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GU vs Y’s: similarities and differences

Compare brand traits, similarities and differences.

Reference brand: GU Swap brands

GU

Japan Founded 2006

Trends & youth culture · Polished & dressy · Minimal & basics

Y’s

Japan Founded 1972

Avant-garde & designer · Luxury & heritage · Minimal & basics

Similarities and differences

Shared traits

  • No shared traits are available.

Different traits

  • Avant-garde & designer

    Y’s shows a stronger emphasis

  • Luxury & heritage

    Y’s shows a stronger emphasis

This pair is not included in the similar brands recommendations.

Trait comparison

  • GU (solid line, circles)
  • Y’s (dashed line, squares)
Traits of GU and Y’s, shown relative to each brand.
How to read the chart

Traits farther from the centre are more prominent within each brand. The chart uses the same relative display as the brand profile. Area does not indicate brand quality or absolute differences between brands.

Traits by category

Bar lengths show how prominent each trait is within each brand.

  • GU
  • Y’s
Minimal & basics
GU：Relative prominence within the brand
Y’s：Relative prominence within the brand
Polished & dressy
GU：Relative prominence within the brand
Y’s：Relative prominence within the brand
Luxury & heritage
GU：Relative prominence within the brand
Y’s：Relative prominence within the brand
Avant-garde & designer
GU：Relative prominence within the brand
Y’s：Relative prominence within the brand
Decoration & playfulness
GU：Relative prominence within the brand
Y’s：Relative prominence within the brand
Streetwear
GU：Relative prominence within the brand
Y’s：Relative prominence within the brand
Trends & youth culture
GU：Relative prominence within the brand
Y’s：Relative prominence within the brand
Sporty & sportswear
GU：Relative prominence within the brand
Y’s：Relative prominence within the brand
Outdoor & functional
GU：Relative prominence within the brand
Y’s：Relative prominence within the brand

Basic information

Field
GU
Y’s
Country Japan Japan
Founded 2006 1972
Category Clothing Clothing
Other categories Bags Accessories Footwear Lifestyle products Bags Accessories Footwear Eyewear

— indicates information that is not available.

Brand profiles

Brand lines

GU

No information is available.

Y’s

  • Y's for men

    A spin-off line launched in 1979 as a men’s-only line of Y's. It applies the patternmaking and tailo...

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  • Y’s Red Label

    Launched as an experimental/derivative subline of Y's, the line was led by designer Michiko Suzuki a...

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  • Y's PINK (Y's PINK)

    A diffusion line by a design team carrying on Y's DNA, it regularly presents collections incorporati...

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  • RISMAT by Y's

    A cruise/daily-oriented diffusion line introduced in 2014, centered on knitwear and emphasizing mate...

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  • MICHIKO by Y's

    A dress line launched to systematize Y's dresswear category. Centered on combinations of different m...

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  • KAYO NAKAMURA by Y's

    A derivative line introduced in 2014 as an accessories line centered on shoes and bags. Its designs ...

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  • Y's BANG ON!

    A seasonless unisex collection produced in small quantities, featuring numbered models based on men’...

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  • Y's Exclusive

    A suit line for career women introduced in 2013. Centered on coordinated jacket, pants, and skirt se...

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  • Y's for living

    A licensed line of home products developed under the Y's name, encompassing product groups such as b...

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Collaborations

GU

  • 2025-03-14

    UNDERCOVER

    The first collection, marking its relaunch as “UG,” is scheduled to launch on March 14, 2025.

  • 2021-02-22

    MIHARA YASUHIRO

    In 2021, it announced a collaborative collection featuring remake-style jackets and sneakers.

GU collaborations

Y’s

  • 2023-03-29

    Dr. Martens

    The collaboration features Y’s original 6-hole “Y’s 101.” Its brown-core vintage finish and back zipper are emblematic.

Y’s collaborations

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