Shibuya Fashion Week paves the runway for responsible fashion

Shibuya Fashion Week, which concluded Sunday in Tokyo, tackled a pressing issue facing the fashion industry: its role as one of the most resource-consuming industries worldwide. The 22nd edition of the event, known for its vibrant displays along Bunkamura Street, was themed “DIVERSE SUSTAINABILITY,” highlighting the intersection of creativity and environmental awareness in an industry heavily criticized for its wastefulness.

The fashion industry is often scrutinized for its reliance on mass production, consumption, and disposal—a pattern that increases resource and energy use while shortening the lifecycle of products. Shibuya Fashion Week sought to challenge this paradigm by celebrating sustainable practices and offering a glimpse into a more responsible future for fashion.

Sunday’s centerpiece, “SHIBUYA RUNWAY,” featured two segments emphasizing sustainability from different perspectives. The first, titled “THE VINTAGE,” embraced the notion of legacy and the idea of breathing new life into cherished items. Each item was styled in new ways, illustrating how fashion can be timeless rather than disposable.

The second segment, “THE INCUBATION,” shined a light on young talent creating fashion with a focus on resource conservation. Students from fashion schools redesigned and reimagined these retiring uniforms, turning them into original, creative pieces that graced the runway. The segment highlighted the potential for clothing to be repurposed and the power of youthful innovation in building a sustainable future for the industry.

As part of the event, “THE POP-UP” was also held over the weekend at the Seibu Ikebukuro store. This event allowed visitors to purchase fashion items previously loved by celebrities, drawing large crowds of shoppers eager to own unique and sustainably sourced pieces.

Kenji Onishi, chairman of the Shibuya Fashion Week Executive Committee, expressed hope that the event’s theme would resonate beyond Tokyo. “This autumn’s Shibuya Fashion Week took on the challenge of ‘fashion x sustainability’ alongside a diverse range of participants. From the next generation of students to companies and celebrities tied to Shibuya and fashion, we hope that this collective passion for fashion sends a positive message from Shibuya to the world,” Onishi shared.