Maurice SkinnerSlow fashion is exploding in Japan. Designers are making it easier to not only look good, but also give consumers the option to purchase quality fashion that is also sustainable and environmentally friendly. Furthermore, unlike fast fashion, slow fashion clothes are often given special care in order to ensure garments and accessories last much longer.
Let’s take a look at a few brands in Japan who are providing the world with some stylish, as well as sustainable, fashion.
Wicca’s Underwear
First on our list is Wicca’s Underwear. This company is solely geared toward providing high quality undergarments for women. Manufactured based on ethical theory, Wicca’s underwear is designed to make its customers feel empowered, comfortable and confident.
Furthermore, the designers also take into consideration their products’ impact on the environment. They strive to use raw materials, such as hemp, in order to bring an environmentally friendly product to the public. One reason the company has used hemp is because of the material’s ability to grow quickly without the use of pesticides or other harmful chemicals.
View this post on Instagram
Moreover, Wicca’s underwear also expresses hemp’s use in Japan, which traces back to ancient times. Wicca’s has an assortment of hemp-made bras and panties for women. There are several colors and styles to choose from, which are comfortable and beautiful for women of all ages.
View this post on Instagram
If undergarments are not what you’re looking for, Wicca’s underwear also provides its customers with products outside of clothing. For example, if you’re searching for some of the finest imported honey from Canada, then look no further than their website. Natural soap sets that can be used for laundry, cleaning and deodorant can be found on the company’s website.
Tennen
Tennen has been providing ethical and sustainable fashion since 2018. Currently, their four stores are located in Sapporo, Nagoya, and Tokyo.
View this post on Instagram
It isn’t hard to see that Tennen is continuing to put a substantial effort into providing some of the sleekest clothing for both men and women, while also putting forward some of the classiest clothing domestically. Tennen’s products use biodegradable materials, and endeavor to not create excessive waste. According to their website, to wear Tennen’s clothes is to “wear nature”. This is because the company does its best to produce clothing that can eventually return to the earth without harming the natural environment.
Furthermore, the company has also set up a system in order to use recycled materials. One example of this is Tennen’s determination to take recycled cottons and break them down into fibers in order to make clothing. This is done by taking those fibers and mixing them with new cotton in order for the clothing to uphold its strength. Moreover, all materials are made in Japan, which helps stimulate the local economy and manufacturers.
Tennen’s website includes an assortment of different products that include shirts, caps, socks and sweaters. Each item contains a description of the product and the type of material used. For example, the Silk DeSocks, which are 90% biodegradable according to their website, uses a mixture of silk and recycled cotton. If 90% biodegradable isn’t high enough, maybe the 100% biodegradable cardigan might put your mind at ease.
View this post on Instagram
Maito
Maito is another company based in Tokyo, Japan. This company aims to bring out the best in Japanese traditions while also being mindful to the environment.
View this post on Instagram
Maito believes that clothes made in a natural way have a different feel than those that are made with chemical components. Furthermore, the company has done an excellent job in bringing products to customers that are fair trade and use organic cotton. Maito’s clothing is also considered to be sustainable, and they have gone above and beyond to care about the environment.
Instead of going the mainstream route, the company’s garments also use plant-based dyes. According to the designers, plant-based dyes have a different human touch than chemical dyes, which are used in many fast fashion and corporate brands. This also helps carry weight to Maito’s determination to adhere to Japanese tradition. Plant-based dyes have been used in Japan for hundreds, if not thousands of years.
View this post on Instagram
When knitting, Maito uses technology to make 3D knitted garments so as to better compliment the human body and in order to create knits using the minimum amount of thread. This helps reduce the waste of fabric in their fabrication process. Their vast amount of clothing, which focuses primarily on female consumers, ranges from bags, scarves, cardigans and more.
Usaato
Usaato is last on our list and is a slow fashion brand that is making waves in the sustainable fashion world. The company does its best to live by its slogan, “stay ethical”, and realizes that we as human beings must live in harmony and peace with one another.
View this post on Instagram
Usaato’s materials hail from both Laos and Thailand and consist of hemp, cotton and silk. Colors used for their clothing are made from natural dyes from both Thailand and Laos. These dyes are derived from vegetables, indigo and ebony.
Furthermore, according to Usaato, the company’s fabrics are woven in villages in and around Thailand and Laos, and creations are considered sustainable. Moreover, the company gives its weavers leeway regarding the design of the fabric.
The company’s main store is based in Kyoto, which brings in handcrafted products from its overseas locations. Usaato considers its clothing to be not only for women; their clothes are meant to be unisex and worn by anyone, regardless of sex. The company provides a wide range of clothing that include shirts, pants, scarves, and even hats. Moreover, custom clothing is also available for those who might need it. Due to the quality of the clothing, it certainly is a comfortable fit for anyone wishing to make such a purchase.
Usaato’s clothes are sold only at exhibitions or in their Kyoto store. This is mainly because the company values the genuine human contact with their customers and a face to face atmosphere.
View this post on Instagram
