Category: RECord

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Spreading love & sustainably with Tatoushi Kimono paper

Have you noticed our products come parcelled in a rich heavy paper, and wondered where it’s coming from? 

This is called “Tatoushi”, a kimono storage wrapper made from Japanese Washi paper, which is used to preserve, package and protect kimonos.

The washi paper packaging is made with the utmost care, sometimes you can feel or see herbal flecks on the outside layer – this is to protect the garment from moths and critters attracted to the natural silk packaged inside. Some even use essential oils for extra protection. 

This is how kimonos have been kept in good condition tucked away in our wardrobes for decades without ever being worn again. There are an estimated 800 million kimonos sleeping in the cupboards of modern-day Japanese households and that is why we began REpurpose and REinvent how we honour pre-loved kimonos in our modern daily lifestyle. 

Do you have Kimonos to donate? Or want to get in touch? Connect with us here

What is it made from?

Fibre isn’t just good for your health but also makes for strong paper – pulp such as Kozo (mulberry), gampi or hemp is distributed in the paper mould so the fibres intertwine and pressurise to make for a stronger almost fabric-like material. 

The REC way: REusing Tatoushi to wrap our products

The great thing about paper is that it can be RECycled, UPcyled and REinvented: one of our favourite ways to champion Tatoushi paper is to use it as wrapping paper for our large items, as well as price tags and some stationery products.

And sometimes we use it to craft beautiful origami art that honours traditional Japanese forms.

We have greeting cards that feature Tatoush cranes:

Midori Moss Aloha shirt and matching Tatoushi greeting card

These unique shapes and values are speckled throughout our story as reminders of the philosophy and symbolism behind our Japanese-centric ethos. 

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Origami crane to celebrate and bring prosperity to the New Year  :

Setsubun marks the seasonal division when Spring start in Japan where “Mamemaki” (bean throwing) is used to deter evil spirits away:

Origami Heart :

As the season of Valentines approaching and in true REC fashion, we would love to celebrate all kinds of love and connections with you through a heart origami.

Our committment:

We use sustainable kimono packaging as a nod to our roots and further commitment to sustainable practice. REvisiting the way things can be, through upcycling or recycling what you already have, you can now use fabric scraps to make trains of cranes to bring you luck and a way to wind down. 

Tatoushi crane greeting cards

It is the perfect time to evaluate and nurture the different kinds of love you have brought into this new year with. We too have been growing our beloved bespoke collection.

Regardless of what month it is, we believe life is about reaching above and beyond, diving into self-love, discovery and nurturing what connects us to a deeper-rooted love that allows us to REConnect amidst our whirlwind lives every single day. 

#Yoroshiku

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Holiday Blues: why Blue is a colour to uplift us

a pattern of tiger

We believe in colours as reminders of the vibrancy of life: browse through our products to see how important all colours, especially blue, are integral to our stories.

‘Ao’ represents serenity, vast oceans and stability

What is the ‘Holiday Blues’, and how does it affect us? 

The holiday season brings the pressure of being jovial and merry with your loved ones and who you surround yourself with: stress, anxiety and (seasonal) depression alongside chronic conditions snowball during this time.

photo by : kwtphotographer

‘Over 2 in 5 Brits report feelings of stress, and about 1 in 4 reported struggling with anxiety or depression during the Christmas season.’

– insight on celebrations during covid 19 report 2021

Now-empty spaces at the dinner table, longer nights, not enough daytime and the anxiety of leaving the house in fear of the virus. The holiday season can be a debilitating time with an unnerving pressure to be around ‘family’ when you are struggling to find a reason to celebrate. So, when life is not a cookie-cutter version of what we would like it to be, things can get tough and you are not alone feeling this way. 

Here are some ways you can self-soothe: 

  • 👤Acknowledge your feelings – take time to understand your anxiety, stress or depression, let yourself make way to the reason as to why you might be feeling this way and allow yourself to accept it.
  • 🧠Regain control – Try your best to regulate your high levels of emotions by stepping to the side and taking things slow to take back control: take time for your needs, a walk, quiet time alone or a nap, any form of action which is kind to your mind and body. 
  • 📍Be realistic about your expectations – It’s easy to be disappointed during these times when we have been taught to put the bar very high, but the simple things in life are just as enjoyable.
  • 🤝Reach out – Whether it’s family, friends, or a neighbour; reach out, talk to someone and let them know how you’re holding up. If you find yourself not being able to, ‘The Mind’ is a mental health organization that have helplines open, click over there if you need someone’s help. 

