4 sustainable fashion brands await you in Kyoto

It’s no secret that Kyoto is one of the largest cultural hubs in Japan. It’s no surprise given its rich history in art, theater, royalty and fashion. While also being home to some of Japan’s best and most well-known tea, Kyoto also stands out when it comes to sustainable apparel and clothing. Kyoto is doing a miraculous job at mixing in aesthetics that are unique to the ancient city and sustainable living that is seldom matched.

Kikuya Zakkaten

Sometimes it is really nice to give those small shops a voice, especially one that aims to provide its customers with fair-trade and domestic products. Kikuya Zakkaten is a small shop in Kyoto that sells products made from fair-trade and domestic wood. These products range from necklaces and earrings to stools and tables. You will also have the usual beloved brands like People Tree and Sisam Workshop here.

Though modest, don’t feel rushed, as the stories of each brand and series is written out to share with customers. A lot of thought is put in to educate customers about where their products are from, how they are made, and who you are supporting with each purchase.

It is important to note that the company is in no way massive and provides only hand-crafted, authentic items. Although orders can be made through the company’s online store, it is also possible for those who are either living or visiting Kyoto to hop on a bike and have a look to see what Kikuya Zakkaten has to offer.

Visit Kikuya Zakkaten here

Reborn Kyoto

Reborn Kyoto not only helps empower women around the world by helping them use their skills to make beautiful apparel, but there is also a unique way this is being done.

Reborn Kyoto is an NPO that sends old and disused kimonos to be remade into clothes by women in other parts of the world, and then resold again in Kyoto and the United States. Reborn Kyoto also provides cloth fabrication skills to disadvantaged women while encouraging economic independence. Countries in which training and cloth fabrication are being held include Laos, Vietnam, Jordan and Rwanda.

How does this program work? Firstly, silk kimonos are donated from various parts of Japan. The kimonos are then dressed down, unstitched and returned to their original fabric by volunteers. Next, the kimono fabric is sent all over the world in places where fabrication specialists give special training. The clothes are then made by trainees and finally sold in Kyoto and the United States. The profit from sales are then used as both payment and for various activities that are carried out by Reborn Tokyo.

The silk kimono fabric is sent to various different countries, which means that each created article of clothing has its own style inspired by women in that country. The transformed silk kimonos are 100% custom made women who are given a confidence boost in earning their own income, and moving toward a clearer path of financial independence.

Visit Reborn Kyoto here

Sisam Workshop

When mentioning Kyoto and fair trade, we must mention Sisam Workshop. Sisam Workshop has been around since 1999, and has always promoted the idea of fair trade practices. Although the company started out as a small store front over twenty years ago, it is now one of Kyoto’s most well-known shops regarding sustainable and ethical fashion. The company has, since 1999, expanded into most major cities around Japan including Osaka, Kobe and Tokyo.

Sisam Workshop understands the social and economical inequalities that affect our world today. Upon witnessing these inequalities first hand, the company gives its attention to narrowing the gap. Thus those who are at a disadvantage may have a chance to sell their products at a fair price.

Sisam Workshop also works closely with non-governmental organizations around the world that are members with the World Fair Trade Organization. While NGOs work to connect both Sisam Workshop and producers in several different countries, Sisam Workshop works with customers who strive to make the world a better place through the purchases that they make.

Sisam Workshop also goes to great lengths to teach its staff about fair-trade practices in order to convey its message to customers. Furthermore, the company also endeavors to have its products sold by other shops throughout Japan, thus further promoting fair trade practices. Sisam Workshop has a wide array of fashionable designs available within its online store, and it doesn’t stop there. Customers are also able to purchase chocolate, coffee and furniture. It also shares stories of the brands of where they come from and how they were made, so take your time to learn about the positive impact these products are making.

Visit Sisam Workshop here

Nadell

Nadell is a fashion store that focuses mainly on apparel for women. The primary directive of this store is to provide clothing that is ethical, sustainable, and does not pose a burden on our environment. This directive also includes not exploiting individuals who are involved in production.

Nadell also uses organic cotton for their products. According to Nadell’s website, the cotton used to manufacture products has been cultivated on land in which harmful pesticides and chemicals have not been used for more than three years. Importing their organic cotton into Japan, they process them into cotton yarn, where their designers (who lives and designs from Kyoto!) will take them to create today’s loved products.

Nadell also further explains that there is no full-proof solution to eliminating the environmental burden of creating fashion. However, the company always strive to find a way to better reduce its negative impact, and it really does show. Nadell collects and recycles all of its excess cloth for further use, such as when making smaller items and accessories.

Nadell began as a company that endeavors to create something sustainable, fair and ethical. It was not enough that NGOs, international organizations and local governments were trying to tackle global environmental and social issues; Nadell understood it was necessary that markets also move away from conventional methods of creating products. Now, the Kyoto-based company is still challenging those same conventional methods with an approach that may be new to the world, especially Japan.

By the way, Nadell offers wedding dresses for rent or purchase too! On the second floor, there is a fitting service for anyone looking for a fitting and sustainable wedding dress. If you are looking to hold a sustainable wedding in Japan, Nadell’s wedding dresses should definitely go onto your consideration list.

Visit Nadell here

Kyoto is home to some of the most beautiful craftsmanship and fashion that Japan has to offer. It is significant to understand that companies in one of the country’s most well-known cultural hubs are now moving in the right direction toward a more sustainable and ethical future.

(This article has been updated to include the latest photos and details about the shops.)