Established in 1935, Kume is one of Japan’s oldest T-shirt companies and is motivated to provide comfortable, long-lasting products while being environmentally conscious. Kume takes pride in Japanese craftsmanship, and all of its manufacturing...
The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is a worldwide textile production certification that ensures the quality of organic fibers. GOTS is known as the world’s strictest textile standard as it assesses all processors, manufacturers and...
Fast fashion refers to cheap, mass-produced clothing that represents the latest trends on the market. Fast-fashion brands can offer thousands of styles at a low price because they rely on offshore mass manufacturing where labor is cheap. They also...
Japan’s problems with its declining birthrate and greying population are well known. Nearly a third of its population is 65 or older, and the population has continued to decline for the past decade. Rural areas are especially hard hit as younger...
Awareness regarding gender equality issues in Japan has continuously appeared in the spotlight for several reasons. Although the country has made significant strides to promote equality in the workplace, government and society, the country still...
Economic downturns are difficult for anyone, and this is especially true for people working in the arts. The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on the economy in Japan and the rest of the world. Japanese artisans have been especially hard hit...
WFTO (World Fair Trade Organization) designates the second Saturday of May every year as “World Fair Trade Day.” Events and campaigns are held simultaneously in each country initiated by approximately 350 fair trade organizations in more...
We know that sustainable fashion brands come with quality and ethical assurances, which typically add to their price tags. TSU.NA.GU. is a Japanese fashion brand that challenges this notion by adopting a made-to-order model. In 2018, the brand...
Allbirds is a conscious startup that makes sustainable, stylish and comfortable footwear. Conventionally, the majority of athletic footwear has been made with petroleum-based synthetic materials. However, Allbirds’ manufacturing uses renewable...
Giving back by companies can involve allocating part of their profits to community involvement and environmental efforts. In fact, many conscious companies conduct such initiatives throughout the year. This means that as a customer, with every...