#Japan #Tokyo #Fashion Frontier #Hikari Hayashi #Nao Taki

FASHION FRONTIER PROGRAM 2025: Innovating Fashion's Future

The FASHION FRONTIER PROGRAM, dedicated to discovering and supporting fashion designers who embody both social responsibility and creativity, has proudly announced its winners for the year 2025. The final presentation, featuring the top eight finalists, took place on December 13, 2025, at the TOKYO NODE HALL in Toranomon, Tokyo. This year's competition saw significant participation, with designers applying from around the globe, showcasing their innovative ideas.

Overview of the Winners

This marks the program's fifth year, and once again, numerous applications poured in from both domestic and international designers. During the initial screening conducted in July, submitted design sketches, project proposals, and portfolios were carefully reviewed, resulting in the selection of 16 semi-finalists from Japan, the Czech Republic, Australia, Austria, Sri Lanka, and South Korea.

Over two months in August and September, these semi-finalists participated in various lectures and workshops focused on social responsibility and creativity. Following their presentations in September, they underwent a mid-term review, leading to the selection of the eight finalists. Subsequently, the finalists created their works with opportunities for technical advice and support.

The final assessment on December 13 showcased the finalists' creations during the ultimate presentation. After a rigorous evaluation by the judges, the winners were declared as follows:

• - Grand Prize: Hikari Hayashi with the piece “Reframing”
• - Runner-up: Emily Misaki Hon with “Relics / 遺物”
• - Runner-up: Nao Taki with “Wrap me up!”

Details of the Award-Winning Works

Grand Prize: Hikari Hayashi – “Reframing”

Hikari’s approach questions the convention that clothing should conform to the body's measurements. She expresses that garments often pressure individuals to fit predetermined standards, influenced by size, trends, and the judgment of others. Her creation reflects a departure from this cycle. Using a child’s T-shirt, she reimagines its form, allowing it to exist independently of conventional expectations while still maintaining a sense of dissonance.

Materials Used: Cotton, Polyester, Buttons

Runner-up: Emily Misaki Hon – “Relics / 遺物”

Emily's work addresses the environmental implications of the fast-fashion cycle, which not only harms the planet but also erases skilled craftsmanship and personal identity. The essence of her piece draws from the memories and stories embedded within her grandfather's clothing, reinterpreted through fragments and dyed with eucalyptus leaves, capturing a shared landscape.

Materials Used: Cotton/Silk Voile, Mycelium Leather, Grandfather’s Clothing, Bark Cloth

Runner-up: Nao Taki – “Wrap me up!”

Nao embraces clothing as a playful expression that transcends gender and body type restrictions. Her designs borrow elements from traditional Japanese kimono and ancient Greek attire, crafted into versatile garments that can be easily styled by the wearer, promoting diversity and self-expression.

Materials Used: Factory Remnants (Polyester Thread/Nylon Thread), Dyes

The Jury of FASHION FRONTIER PROGRAM 2025

The judging panel for this program is a blend of diverse talents from various fields, reinforcing the notion that fashion is intertwined with the future of food, housing, and humanity itself. This year's esteemed jury includes:

• - Hiroto Samukawa, Contemporary Artist
• - Hirobumi Kurino, Senior Advisor at United Arrows Co., Ltd.
• - Koichi Ikemura, Researcher at the National Institute for Environmental Studies
• - Sara Sozzani Maino, Creative Director of the Sozzani Foundation
• - Yuima Nakazato, Fashion Designer
• - Nanine Lining, Artistic Director of Scapino Ballet Rotterdam
• - Hiroaki Miyata, Professor at Keio University Medical School
• - Mitsuko Watanabe, Fashion Journalist

A Message from Yuima Nakazato

Reflecting on an eye-opening experience during a trip to Kenya, Yuima Nakazato expressed a deep concern for the overwhelming amounts of discarded clothing. This sense of urgency has driven the vision behind the FASHION FRONTIER PROGRAM. Hikari Hayashi’s winning design, which adapts a child’s sweatshirt into a versatile dress, exemplifies a transformative relationship between humans and clothing, contributing to conversations around sustainability in fashion.

The FASHION FRONTIER PROGRAM, initiated in 2021, aims to honor and foster aspiring fashion designers, guiding them as agents of positive change within the fashion industry and society at large. The program consists of five elements: Award, Incubation, Scouting, Matching, and Lab, focusing on continuous support to build relationships within the fashion ecosystem.

Conclusion

The FASHION FRONTIER PROGRAM continues to grow as essential to shaping the future of fashion. Each year, it recognizes the essential role of creativity, responsibility, and innovation in a world increasingly defined by mass production and consumption. By highlighting these talented designers, the program seeks to inspire future generations of creators committed to making impactful changes in the industry.

For updates, follow their official Instagram and visit the program's official website.