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Harmony with Nature: The Integration of Eco-Friendly Elements in Contemporary Japanese Fashion Design

Author(s)

Enze Liu

Affiliation(s)

School of Textiles and Fashion, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai, China

Abstract

This mixed-methods study analyzed 52 documents, interviewed five fashion designers and two material engineers, and conducted case studies of Kuho, Issey Miyake, and Muji to investigate how traditional Japanese ethics inform sustainable practices in contemporary fashion. Results showed that 88% of documents referenced concepts such as mottainai, with applications including heritage fibers, natural dyes, zero-waste pattern cutting (achieving 98% material utilization via origami-inspired techniques), and repair services. Quantitatively, these practices achieve significant environmental reductions compared to industry averages: water usage (67%), CO₂ emissions (66%), textile waste (94%), and chemical dye usage (86%). Economically, eco-friendly lines demonstrated higher profit margins (35–50%), and 74% of consumers were willing to pay a premium. Persistent challenges include scalability, consumer education, and supply chain gaps. Japanese fashion offers a philosophically rich and viable model for global sustainable design, demonstrating that traditional cultural ethics can be effectively operationalized to deliver measurable environmental and economic benefits.

Keywords

Sustainable Fashion; Japanese Design; Mottainai; Zero-Waste Cutting; Traditional Ethics; Environmental Benefits

References

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