[Circular Yokohama] Event Report | YOKOHAMA CIRCULAR FASHION GATHERING: Envisioning the future of textile circulation across industries

In Yokohama City, various initiatives are being promoted to advance resource circulation and build a circular society. As part of these efforts, Harch is collaborating with the City of Yokohama on a three-year project titled “Yokohama Low-Carbon Clothing Lifestyle Initiative,” which focuses on the circulation of clothing, an essential part of citizens’ daily lives.

As the first step toward building a circular system, Harch leveraged its network to invite a wide range of companies and organizations connected to the fashion sector and hosted the YOKOHAMA CIRCULAR FASHION GATHERING.

Overview of the Gathering

On October 27, representatives from a diverse range of companies and organizations engaged in both downstream and upstream sectors of the apparel industry, along with subject matter experts, were invited to discuss challenges and potential collaboration around circularity in the clothing sector.

Insights shared during this gathering will be reflected in the development of future initiatives.

Topics discussed

• Sharing the background and objectives of the project, participants’ initiatives, challenges, and building connections among stakeholders
• Exchanging ideas for future project development

*Yokohama Low-Carbon Clothing Lifestyle Initiative: This three-year project aims to advance Yokohama’s circular transition in the clothing sector by raising awareness of low-carbon lifestyles and promoting collaborative action among diverse stakeholders. Because clothing is an essential part of everyday life, it serves as an accessible entry point for inspiring circular behavior among citizens. Harch was selected as a co-implementer through an open call by the City of Yokohama, based on the city’s Civic Collaboration Ordinance.

Group photo with participants

Comments from participants

Yasufumi Kubota, President, NAKANO & Co., Ltd. (textile recycling business)

Our company was founded 91 years ago in Naka Ward and has long been engaged in recycling, including the collection of used clothing. Through sorting, reuse, recycling, and selling products to ensure they are fully utilized, we have learned that textile circulation is deeply connected to community development, and that local characteristics matter greatly. I share the City of Yokohama’s perspective and hope that, toward promoting Yokohama style textile circulation and sharing our initiatives at GREEN EXPO 2027, we can expand and develop our efforts together by combining everyone’s ideas. I appreciate your continued support.

Michihiko Iwamoto, Chairman, JEPLAN, INC. (PET chemical recycling technology)

I founded my company with the desire to build a circular society that consumers participate in. In addition to developing polyester recycling technologies, we also run collection programs and the reuse brand “BRING.” I knew that Yokohama had been taking on the challenge of textile circulation, which is a difficult task, and I am glad to have spoken directly with stakeholders from various industries today. One of my favorite phrases is “forward looking rather than whether it suits you or not.” Since everyone gathered here today shares a forward-looking mindset, I hope that, together with this spirit, we can help spread textile circulation from Yokohama to the world. Thank you very much.

Event logo

Details

Yokohama City Press Release: YOKOHAMA CIRCULAR FASHION GATHERING (in Japanese)

[Reference] PR TIMES: YOKOHAMA CIRCULAR FASHION GATHERING (in Japanese)
[Related Site] Circular Yokohama