Upcycling Japanese Kimonos, for next generation of fashion, an eco friendly concept
Kimono blended in modern fashion by upcycling, Heritage and Fashion
The Kimono (literal translation: ‘thing to wear’) which is globally associated with Japan was created in the late nineteenth century as a cultural identifier. The kimono is the pride of Japan that has achieved a high social and cultural status both domestically and internationally. Indeed the kimono’s long history is one of the best examples of how clothing can confer a sense of identity. For those not familiar with the Kimono, it is the traditional dress of Japan. It has long sleeves and reaches from the shoulders all the way down to one’s heels. Different types of Kimono are worn depending on the occasion; Kimonos for everyday wear are a lot simpler than those for formal occasions like tea ceremony, coming of age ceremony, graduation and marriage ceremonies. Kimonos are generally made of silk and they are tied with a wide belt called an obi.
Nevertheless, despite measures to preserve the craft of kimono-making and public enthusiasm in wearing kimonos, the industry is said to be ‘declining’. What kind of values underly this fashionable heritage? Is there a future in the kimono industry, and what kind of future is it? Sustaining this craft culture requires a dynamic approach; one that is based on the understanding and co-creation of values by producers as well as consumers.
Once worn by all Japanese regardless of occasions, the kimono industry took a major turn with the adoption of Western-style clothing. This transition began as a part of state-led rapid modernisation and Westernization movements that accelerated after World War II. Western clothing became a symbol of novelty and democracy. It has successfully switched the position with the traditional Japanese kimono, whose status has become an elaborate formal attire worn in ceremonies and special occasions. Hence, silk kimonos survived as luxury products out of reach to the general public.
The luxury kimono industry has been losing relevance to the Japanese public in the current socio-economic and cultural context. Change in consumer taste towards Western-style clothing, along with an aging population, low marriage and birth rates, and lower disposable income can all be accounted for the decline in the Kimono industry. Normal buyers tend to prioritize design, price and material over originality, place of origin and production process, resulting in price gaps between what consumers want and what is currently at the marketplace.
Despite joint efforts by the government and the industry to resolve said issues, it is apparent that the future of the kimono industry cannot survive solely on the luxury sector. More recent trends and values present newfound opportunities for the diversification and development of the kimono industry. The first one he newfound fashion interest in kimonos and the value of ethical fashion. Artisans and Entrepreneurs like MUSKAAN, a Japanese neo-kimono stylist , are working relentlesly to solve the above said problems by reviving and reinventing a tradition while redefining conventional rules to present the Kimono in a more innovative form that attracts attention in order to make the garment wearable, affordable and suitable for contemporary lifestyles, hence the kimono has come to be a national garment that is being reinvented in a more fashionable and sustainable manner.
MUSKAAN upcycling process of Japanese Kimono
As earlier mentioned, MUSKAAN is a Japanese brand, based on the concept of upcycling rare vintage kimonos and creating new value through the rich designs and weaves of traditional textiles, they are re-examining the aesthetic sense that underlies the forgotten Japanese life and culture, and incorporating it into a design that suits the modern lifestyle. All are one-of-a-kind products made from biodegradable pure silk, carefully tailored by skilled sewers, and created with sustainability in mind, such as the circulation of the natural environment and the preservation of craftsmanship.
Originally, silk, linen, cotton, and plant dyes, which are the raw materials for the kimono production process (dyed and woven products), are all blessings from mother earth. The smell of soil, the blueness of the sky, the sound of rain, and the addition of human hands, it becomes threads and cloth. Silk is made from cocoon thread spit out by silk moths, but since the work of sericulture starts with the cultivation of mulberry, which is its diet, it is in a cycle based on agriculture. At MUSKAAN, the main material is 100% silk kimono called pure silk, and it takes about 3,000 silk moths to make one piece of clothing. In order to receive the life of a living thing, it is indispensable to use up the life and promote circulation and regeneration.
In Japan, there are few platforms such as tells-market where you can find top ethical products like upcycled kimonos used to make the next generation of fashion. Additionally some of these sites cover the full story of the merchants and what the production process for these products entails.
Attention to a circular economy the 3R`s for sustainability
In the past two decades, the concept of circular economy has gained increasing prominence globally and upon revision of the millennium development goals to the Sustainable development goals (Universal goals) in 2015. The concept of circular economy is seen as a tool which presents solutions to some of the world’s most pressing crosscutting sustainable development challenges like SDGs 6 on energy, 8 on economic growth, 11 on sustainable cities, 12 on sustainable consumption and production, 13 on climate change, 14 on oceans, and 15 on life on land. The above process of upcycling Japanese Kimonos earlier mentioned identifies some aspects of sustainable living in Japan making use of the circular economy concept with the 3 Rs in mind.
