10 best sustainable fashion shops and brands in Tokyo

Combining Japan’s passion for upcycling and sneakers, Tokyo Kimono Shoes is giving unused luxurious kimono a second life by transforming the fabric into gorgeous kicks. Traditional silk kimono are typically worn only for special occasions and are otherwise stored away to collect dust. To make use of these beautiful robes, Tokyo Kimono Shoes buys up unused silk kimono and obi (kimono sashes) to turn them into unique sneakers. 

At the brick and mortar store, you can try on a pair of these gorgeous shoes for yourself. Along with the sneakers, Tokyo Kimono Shoes has also started making dainty heels and small handbags from recycled kimono. 

Remnants of materials used at factories, ‘dead stock’ products and other leftovers are all brought back to life through various projects thought up by the folks behind Newsed, a self-styled upcycling brand that takes regular old recycling to the next level. These prophets of sustainability not only resell old finds – instead, they add to them, taking things headed for the dumpster and turning them into brand-new fashion items.

Newsed’s funky, colourful and extremely popular badges and earrings are made of leftover acrylic materials from accessory factories, while the stylish bow ties give seatbelts sourced from a car facility a second chance. There are also seat cushions fashioned from unused airbags, key fobs crafted from advertising tarpaulin, and card holders created from leather scraps.

The brand’s online shop carries a plentiful selection of items, some of which you can also find at fashion dealers and museum shops across Japan.

This homeware and lifestyle store in Setagaya offers a mix of mid-century modernist furniture, tableware, fashion and even repurposed goods. Items in the store are sourced from across Japan – each has a label detailing its prefecture of origin, along with the date it was first made. We particularly love the range of satchels and From Lifestock tote bags made from deadstock fabric. There are jewellery and shoe boxes covered in the same upcycled fabrics, too – they’re so stylish you won’t want to hide them in the cupboard.

Ichie Ichie deals in dainty bags and cases crafted from used obi – the thick sash that’s wrapped and worn over the waist of a kimono. At the online shop, you’ll find a range of handmade accessories; there are clutches and cosmetics pouches, plus bags in all shapes and sizes, from convenient cross-body styles to totes. The small hanko cases are especially popular. They’re usually used to hold the traditional Japanese seal for signing documents, but you could also use a hanko case to keep small jewellery or loose coins. 

Even Tokyo’s Metropolitan Expressway Company is getting into upcycling with its Circulation Shutoko programme. One of its first products is the Hataraku Tote, a bag made from recycled tarpaulin street banners once used as road work notices and safety signs. Each of these durable, flexible and waterproof bags boasts a unique pattern of large numbers and bold kanji characters. The bags are available online.

Popular Japanese menswear brand Comme ca Commune has a new polyester shoulder bag made from recycled plastic bottles. Durable, lightweight and eco-friendly, the bag comes in three colours – beige, black and olive green – and retails for ¥4,138. It’s just the right size to carry your smartphone, wallet, keys and earbuds, and the water-repellent zipper will keep all your items safe and dry. You can find Comme ca Commune apparel online or at Shibuya Marui.

The kimono is a beautiful part of Japanese culture and heritage and it’s still a common fashion item worn to this day. Many kimono are kept in tip-top shape, but it’s inevitable that these things can get damaged or worn down with time.

Founded by Cristina Morini Sumi, who has a passion for antiques and Japanese culture, I Was a Kimono upcycles used kimono into gorgeous fashion accessories and home decorations. Think Christmas baubles draped with beautiful fabrics as well as earrings and necklaces fashioned from kimono-covered beads.

The kimono are sourced from various antique markets around Tokyo and are reinvented into new, modern forms in hopes of giving a new lease of life to items that were clearly originally created with much care. The brand also fashions face masks made of vintage kimono, which have become a hit.

Sue Takamoto launched the Nozomi Project to provide nozomi (hope) to Ishinomaki in Miyagi prefecture, an area devastated by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. Local women craft necklaces, bracelets, earrings and other fashion accessories from broken pottery left in the wake of the disaster and sell them via an English-language online shop. The matching necklace and earring sets make great gift options. However, we love the simple and timeless Misa cuff bracelets, featuring a little piece of pottery encased in a gold, silver or copper frame. Each product line is named after somebody important to the team, from family and friends to the local heroes who lost their lives during the natural disaster.

Cheap, transparent umbrellas are everywhere in Japan, but sadly, too many of them – about 80 million every year – end up in the bin. By upcycling discarded plastic umbrellas into cool, practical bags, sustainable fashion brand Plasticity aims to freshen up your look while tackling Japan’s plastic waste problem. The bags’ distinctive design is achieved by pressing together multiple layers of used umbrella canopies. These durable, lightweight and waterproof bags are available online in different sizes including a mini sacoche shoulder bag, wallets as well as small and large totes.