▶️ Watch The Mind’s video 👉 “Not a normal Christmas..” for a preview of issues that the organisation brings awareness to.

4649.REC ethos  💙

As born from the efforts to cope with mental health during a global lockdown, the brand became what it stands for through the strength gained from REConnecting with family through the kimono and cultural roots. We champion mental health awareness by giving a percentage of our proceeds to the aforementioned mental health charity, ‘The Mind’.

We believe sustainability is a philosophy larger than what it is defined by today, it is about sustainable practices across one’s life. It’s about sustaining healthy forms of wellbeing: what we call ‘Ki’ in Japan – protecting and regenerating our inner ecosystem and energy. To provide you with longevity and strength for a tomorrow, to live through another day, every day. Our efforts in REConnecting to what makes us whole is something we practice all the time, through our upcycling, customisations and RECycling –  we take the time to REConstruct what our tomorrow can look like.

 “It’s Okay Not to be okay”: 

It will eventually pass, and perhaps through some of the methods above maybe you will have taken another step towards understanding your ‘Holiday Blues’, preparing you for the next year.

It’s worth remembering that blue in Japan, ‘aoi’, represents a transient colour that carries the vastness, vitality and peace of oceans, skies and broader horizons, so the next time you catch a case of ‘the blues’, ride the wave over to the other side where one can stand on their own two feet with a sense of clarity. 

We, at 4649.REC are grateful to greet another year and thank all who we had the chance to say #Yoroshiku to 🙏

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Post-Kimono Talk: How is it the Ultimate Sustainable Wear?

Sake, Hot Tea, and Kimono Enthusiasts: RECap of the event

On the evening 25th of November at our 88 Regent street sustainable concept store, we hosted a Kimono Talk with Furikoyokimono store and Shoko Tanoue; local kimono experts and stylists who like us, incorporate the philosophy and eco-friendly practices of the Kimono in our everyday modern life. 

We opened our doors and welcomed many guests with sake, and hot tea provided by LabTonica – our neighbouring sustainable wellness brand. We were elated to receive such an audience who were invested in the sustainability of the Kimono.

Why is Kimono the ultimate sustainable wear? 

The (vintage) Kimono is sustainable because of how it is handled, the materials that are used to make it (100% cotton or silk) and the socio-cultural practices of how the Kimono is used/ passed down generations. 

kimono fabrics from furukiyokimono
kimono displayed from furukiyokimono

Kimonos can be described as a one size fits all because the T-pattern cut of the cloth allows for additional panels to adjust to the length, or girth of the wearer. Carrying on from that, the kimono is also made to be unstitched so it can be cleaned and restitched, allowing room for repurposing and better care of the garment. This was demonstrated in the event. 

Many generalise sustainability to bio-degradable materials etc, but it is also a way of living, Mottainai means to ‘Not to waste’, a popular saying within Japanese households that encourages the ultimate extension of an objects life. 

Rundown of the cozy Evening talk:

Sonoe Sugawara from Furukiyokimono store introduced us to the multi-faceted dimensions of the kimono: the many ways it is unstitched for different bodies, for cleaning and preserving material colour and life.

Shoko Tanoue, a kimono stylist who had moved to London during the pandemic and the endemic of racial discrimination towards Asian Hate, demonstrated how she adorns her culture proudly in London using beautiful ornate kimonos. The demonstration invited guests to see how the kimono or obi could be worn on their bodies.

4649.REC hosted the event in our 88 Regent Street concept store where guests had the opportunity to browse through our bespoke upcycled kimono garments, and products while exploring the vintage kimono collection from FurukiyoKimono selection. 

It was a delightful evening of chats, conversations and lovely to say #Yoroshiku to people who wanted to learn about the versatility/ sustainable philosophies of Japanese culture through the Kimono.  

After all, REConnecting, REkindling and REimagining our cultural traditions with one another is a way to weave a united story.  With that in mind, we are looking forward to REConnecting with you again soon for another event. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CW1YPw4DbUr/

With that in mind, keep your eyes peeled 👀as we have something cooking for another event

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Welcome to the future of fashion: Fashion District festival

Come celebrate the 5-day Fashion District Festival running from 22nd-26th September with us to advocate sustainability and innovation.

