MOTTAINAI Calligraphy: Yukinori Kawae (Egyptologist)

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Reviving the Traditional Beauty of Japan in Modern Lifestyles

Kimono has long been cherished as a symbol of Japanese tradition and beauty. However, incorporating its elegance into everyday life is not always easy in modern lifestyles.
The “Shirokuma PROJECT” reimagines the kimono through the lens of the “MOTTAINAI” concept, harmonizing it with contemporary living and transforming it into something more accessible and practical. Please enjoy this new kimono style, where Japan’s timeless beauty meets modern, refined design.

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Shirokuma
Kimono

しろくま着物を着てほほえむ女性

Authentic Kimono that Even Foreigners Can Wear in Just 5 Minutes

Kimono, considered too difficult to wear, has been reimagined using modern techniques into a style that even foreigners can put on by themselves in just five minutes. While preserving its beautiful silhouette and traditional texture, we have significantly reduced the complexity of wearing it. It is also accessible to those in wheelchairs. We present a new form of kimono that everyone can enjoy easily.

上下に分かれた着物の図

Two-Piece Design

簡単に着脱できる着物の図

Wearable Like a Jacket

ジッパーで簡単に着用できる帯の図

Easy-to-Wrap "Smart Obi Belt"

One-of-a-Kind Antique Kimonos

Crafted from high-quality silk through traditional Japanese craftsmanship, antique kimonos captivate with their beautifully aged textures and uniquely individual patterns. Enjoy a one-of-a-kind piece, revived across time, that exists nowhere else in the world.

Smart Obi Belt

Beautifully Tied in Just 2 Minutes by Yourself

Smart Obi Belt is remade from an antique silk obi belt to harmonize with the modern lifestyle. Unlike conventional obi belts that are difficult to tie and time-consuming, the Smart Obi Belt allows you to wear them beautifully in just two minutes.

帯のアタッチメント部分の図

Effortless Wear with Attachment Style
帯のウエスト調整部分の図

Adjustable Waist Size
帯が嵩張らず、椅子に座りやすい図

Comfortable Even When Seated

Serial Number Tag

Each Kimono and Smart Obi Belt includes a tag that certifies it has passed rigorous quality standards. This tag contains stored manufacturing information, which can be used for after-sales service and authenticity verification, ensuring that the item is genuine and distinguishable from imitations. Your purchase history can be viewed on the collection page, and even when passed down through generations, the item is guaranteed to be an authentic "Shirokuma Kimono" piece.

シリアル番号タグの図

Kimono Dresses

Kimono Dresses are crafted from 100% silk antique kimonos. Their relaxed silhouette offers a comfortable fit for all body types, making them perfect for various occasions, from casual outings to formal events like parties. Additionally, the natural warmth and breathability unique to silk ensure comfortable wear throughout the year.

Collaboration with Support for Continuous Employment Type B Facilities

We collaborate with local Support for Continuous Employment Type B facilities for part of our Kimono Dresses production, offering fair compensation. This initiative promotes stable employment, enhances income, and fosters a sense of purpose for those working at the facilities.

Bags

We have created unique bags using repurposed kimono and obi belt fabrics. The collection includes three types: shoulder bags (Azuma Bags), zip bags (Clutch Bags), and laptop cases. These items preserve the original charm and quality of the traditional materials while offering elegance and practical functionality. Their versatile shapes and simple yet refined designs make them ideal for various uses.

Embrace Your Own Style

Shirokuma Kimono offers a new style of kimono that breaks away from traditional conventions, allowing you to enjoy it with freedom and creativity. Since the top and bottom can be coordinated separately, you can mix and match with Western clothing to create your unique style. Experience the joy of wearing a kimono in daily life, all while embracing its timeless beauty.

Brand Vision

MOTTAINAI 字：河江肖剰氏（エジプト考古学者）

Reviving Traditional Beauty and Building a Bridge to the Future through the Spirit of “MOTTAINAI”

"MOTTAINAI" is a Japanese value that gained global recognition thanks to Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai. Rooted in the idea of avoiding waste and maximizing the value of things and resources, this spirit has long been deeply embedded in Japan’s kimono culture. Although kimonos woven by skilled artisans have long been treasured as unique works of art passed down through generations, many now sit unused.

With the concept of “Making Kimono More Accessible,” Shirokuma Kimono reimagines authentic silk kimonos using modern technology. We aim to unlock new potential in kimono culture through the principles of ethical production, size inclusivity, and social fair trade.

To address the traditional challenges of kimonos—complex tailoring, high cost, and the difficulty of wearing them for foreigners—we repurpose discarded kimonos into styles that are easy to wear, such as “authentic kimono wearable in five minutes, even by foreigners” and “authentic kimono that can be worn by wheelchair users.” By making real, historically rich kimonos available to everyone—not synthetic rental garments—we also contribute to the goals of the SDGs.

