Shiga grows cotton from composted clothing, powering circular fashion

A partnership in Shiga Prefecture has successfully harvested the first crop of cotton grown with compost made from discarded clothing, creating a tangible model for a circular economy in the fashion industry. The harvest festival for the “Kamakura Shirts Cotton Project @ Moriyama” was held, marking a key milestone for the collaboration.

The project combines the “ALL MADE IN JAPAN” vision of apparel brand Maker’s Shirt Kamakura with the P-FACTS circular infrastructure developed by PIECLEX, a subsidiary of Murata Manufacturing. The aim is to establish a completely domestic supply chain, from raw material cultivation to sewing, while tackling textile waste.

Partners include the City of Moriyama, the agricultural cooperative JA Lake Shiga, Yanmar Sunset Marina, and Ritsumeikan Moriyama Junior and Senior High School. The project embodies a new concept of local sustainability termed “chichaku-chisho-chijun,” which translates to “locally worn, locally consumed and locally circulated.”

The process begins with clothing and textiles made from PIECLEX’s plant-derived polylactic acid fibre. Garments bearing the P-FACTS certification mark are collected after use and processed into compost. This compost was used to fertilise fields at three locations in Moriyama City, where a rare, extra-long staple cotton was planted in May. Students from Ritsumeikan Moriyama school participated in both the planting and the harvest, gaining direct experience in sustainable agriculture.

The harvest festival was attended by Moriyama Mayor Takafumi Morinaka, Maker’s Shirt Kamakura President Nanako Sadasue, and representatives from all partner organisations. Harvesting will continue until January, after which Maker’s Shirt Kamakura will purchase the entire crop. The domestically grown cotton will be used to create new apparel and other products, scheduled for release in autumn 2026.