Embrace Sustainability: 3rd Gururi Festival Celebrates Connection Through Clothing Exchange

3rd Gururi Festival: A New Cultural Celebration

On March 12th, recognized as Unisize Day, Makip Co., Ltd., headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo, will host the 3rd Gururi Festival at Saizu Shrine in Amasakushi, Kumamoto Prefecture. Scheduled for two days, March 12th (Thursday) and March 13th (Friday), this year's festival continues to promote a new festival culture where clothing and accessories that no longer fit are repurposed rather than discarded. The event aims to connect people through sustainable practices.

The Gururi Festival is centered around a vibrant marketplace where attendees can exchange unwanted items, supporting a more sustainable society. Leveraging Makip's sizing recommendation engine, Unisize, the festival promotes meaningful interactions and enhances the user experience within the apparel industry. As a testament to its success, Unisize has been incorporated into over 350 e-commerce sites, playing a vital role in reducing return rates and improving consumer satisfaction.

The festival will feature a diverse range of engaging activities. In addition to the main clothing exchange market, attendees can enjoy offerings of irregular vegetables, experience coffee roasting, try their hand at shooting games, and even stroll through the local area with the help of recommended walking cards from Saizu Shrine. On the evening of the 12th, a BBQ gathering will further bolster community connections, creating a unique space for personal experiences and shared memories.

Last year's Gururi Festival attracted over 100 participants, signaling the event's growing popularity. This year, Makip aims to enrich the real-world experience of attendees and foster a sense of community and sharing.

Event Details

- Date: March 12, 2026 (Thursday) from 10 AM to 9 PM, March 13, 2026 (Friday) from 10 AM to 3 PM
- Location: Saizu Shrine, Amasakushi, Kumamoto Prefecture
- Organizer: Makip Co., Ltd. / Saizu Shrine
- Collaborators: Shoendo Co., Ltd., Japan Health and Sustainability Council

The Vision for Gururi Festival

Throwing away clothes is not an eco-friendly option, and it feels like discarding memories along with them. However, when clothing no longer fits—whether due to weight changes or other life events—what can be done? Each piece of clothing comes with a story of when it was purchased or gifted. These seemingly minor events can hold significant value in one’s personal history. If the recipient learns a little about the story behind the clothing they receive, they might create a new memorable day in their life.

Today is March 12th, Unisize Day.

About Unisize

Unisize (https://cl.unisize.makip.co.jp/) offers a unique size recommendation engine for online shoppers seeking clothing or bags. By utilizing extensive size data from various domestic and international brands, it employs a proprietary algorithm (patented) to suggest optimal sizes based on user body information. Additionally, Unisize now features 3D functionality, allowing users to visualize the drape, silhouette from multiple angles, ease, length, and hemline length when wearing shoes.