Shimamura group expands used clothing recovery programme

Japanese apparel retailer Shimamura Co., Ltd. has determined their 2024 trial to be successful, and is now implementing their clothing collection as an on-going programme across almost all its domestic stores. The programme now covers the group’s major store brands, including Shimamura, Avail, Birthday, Chambre, and Divalo.

The company collected over 300 tonnes of used garments during the initial trial phase. Building on this momentum, Shimamura integrated the collection into its own sustainability framework, termed Shima Eco. The retailer already operates a zero waste policy for unsold inventory, selling products until the final item is purchased. The new permanent collection targets unwanted clothing from customers, regardless of the original manufacturer. Consumers must wash items before donation, and the company does not accept accessories, footwear, underwear, or leather goods.

Collected garments are transported to circularity centres operated by ECOMMIT Co., Ltd. Professional staff sort the materials into streams for reuse and recycling. Reusable items re-enter the market domestically and internationally through ECOMMIT’s resource circulation service, PASSTO. Items unsuitable for reuse undergo clothes-to-clothes recycling via Caitac Family Co., Ltd.’s MUDA ZERO project. Shimamura began selling new garments made from this recycled thread in the 2025 financial year.