Feature
Think about "Cyclical Fashion" with Nike Space Hippie
Featuring Mai Nakaseko and One-o-Five DENIM TOKYO

“Sustainability” is a word we hear a lot lately.
It refers to the "sustainability" of the global environment and working conditions, but there are many things that are not clear, even though they seem obvious.
This time, we visited Yamasawa Press, a factory that recycles 20 tons of discarded Levi's denim pants. We spoke with Mai Nakaseko, a model who regularly chooses organic and sustainable items, about "sustainability" while wearing a collection of Nike Space Hippie shoes made from waste materials, which will be released on Monday, May 24th.

This time, we interviewed Mr. Yamasawa, the representative of Yamasawa Press.
This factory performs the final "finishing" of apparel products, such as washing and pressing, just before shipment. From here, products are loaded onto trucks and delivered to various stores.

A warehouse where 20 tons of Levi's, scheduled for disposal, have been collected.
All of them are 501 series denim, and here they are sorted into categories: perfect items (can be sold as-is after washing and pressing) > full-body (can be revived with processing or remaking, even with holes or damage) > other parts (such as the length cut off to make shorts).
Mai-san: "They are certainly dirty, but many of them look like they could be worn if cleaned!"
Mr. Yamasawa: "That's right. We sort them all by the extent of damage and color, and then clean them. Many of them have holes in the crotch area, so we repair those by sewing on fabric scraps. This is still just a small part; there are dozens more of these piles. In total, it amounts to about 40,000 pairs."

After selection, the denim is soaked in a special detergent, then each piece is carefully brushed by hand with a horsehair brush to remove dirt.
After hand-washing, they are then put into a washing machine.
About 1,000 pairs of denim are washed this way every day.
Mai-san: "The color of the water after soaking is incredible...! It's so dirty. It's like you can see the lives and history of the people who wore them. But it also makes me realize that they were worn with care. And they're brushed so carefully, by hand!"
Mr. Yamasawa: "That's right. The various stains and holes also make them interesting. Hand-washing is tough, but it's the best way to remove dirt completely.
For the detergent, we use one produced by Sentaku Brothers, which contains only a very small amount of surfactant and is almost entirely plant-based, so it's less harmful to the environment."
Mai-san: "Even the washing process is environmentally friendly!"

The washed and processed denim then goes to the One-o-Five DENIM TOKYO shop, located right next to the factory.
The renovated shop, with its white walls and floor, makes the blue jeans really stand out. It has a distinctly American vintage atmosphere, making you feel as if you've traveled to California.
On this day, they had received an order for several hundred pieces for remaking, and the selection was being done by color.

At the shop, perfect items that can be sold as-is after washing, and remade items with the One-o-Five DENIM TOKYO signature studs carefully hammered into the tab, are arranged by style.
Surprisingly, they even have big sizes like 56 inches! It was big enough for two women to wear.

Mai chose wide-leg pants that were remade by combining two pairs of denim pants to create a bi-color look.
“An ideal size and design, I can’t believe it!! If I can find things like this made from recycled denim, it makes me wonder if new things are really necessary.
I usually try to incorporate organic and natural items in my food and cosmetics, and I pay attention to the manufacturing process.
For clothes, I also order from overseas brands that use recycled materials, even if it’s polyester.
Sustainability is a given, but I still want to choose things that are stylish and cute.
I hope there will be more and more choices like that.”

We invite everyone to check out products that prioritize sustainability, including the Nike Space Hippie, at Forget-me-nots.