Sustainable Fashion in Japan: In Conversation with Arisa Kamada
Arisa Kamada is based in Japan and is a sustainable fashion advocate and Co-founder of Unisteps, an organisation that promotes sustainability action across the fashion industry in Japan. Arisa has travelled with Safia Minney, Founder of Indilisi to Bangladesh over 15 years ago, and recounts her journey to meet craft products and activities to promote better practices.
Safia: What motivated you to get into sustainable fashion at 16?
Arisa: At 16, I started working part-time as a sales assistant in a fashion boutique. On weekdays I went to school, and on weekends I stood on the shop floor. Around that time, fast fashion was rapidly expanding in Japan. Prices of clothes were dropping, and the brand I worked for had to change how it made its products.
As a teenager, I also enjoyed fast fashion, but one day I realised that I didn’t feel attached to a single item in my closet. I felt that this system of production and consumption wasn’t making anyone happy. That’s when I knew the fashion industry had to change.
Safia: Where is your work making the most impact?
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Arisa: As a co-founder of the non-profit ‘Unisteps', I work with people across different sectors to help move the fashion industry in a better direction. I believe it’s crucial that everyone—businesses, government, designers, and consumers—takes even small steps. Our role is to connect people from diverse backgrounds and create opportunities for collective action. I’m proud of the relationships and how new ideas and movements have grown here in Japan.
Safia: Your favourite Indilisi piece?
Arisa: This dress has a light, breezy texture with just enough structure to wear on its own. It’s so comfortable, I wear it almost every day in the hot summer months. Depending on which side you wear in front, and whether you blouse the waist, the whole look can change dramatically.
When wearing heels, I like to leave it unbloused for a long, elegant silhouette. When I’m in flats, I blouse the waist for a more active, casual look.
When wearing heels, I like to leave it unbloused for a long, elegant silhouette. When I’m in flats, I blouse the waist for a more active, casual look.
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Safia: Why are you passionate about craft and providing livelihood opportunities to women?
Arisa: I visited Swallows in 2015 with Safia. The open workshop was filled with the sound of handlooms, women were doing embroidery on the verandas, and freshly dyed yarns were drying in the sun—it was all so beautiful.
Before the visit, I’d only seen the final products, so witnessing each garment being crafted by hand, in front of me, was deeply moving. The fact that such beauty and diversity could be created by human hands—rather than a mechanical, assembly-line process—felt truly alive, like something growing from the land itself.
Safia: What's the difference between sustainable fashion in Japan and Europe?
Arisa: Japan has many vintage shops, and second-hand fashion is hugely popular. E-commerce platforms are mainstream, so it’s become common to sell clothes before giving them away.
There are also many repair shops in the cities, so getting clothes fixed—at least for minor issues—it's easy and accessible.
There are also many repair shops in the cities, so getting clothes fixed—at least for minor issues—it's easy and accessible.
Safia: What do you think is needed to drive radical change?
Arisa: We need a system where companies that respect people and minimise environmental impact are also economically rewarded. Conversely, there should be disincentives for exploitative or environmentally harmful practices. France’s recent legislation to regulate ultra-fast fashion is a good example.
For consumers, it’s important to share the *joy* of making things—not just the problems. Initiatives like Indilisi’s, which honour producers, use better materials, and create garments with care, are inspiring. They make us want to choose better fashion.
That’s why I’ve continued a project called *“Fuku no Tane” (Seeds of Clothes)* for the past 8 years. We send cotton seeds to participants, they grow the plants at home, and we share the journey of turning those into clothing. When you experience how much time and effort it takes, and how fun and meaningful the process is, you gain a new perspective on what clothing is worth.
Safia: How did joining Fashion Declares' Carbon Literacy course support your work?
Arisa: I pledged to help accelerate decarbonisation efforts in Japan’s fashion industry. Since most resources on sustainability and climate are in English, I’ve been working to translate key reports into Japanese, and organise events with overseas speakers and interpreters. I’m doing this little by little, but if I can secure funding, I’d love to dedicate more time to building an information-sharing platform in Japanese.
Safia: Craft and post-growth?
Arisa: I truly believe that craft has the potential to lead us into a post-growth society. Creating something with our hands is a joyful act. As we work—using our hands, thinking and feeling what would make it more beautiful—we also affirm ourselves.
A woman I met in Bangladesh once told me that working in a fast fashion factory made her feel like part of a machine. She spent all day sewing only collars, over and over again. At Swallows, she was able to learn to make a full garment and enjoyed the process. She was proud to see photos showing how people in Japan and Europe wear the clothes she made.
Wearing such clothing can also be a source of pride for the wearer.