's Mad About Plaid fashion from my childhood collection):
Japan Fashion, stock #23737- unique:
Japan Fashion, stock #23739- unique:
Japan Fashion, stock #25910- unique:
Japan Fashion, stock #25911- unique:
Japan Fashion, stock #25912- unique
Japan Fashion, stock #28917- identical to the main pieces from 2000 Barbie Charm Styles Fashion Avenue #28135 called Floral Reception:
Japan Fashion, stock #52598- identical to the dress and shoes from 2001 Barbie Charm Styles Fashion Avenue #29864 called Petal Parade:
Japan Fashion, stock #52599- identical to the main pieces from 2001 Barbie Charm Styles Fashion Avenue #29865 called Ballet Bouquet:
Finally, here are some pictures of the back of the packages showing a few other fashions that might have been available in Japan, but for which I have no close-up pics.
That wraps up what I know about these Japan fashions. Next week we'll look at some Avon exclusive fashions that are often considered Fashion Avenues.
