Circulating used clothes as a movement through Kyoto’s Junkan Fes

Fashion lovers and sustainability enthusiasts need to look out for this month’s Junkan Fes (meaning Circular Festival) in Kyoto! It is a reuse-themed festival that will be held Sunday, 27 November, in Umekoji Park, west of Kyoto Station.

The festival is initiated by Human Forum Co. Ltd, who brought us brands like mumokuteki and SPINNS, and Kyoto Shinkin Bank. It wants to create a movement among the young generation and the reuse fashion scene.

One key feature of the festival is the 0 Yen Market, where visitors can take home up to three pieces of clothing for free. The clothes come from the region’s residents, collected through the RELEASE⇔CATCH clothes collection boxes. This way, the shoppers become part of the circular movement where used clothes find new owners.

This festival will be the second Junkan Fes, with the previous held four months ago in July, in the Kyoto City Hall Square. About 1,600 pieces of clothing was given away, and about 2,700 pieces were collected then. The organizer estimates that more than 40 tons of carbon emissions were reduced from the exchange activities, and hope to have a similar impact with the upcoming event.

Do bring your disused clothes along if you are planning to go down, too, as the RELEASE⇔CATCH collection boxes will also be at the festival. Make sure the clothes you plan to give away are clean and washed, and that you have removed all precious items from the pockets. Note also clothes are non-returnable, and things like accessories, bags, shoes, mufflers, headwear, underwear, socks, curtains, bedsheets, soft toys etc. will not be accepted.

Apart from fashion, the festival will involve numerous sustainable lifestyle brands. There will be reuse and remake brands and natural food products. A food circuit will also be available, so be sure to bring along your personal cups, bottles and cutlery to enjoy the delicacies of Kyoto.

Workshops and exhibitions will also prepared to learn about sustainability, especially for those who want to learn more about the theme of “circulation.”

Details of Junkan Fes:

Date: 27 November 2022 (In case of rain, will be postponed to 4 December)
Time: 10 am ~ 4 pm
Location: Umekoji Park, Kyoto City (Google Map for directions)