#Japan #Tokyo #Lotus #WAKAYAMA KNIT #A-GIRLS

WAKAYAMA KNIT PROJECT: Where Tradition Meets Innovation

The WAKAYAMA KNIT PROJECT is set to launch its highly anticipated third event from October 31 to November 3, 2025. This exhibition and sale will take place at the Daikanyama T-Site Garden Gallery in Tokyo. This initiative stems from the collaboration of knit manufacturers from Wakayama Prefecture, a region with over a century of experience in the Japanese fashion industry. Together, they aim to present the rich heritage and potential of Wakayama's knitting industry under a guiding principle of elevating "Wakayama knit to the world's finest."

Event Details

• - Event Name: WAKAYAMA KNIT PROJECT
• - Dates: October 31 (Friday) to November 3 (Monday, public holiday), 2025
• - Time: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM (ending at 7:00 PM on the last day)
• - Location: Daikanyama T-Site Garden Gallery, 16-15 Sarugakucho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
• - Entry: Free

Interactive Experience: KIDS T-SHIRT WORKSHOP

Throughout the event, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a memorable KIDS T-SHIRT WORKSHOP. Here, you can create your own original T-shirt using luxurious materials crafted from Wakayama's "LOTUS cotton." This fun workshop allows children to select colors and shapes, create designs, and finish their T-shirts using an iron.

• - When: October 31 - November 3, 2025
• - Time: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• - Duration: Approximately 30 minutes
• - Eligibility: Ages 3 and up (parental accompaniment required)
• - Participation Fee: 3,300 JPY (tax included)
• - Sizes Available: 100–120 / 130–150
• - Reservations: Not required (may have wait times during busy periods)
• - Note: Workshop will end once T-shirts run out.

Exhibits and Items for Sale

The project will showcase original fabric created by A-Girls, known for its unique material "LOTUS," which features the rare Suvin cotton—often referred to as "cotton of jewels." Participating companies will exhibit their own interpretations of this exquisite fabric, applying the highest level of knitting techniques to attain a luxurious feel and fit. Visitors are invited to experience firsthand the depth of craftsmanship and innovation behind Wakayama’s products.

Project Background

The WAKAYAMA KNIT PROJECT aims to preserve and pass on the rich heritage of knitting culture and technique from Wakayama, a region renowned for its jersey fabric production for over a century. The project utilizes the original material "LOTUS," developed by A-Girls, allowing each participating organization to craft unique fabrics that showcase their creativity and technical proficiency. Recently, the project has expanded its focus to include women's designs, blending tradition with innovation to explore new possibilities in knitwear.

Participating Companies

The project has brought together 11 leading companies from the region, such as:

• - Eberu Suzuki
• - A-Girls
• - Fujibo Textile Co., Ltd.
• - Hanwa Co., Ltd.
• - Furin Bokushou Co., Ltd.
• - Kinan Bokushou Factory
• - Miwa Textile Co., Ltd.
• - Okazaki Knit Co., Ltd.
• - Orange Co., Ltd.
• - Yamayo Jersey Co., Ltd.
• - Toyosen Co., Ltd.

Celebrating Tradition and Future

Wakayama has a rich history as a key producer of high-quality circular knit fabric, supplying luxury brands worldwide. However, recent years have witnessed a decline in domestic apparel production, dropping to a mere 1.4% of the market share. This has made the preservation of artisan skills and cultural practices all the more critical. Thus, the WAKAYAMA KNIT PROJECT, initiated in 2023, aims to connect Japan's knitting culture with future generations. It seeks to harness the local expertise in knitting and the allure of natural materials to create and promote the "fashion of the future" from the heart of Wakayama.

Through this initiative, Wakayama knit is poised to redefine itself, merging technical expertise, design innovation, and functionality into a pioneering lifestyle fabric. The project extends beyond mere industrial support; it represents a challenge aimed at cultural revitalization and creativity. By offering new value propositions to media, designers, buyers, and everyday consumers, it strives to lead the charge in rebranding Wakayama's knitting industry.

Vision for the Future

"We aspire to brand the Wakayama knitting region and invigorate the local industry. The techniques and unique processing methods that have survived for over a century are invaluable assets of Japan that cannot be easily replicated. Through this project, we are committed to how we can pass on the knowledge and skills of artisans to future generations and how we can evolve our craft. We aim to communicate the responsibility and hope for the future of this region."
— Tomohiro Yamashita, Representative of WAKAYAMA KNIT PROJECT / A-GIRLS

For further updates, follow the official Instagram of the WAKAYAMA KNIT PROJECT: @wakayamaknitproject

For inquiries related to this project, please contact:
Public Relations Officer: Murakami
Email: [email protected]