Fashion is a symbol of individual expression; a tool for intimate communication.
By exploring new ways to personalize our styles,
we can make what we wear into a real part of ourselves.
This is our moment. Our movement. Welcome to #MendItMine.
About Us
Fashion is not only a big part of our lives but also an important one!
Clothing lets us express who we are or explore a new side of ourselves.
However, fashion is beset by many issues.
The pressure to conform to the latest trend often causes us
to lose ourselves in the process.
The environmental footprint of the fashion industry,
second only to fossil fuels, has forced all of us to confront the social issues involved in the manufacturing and usage of our clothing
Our solution to these issues is Mending.
We define Mending as “repairing and remaking our tarnished and torn clothing
in accordance with our imagination and free expression”
Through Mending, we create renewed value for clothing
and reduce our dependence on fast fashion.
Wearing Mended clothing gives us a refreshing sense of independence:
the idea that we can live as ourselves, free of the pressure to conform,
while respecting the social and environmental impact of our decisions.
#MendItMine seeks to expand the freedom and joy of Mending
around the world.
We hope you will join us and be a part of this journey.
Our Goal
#MendItMine seeks to use fashion to cause a paradigm shift:
one to create a world where we are all free to express ourselves as individuals
and advocate for an environmentally conscious approach to a fashion industry
that is suffering a dire lack of social awareness.
The rise of fast fashion has resulted in our collective addiction to mass consumerism. Clothing is produced, used and disposed in rapid succession with little care or value. Fashion needs a sustainable solution and Mending is our answer to the present crisis.
Mending Ideas
Who We Are
Yuka Sugiura
Founder
Yuka graduated with a Master's degree in ecology
from the University of Tokyo.
She developed an interest in sustainable development
while conducting research on the conservation of biodiversity and founded a student organization.
Through her experiences at the UN Climate Change Conference and Global Ambassadorship
at the Better Tomorrow Movement,
she realized the urgent need to reform
environmental practices in the fashion industry
and founded #MendItMine.
Yuina Hirata
Vice-President
Yuina is currently studying International Politics
at Sophia University.
From an early age, she had an interest in
fashion and won a prize at a dress designing
contest at the age of 6.
Working at a fashion retail company developed her interest in issues related to the fashion industry.
From this experience, she is willing to establish a business model that would allow both achieving increased business profitability and
commiting for SDGs.
Hannah Sanada
President
Hannah studies Fashion Design
at LaSalle College in Canada.
She believes the world should be a place
where people can express themselves and
accept their differences
regardless of their appearances.
She got inspired by colorful African fabrics.
She likes to travel, do laughter yoga,
find cute cafes,
and discover vintage clothes.
Kenta Natsume
Vice-President
Kenta graduated from the University of Sussex
in the UK, majoring in International Relations and minoring in French.
His dissertation explored global health and
reproductive health issues in Africa.
He also studied in the USA, France and Hong Kong,
and interned at UNFPA Tokyo, which strengthened his willingness to contribute to indentify and tackle social and envrironmental issues.
Increasingly concerned about the fashion industry,
he started to get involved
in the #MendItMine movement.