Fashion photographers Seiichi Niitsuma, left, & Seiji Fujimori, thrifting on Knickerbocker Avenue. — Photo by Nicole Wasilewicz. Click to see full version.

The New York of yore is no longer — in terms of crime rate and rent control, that is. Brooklyn streets are booming, albeit at a slower pace than two years ago, with what was once the essence of the Lower East Side. And Bushwick, a neighborhood that wasn’t exactly known as a tourist attraction (see: New York Loft Hostel), has become a more affordable, artistic, and in our case, more fashionable retreat. But will our ‘hood suffer the same boutique fate as Ludlow Street? It seems that all corners of the world are now aware that you can still find a $5 shirt on the vintage strip of Knickerbocker.

Seiichi Niitsuma (left) & Seiji Fujimori (right), Fashion Photographers

In a Route 66 t-shirt, combat boots, and flannel, we’re seeing American classics at a higher level of ready-to-wear, not for the sake of some ironic statement but, I’d say, because of unintentional influences. Seiichi, who has been living off the DeKalb stop for 3 years, represents a nod to grunge, whereas Seiji has a sleeker Bedford appeal. But the looks are interchangeable — staple outfits that could probably be found in either one’s closet. Imagine a scenario with teenage versions of these guys, listening to Sonic Youth and flipping though a Rolling Stone back at the height of its relevancy, and the ’90s layers all make sense.

How would you describe your personal style?

SN: I’m just getting into the ’80s style a lot.

What are you guys looking to find at Urban Jungle?

SF: We are looking for something older style, like ’60s, ’70s– we know about this place through our friend who is actually a vintage buyer in Japan. And we are sort of in a vintage mania right now.

How about your outfits today, how did you decide on what you’re wearing?

SN: This is from the top of my clothes. I basically always have just three outfits that I’m rotating.

SF: (points at sweater) This is my wife’s, um… (points at t-shirt) this is my wife’s, the jacket is from Uniqlo.

Do you think the fashion here is similar to that in Japan? Is vintage popular there?

SN: Some people are saying that it is kind of similar but it is quite different here.

SF: Japan style is all new clothing like H&M. We have to import vintage to Japan, and its actually more expensive than the new stuff. 10 years ago there was a vintage movement, like old Levis are popular here now but Japanese people made that cool. We are from that kind of generation but the younger generation actually don’t care about it, they just like imitation Alexander Wang.

So you guys feel more at home fashion-wise in Brooklyn.

Both: Yeah, yeah. Definitely.