Japanese ethical fashion brands for men: 3 brands you should check in 2023

We looked at the sustainability of Japanese fast fashion, Fast Retailing’s (who brough us Uniqlo and GU), previously. It’s time I introduced Japanese ethical fashion for men, picking three brands for you to check out in 2023. Today, a number of brands offer unisex products, which means you can enjoy their ethical-conscious products only with your preference, regardless of your gender.

KIZASI

Considering that many ethical fashion brands which offer simple and natural design clothing, this brand is very unique in the concept and design of its products. Named after a Japanese word “兆,” which means “a sign that something is about to happen,” KIZASI is “the brand taking an action through an entertainment of music and art and fashion to various social problems and environmental issues”.

The aesthetic design of its products is created by Japanese designer (working as a model and a musician as well), Kizashi Aizawa, a former guitarist. In their practices, they use 100% organic cotton and pursue the production traceability, with the consciousness of social and environmental issues. In addition, the unique approach of the brand for sustainability is the adoption of Kyoto’s black dyeing, in which they combine sustainability and Japanese traditional technique and spread the concept of “reuse” by re-dying customer’s clothing. (This service is available only in Japan.)

[Website] KIZASI Homepage

SOLIT!

The brand aims to realize an “all-inclusive” society where the diversity of people, plants, animals, and the global environment are all respected. The uniqueness is that they are trying to establish not only sustainability, but also inclusion, under the above-mentioned concept. To achieve the goal, they focus on providing only what is necessary and sufficient for people and co-creating a sustainable “all-inclusive economic zone” by collaborating with institutions and individuals.

According to their website, “SOLIT!” is a “completely made-to-order” fashion service that develops only what is needed with people who have felt the challenges of fashion, and you can customize your own clothes from more than 1,600 different options, according to your personal preferences and physical characteristics (see Figure 2). By this practice, they are trying to both reduce the environmental impact and empower all the people who have different body shapes, disabilities, values and preferences.

[Website] SOLIT! Homepage
[Related Article] SOLIT!, the Japanese inclusive fashion brand addressing inequality | Zenbird

ecuvo,

In Kagawa Prefecture, surrounded by beautiful mountains and sea, there is a city famous for its production of gloves and mittens. “ecuvo,” is a glove manufacturer operating since 1977, but their products are not only limited to gloves and mittens, but also includes clothing and other fashion accessories, including beanie, socks, and scarf.

According to their website, they have seven types of sustainability practices. In addition to the use of renewable energy (100%) for the operation and eco-friendly materials for their products and packages, such as recycled and organic materials, they also have some unique practices. First, they invented an original knitting method, by which the production does not generate waste. Second, they are trying to extend the product lifespan by adopting timeless design, offering warranty repair, and selling the other glove and sock for customers who lost one.

[Website] ecuvo, Homepage

All the brands I have introduced have different characteristics, the artistic design for KIZASI, the inclusiveness for SOLIT!, and the unique waste reduction for ecuvo,. The options you can choose and enjoy are definitely increasing with the rise of ethical consciousness. Find your favorite brands and support them!