Visual Kei fashion that is ethical and sustainable? Yes, please!

The fashion industry faces various social challenges. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the fashion industry produces 20% of the world’s wastewater and is responsible for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions from clothing and footwear manufacturing, making it the second most polluting industry in the world.

In addition to environmental issues, there are also employment problems such as child labor. Much of the cotton used in our clothes is produced in India, and it is said that 25% of the workforce involved in cottonseed production is children under the age of 15. Furthermore, child labor is also known to exist in the process of making clothes.

In response to these environmental and labor issues, the neo-ethical fashion brand “KIZASI – MADE WITH JAPAN,” launched by visual kei ethical artist Kizasi, is taking ethical actions through entertainment such as music, art, and fashion.

The brand name KIZASI, which also derives from the meaning of “signs,” represents “the signs of things about to happen, omens.” The brand name KIZASI was created with the hope of being a “sign” for a better future for people, animals, and the planet. Kizasi himself decided to engage in ethical activities using “music” and “fashion” that he had been working on for some time, after witnessing the environmental impact and child labor issues faced by the fashion industry while studying fashion and watching a documentary film depicting the dark side of fast fashion. He then launched the ethical fashion brand “KIZASI” in February 2020.

KIZASI’s items are made with 100% bioRe Cotton, an Indian organic cotton that has been certified organic from the yarn stage, and use American Supima organic cotton (a high-quality cotton made from extra-long fibers grown in the southwestern United States) for sewing threads.

Behind this choice is the desire to support local communities through fair trade with certified organic cotton, aiming to improve the poor working conditions and eradicate child labor in India, where cotton production is thriving. Panoco Trading, which develops bioRe Cotton, imports 100% organic cotton yarn and raw cotton from countries such as India, Tanzania, Peru, Brazil, and Switzerland, and practices healthy organic farming without child labor or unfair exploitation in all production areas. Focusing on transparency in production, KIZASI uses tags that reveal the manufacturing process of organic cotton fabric when a QR code is scanned.

The brand’s commitment is not only to materials but also to design and production processes. Kizasi’s personally designed items contain social messages, such as raising awareness of climate change and the importance of choosing organic products.

In addition, the distinctive black color of KIZASI’s items is achieved through the sustainable dyeing of Kyoto’s black dye. Established about 300 years ago, the black dye was used for black crested kimonos and was popular as protective clothing and daily wear among samurai during the Edo period. Since the Meiji era, black dye has been applied to women’s mourning clothes and national formal wear, and is now used for re-dyeing and dyeing Western clothes, anime merchandise, and more, continuing to be passed down through generations. The dye used meets strict standards for low environmental impact, and Kyoto’s black dye, in particular, is known as a sustainable dyeing method with high colorfastness and less fading, making it wearable for a long time.

The sewing is done in a Tokyo factory, and the system of made-to-order and small-lot production ensures that only the necessary amount is produced. In addition, leftover fabric and scraps are used for masks and scrunchies, focusing on waste reduction as well.

Kizasi, a visual kei ethical artist, expands his activities not only through his fashion brand but also by launching KIZASI’s official Spotify account, where he shares playlists featuring music by legendary visual kei artists, who are also Kizasi’s roots. In the future, he hopes to tackle ethical initiatives in entertainment, such as creating music with social themes and producing art using discarded materials.

His goal is to create a trend where artists and musicians can proudly contribute to society without being bound by preconceived notions. Kizasi believes that through such activities, ethical behavior will be seen as “cool” and lead to “happiness.”

In the fashion industry where social challenges are intertwined, the author believes that a diverse approach by various brands is necessary to enjoy fashion without forgetting the excitement and thrill it brings. While ethical fashion often has a natural taste, KIZASI’s items are all designed with cool and innovative touches. If you’re interested, why not enjoy visual kei fashion by wearing KIZASI’s clothes, which are filled with a commitment to ethics?

Originally published on IDEAS FOR GOOD.