Welcome to our unique “Recycle & Sustainable Kimono” Contest!

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We are inviting original designs of kimonos, from all over the world, that demonstrate recycled elements thus highlighting Kimono's great sustainability and vitality. We have streamlined the instructions for the contest entries for non-Japanese contestants to accompany our Japanese website.      

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Sustainable fashion has a long tradition in Japan. Garments have been passed from generation to generation, designed and tailored by grandmothers and mothers and repaired and modified several times as they are worn repeatedly over the ages, thus creating sustainable and recycled fashion.

 

Inspired by that tradition, we invite your creations with new thinking, new materials, new designs that would have the potential to transform such traditional garments and kimono into recyclable and sustainable kimono designs and works.

 

Our aim to encourage lasting kimono designs that are for contemporary people, and it is not necessary to resemble old kimonos, as these garments have always evolved with current fashion and social trends. Kimono will always represent a symbol of Japanese culture and fashion legacy. An important theme is to assist the community of expert craftsmen that value specific materials and techniques that would be used to develop these themes. We planned this unique contest and exhibition to provide an opportunity to explore these concepts.

 

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■Schedule

 

Application acceptance start (work production ⇒ entry period)

April 1, 2017 (Sat) to December 31, 2017 (Sun)

Judging period : January  2018 

Announcement  : February 1, 2018

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■Awards

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First Prize: The top artist will receive $1,000;  one round trip ticket between NYC and Tokyo; One week stay in Globus Ryokan in Central Manhattan and the focus of our media attention/

 

(If the winner is not a resident of Japan, he/she will receive 1 week’s

accommodation in a studio apartment in Central Tokyo with R/T to Tokyo)

 

 

In addition, there will be three awards that honor our partners:

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Kimono Modern Award for Comfort: $500 for best demonstration of every day wear design plus high recognition in central exhibition

 

Tokyo Joe Award for Design:  $500 for best DIY and design plus high

recognition in central exhibition

 

SWAQ Award for Recycling:  $500 for best demonstration of recycling concept plus high recognition in central exhibition

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