An alternative for bio-based leather is now on the market: apple leather! Unbelievable, right? It is an innovative new material made with waste recovered from the fruit juice industry. LOVST TOKYO INC. discovered this unique material and made a...
Upcycling brand FROMSTOCK is back with a collaboration with carutena, a student group that also focuses on upcycled fashion. They have co-produced a series of “Double Story Bag” by utilizing leftover clothes in warehouses. These Double Story Bags...
Have you ever heard of the term “ghost fishing”? Ghost fishing or ghost gear refers to fishing gear lost, dumped, or abandoned in the ocean. Among them are fishing nets that cause a great threat to marine life. UNEP (United Nations...
Did you know that during brewing craft beer, up to 2,000 kg of malt lees are produced every month, and that most of it get discarded? Kitafuku in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, a company that manufactures and promotes IoT devices for people who work...
In Japan, when you get caught in a sudden rain, you can easily find an inexpensive plastic umbrella at any convenience store. They usually cost between 100 to 500 yen. If the rain stops on your way home, you may accidentally leave the umbrella...
What comes to your mind when you hear “ethical fashion”? Eco-friendly organic cotton clothes? Shirts made from recycled materials or bags handcrafted by locals? Don’t be surprised, but we have ethical fashion coming as far as...
The Link Up Waste Project is an upcycling project developed by painting & wall covering contractor, Kawakami Tosokogyo. Launched in May this year, the project tackles issues such as textile waste and unemployment. It also allows the company to...
As a growing trend, many are curious to learn how to adopt a sustainable lifestyle. However, sustainable living is not a new concept in Japan. Here, it takes form in the practice of the concept of “mottanai.” In the Japanese language...
Himi, a small town in Toyama Prefecture along Sea of Japan is known for its 400-years-old fishing culture. Because of its abundance of fish, the locals call the region a “natural fish tank.” Particularly famous is its winter “buri...
Did you know that a considerable amount of fabric gets wasted to make one fashion item? So what you’re wearing right now is a result of a handful of fabric that gets discarded. Shocking, right? Roughly 30% of fabric gets wasted in...