Enkara upcycling old children clothing into colorful dogwear

Enkara, a web media company dedicated to the well-being of dogs, has launched a project to upcycle used childrenswear into dogwear. Collected kids’ clothes are cut into small pieces, and sewn together to create colorful dogwear.

The company has been keenly emphasizing the importance of saving dogs from shelters on their platform. Simultaneously, it provides information on how to improve human relationships with dogs in different areas, from healthy feeding tips to grooming to pet safety in emergencies.

According to a survey released by the Japan Pet Food Association in 2019, the number of dog owners between the ages of 20 and 79 is slowly declining. The survey also revealed that some people are hesitant to keep dogs because of their housing situation, lack of freedom and high expenses. Enkara believes that giving children an opportunity to hand down their old clothes to this project could help nurture their empathy towards animals, even if they can’t keep dogs at home.

When you donate your old clothing, you receive a card with a registration number. Once the donation has been received and processed, you can see an online list of dogwear that your donated clothes have been used for. Each dogwear item is made of several different pieces of fabric, making it a true, one of a kind original. Enkara anticipates that allowing donors to see exactly how their old clothing is used could give them a glimpse of circular economy, where valued commodities are created from unwanted products.

The idea that individual actions can make an impact is important when we educate children about sustainability. Motivated by the idea of “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” Enkara believes that this upcycling project can connect the concept of sustainability with compassion for animals.