We cherish the spirit of "MOTTAINAI" as we breathe new life into sleeping kimonos, aiming to become a bridge that connects traditional beauty with the future.

しろくま着物は「MOTTAINAI」の精神で「精神と伝統を未来へ伝える」「再利用する」「廃棄を減らす」を掲げています。

The calligraphy of “MOTTAINAI” was written by Dr. Yukinori Kawae, a distinguished Egyptologist who shares our vision. We also support Dr. Kawae's work.

Reference:
YouTube Channel “Exploring Ancient Egypt”

河江肖剰氏

Our Initiatives

Ethical Kimono Remakes Based on Social Fair Trade, Passing Tradition on to the Future

We regenerate kimono and obi belt fabrics originally destined for disposal, significantly reducing environmental impact. In collaboration with Support for Continuous Employment Type B facilities, we outsource the kimono dress remaking process at fair rates, providing stable income and meaningful job opportunities for people with disabilities.
Unused fabric remnants are donated free of charge to support the creation and sale of small items and accessories, thereby giving back to the local community. This ethical initiative thoughtfully balances the preservation of traditional culture with meaningful social contribution.

*Support for Continuous Employment Type B facilities are part of Japan’s social welfare services that provide work opportunities, such as participation in production activities, for individuals with disabilities who have work experience but face difficulties in being employed at regular workplaces. These centers also offer necessary training to help improve their knowledge and skills.

着物をリメイクする女性の手元のイメージ

*Support for Continuous Employment Type B facilities are part of Japan’s social welfare services that provide work opportunities, such as participation in production activities, for individuals with disabilities who have work experience but face difficulties in being employed at regular workplaces. These centers also offer necessary training to help improve their knowledge and skills.

Expanding the Next Generation of Kimono Culture Through Size Inclusivity

By leveraging advanced technology, we have reimagined traditional kimono and obi belts into a style that can be worn by anyone, including foreigners, in just five minutes. Our kimonos are designed with size inclusivity in mind, offering a comfortable fit for all bodytypes while highlighting the artistic beauty of traditional craftsmanship. We aim to make the beauty of Japanese tradition accessible to everyone, offering a new way to experience kimono culture.

着物を着てほほえむ女性のイメージ

Supporting Children in Hospital Wards

We provide Shichi-Go-San attire free of charge to children who are unable to leave the hospital for extended periods, helping them create cherished memories through photo sessions. Even while hospitalized, spending special time with family becomes a precious opportunity to strengthen familial bonds. We are committed to continuing our support to bring smiles to children's faces.

入院中の子どもが笑顔になっているイメージ

Shirokuma Kimono Is Contributing to the Realization of a Sustainable Society Through Various Initiatives

SDGsGOALS 1.貧困をなくそう、3.すべての人に健康と福祉を、8.働きがいも経済成長も、10.人や国の不平等をなくそう、12.つくる責任つかう責任、13.気候変動に具体的な対策を、17.パートナーシップで目標を達成しよう
  • Promoting waste reduction and environmental protection by repurposing discarded kimonos
    → Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production
  • Contributing to poverty reduction and economic growth through employment creation and work opportunities in collaboration with Support for Continuous Employment Type B facilities
    → Goal 1: No Poverty / Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth
  • Enhancing societal sustainability through sustainable product development and the preservation of traditional culture
    → Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals

Join the Shirokuma Supporters!

We are building a network of like-minded communities, companies, and individuals to Support for Continuous Employment Type B facilities and children in hospitals. Rather than asking for donations, we invite you to lend us your name, connections, and ideas. Your small action can spark a wave of meaningful support.

More Details

Wholesale & Partnership

Domestic Business Partners

We are looking for partners who share our mission of carrying Japan’s traditional beauty into the future. We also welcome collaboration with those who resonate with the values of the SDGs, ethical production, size inclusivity, and social fair trade, as we strive to develop new products that honor tradition while creating new value.

International Business Partners

We are looking for partners who can support the overseas distribution and expansion of our products, with the aim of passing down the beauty of Japan and its craftsmanship to future generations. While honoring tradition, we strive to share the charm of Japanese culture with the world in a way that fits today’s lifestyle.

For more information, please visit the website of WAVERS INTERNATIONAL inc.

General Customers

General customers can purchase our products online.

Online Store

Press & Media

To all those interested in our initiatives and products:
We would be honored if you shared our collection, which fuses traditional Japanese culture with modern lifestyles to create new value. Grounded in the principles of the SDGs, our work embraces ethical production, size inclusivity, and social fair trade. By preserving traditional craftsmanship and repurposing unused kimono materials, we contribute to goals such as “Responsible Consumption and Production.”
We always welcome media inquiries or questions about our products and concepts. With your support, we hope to pass on the beauty of Japan and the spirit of its artisans to future generations as part of a more sustainable future. We look forward to hearing from you.

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