The 3 R (Reduce, ReUse, Recycle) concept to sustainability
To build a global sound-material cycle society, through the effective use and maximization of the limited natural resources, it was unanimously agreed by world powers at the G8 Sea Island summit of June 2004 followed by a ministerial meeting in the spring of 2005 in the land of the rising sun (Japan) to formally launch the 3R initiative.
Hence it is worth noting that Japan served as a birth place in commencing the 3R concept to sustainable development.
To put it in simple terms, the 3 `R’s — Reduce, Reuse, Recycle — are all about minimizing the amount of waste we produce, reusing products as much as we can, and remembering to recycle any materials that can be used for a new purpose in order to keep as much material out of landfill as possible.
How to Reduce
As earlier mentioned, reducing entails creating less waste. It is a safe bet for ensuring a clean environment, so it is the first of the 3R`s. By reducing, we stop the problem at the point of origination. Making less waste to begin with means there’s less waste to clean up. Below are some easy ways to reduce the amount of waste you generate:
- Use Reusable bags for Grocery Shopping
Reusable shopping bags have long lasting effects to ensure a sound, safe and clean environment. On a global scale sustainability is at the forefront of nearly every discussion and most stores and EC sites have become aware of this by selling durable shopping bags that can be used over and over. In some developed nations, some grocery stores give you a little money at the checkstand when you bring your own bag. For the case of Japan, recent policies by the government encourage shoppers to bring their own bags while shopping or pay separately for the plastic bags (taxed for using plastic bags).
- Bring a lunch Box
It is no secret that paper and plastic bags create huge amounts of waste and plastic bags take hundreds of years to completely decompose. Endeavor to use a durable lunch box or reusable lunch bag instead of plastic baggies.
- Reusable Water bottle
Make use of reusable water bottles instead of bottled water. This saves you some coins and benefits the environment.
How to Reuse
Reusing is the art of finding an alternate form of using unwanted or old items which might be otherwise thrown away. To reduce your trash footprint on an individual or organizational level, below are some few best practices to incorporate:
- Find new use form for every old item
Once an item reaches its halfway, full life timespan, think out of the box on various ways that the item can still be used. For example, Glass jars can be used to plant an indoor herb garden that will help save you some money, old bath towels can be cut up and used as wash rags, make a woven basket or tray out of old magazines and use old toothbrushes to scrub hard to reach areas.
- Make donations or have a garage sale
When making a transfer or major cleaning, there are high chances that you will come across things you no longer in need or want and as long as it’s in good condition, plenty of others can use it and it beats tossing it in the trash, check and make donations to appropriate locations within your locality/ community. For food items food banks like Second Harvest USA, Canada and Japan will be your best bet to utilize for those living in these countries.
- Share toys no longer used by your kids
As your kids grow, it is for sure that certain old toys will no longer appeal to them. Make a donation to a local daycare provider, preschool or other family with kids in the age range for using the old toys. Additionally you can donate to local charity, the more we share, the less we waste.
How to Recycle
The most commonly used of the 3R is recycling. Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new products in order to avoid the over consumption of virgin resources. The number and quantity of items that can be recycled are countless as there are high chances that for every waste generated, a new product can rejuvenate via the process of recycling. For example, Corrugated cardboard is recycled into paper bags, paperboard (like boxes for detergent, cereal, tissue and shoes), new cardboard and even the squiggly middle part of corrugated cardboard, disposed aluminum cans can be put into the recycling cart, reprocessed into a variety of new products keeping them out of the landfills and continuing their useful life. Old cans might become new cans, or they may be changed into things like bike frames etc.
Conclusion and reference to a Sustainable eco society
It is undoubtedly conclusive that, for the kimono industry to survive the taste of time, innovation and the redefinition of conventional rules tied to the industry is inevitable. Making the garment wearable, affordable and suitable for contemporary lifestyles, is a must. Upcycled Kimonos like the case of MUSSKAN to produce fashionable products, have tremendous benefits as it reduces the pressure exerted on the natural environment, reduces materials that end up in landfills, crafty repair skills while supporting local and rural industries.
The 3 R initiative indeed has great prowess to ensure a sound material-cycle society and to correct the current path taken by mankind which has devastating consequences to the environment and to the existence of humans if care not taken. The concept of a Sustainable eco Society which originates from Japan to the rest of the world ensures continuous regeneration of the forest unconsciously from every purchase made by an individual within its ecosystem. With such a system an individual can unconsciously offset his/her carbon footprint by purchasing an upcycled kimono, taking a flight, or purchasing eco-friendly products within the ecosystem. These are all aspects of building a Sustainable eco Society for the next generation of sustainers.