‘When something has been mended it becomes more beautiful as it becomes rich with history.’

– philosophy of kintsugi

Grow, Watch, Make and Shop: 

The festival will be an opportunity to experience an intimate and interactive event that will give you a chance to see what positive changes in the fashion future can look like for all of us.  Under the umbrella of RETURE, we 4649.REC are among other designers who will be providing intimate

The purpose of the festival is to uplift and highlight designers from diverse backgrounds pursuing fashion business with sustainability in mind.  This was touching the surface of creative possibilities of upcycling fabric into something else. Upcycling, Reusing and Re-focusing is a great way to reconnect with our choices and stories behind them. 

We will show you how to revamp your clothes using patchwork with our beautiful collection of vintage kimono fabrics leftover from our production. Yumi, our founder and designer, will be conducting the ‘MAKE’ Workshop and expressing her own aptitude for repairing clothes with a Japanese twist. You can find us running a workshop with the fashion district festival showing you how to repair and transform your clothes as you give them a second lease of life. You can also find a selection of our upcycled kimono pieces at the RETURE marketplace stand, located in Westfield Stratford shopping centre.

The essence of 4649.REC:

We aim to inspire the use of upcycling, recycling and reusing one-time cultural garments into our everyday life as effortless streetwear with a hint of attitude and a Japanese spin on your wardrobe. 

Spaces are very limited so get your tickets now and join us for your journey to REconnect with your roots, don’t miss this chance to RE-think, RE-construct and RE-style your wardrobe.

We believe in building a sustainable community based on our own values of RE-creating what our history and culture mean through our dress. Through patchwork and MAKING together, we can figure out a future that will sustain both the environment and humanity, this workshop is one step in achieving that.

  • The importance of Making together instils the practice of repairing and taking a step towards slow fashion
  • Building connections through upcycling

Check out our previous collaberations

‘Say ‘I DO’, the sustainable way @ RESELLFRIDGES with RETURE’, The stunning bridal gown is now on display and available for sale at our new pop-up store at 88 Regent Street.

What we have on next:

‘The 88 Regent Street pop-up edit’– Onsite customisations and one-of-a-kind upcycled kimono pieces available for you to purchase right now at 88 Regent Street, come to say hi.

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Say ‘I DO’, the sustainable way @ RESELLFRIDGES with RETURE

No more ‘Bridezilla’ with our sustainable brands matching you with your dream dress: 

RETURE with RESELLFRIDGES have come together in a special union with a sustainable Wedding pop-up collection, that ran from 2nd August to 5th September.  And we, 4649.REC were invited to add to the edit with our own customised, upcycled kimono pieces. As RETURE’s in-store designers, we invited customers to witness how we transform garments and how they could be re-customised, reimagined and reused for your special day.

Getting passionate with our sustainability aims: What started our love affair with upcycling and RETURE

RETURE launched online in November 2020 as the world’s first fashion upcycling platform. RETURE’s aims are to encourage upcycling and sustainable fashion.  This collaboration was about exploring a circular retail model and a part of Selfridges shift into navigating sustainable efforts in consumption.  A hopeful and exciting step in the right direction for fashion and retail giants.

Our one-of-a-kind pieces were lovingly made using upcycled kimono handed down to Yumi, our creative designer and founder, and this is how we have reimagined a beautiful mix of traditional Japanese apparel into wedding attire: 

Love for the future: Our aims for ethical consumption

On average, 30% of our clothing in wardrobes has been left untouched for at least a year, according to the Waste and Resources Action Programme. Not to mention, that 350,000 tonnes of wearable clothing go to landfills in the UK every year.

RETURE’s collaboration with us was a green initiative taken on with creativity on behalf of Selfridges’ goals to commit to a greener and circular mode of experiencing fashion.  

Here’s how you can champion it:

  • Buy with conscious materials in mind: look for organic, all-natural fabrics like cotton, silk, wool and try to avoid fabrics containing elastane. 
  • Get thrifty: find Ethical sources and shop locally, this benefits your community and helps build a sustainable practice.
  • Re-purpose, Re-cycle and upcycle your own clothes: grab some of your loved-up clothes that have seen better days and start your own DIY project and get creative. 

What we have on next: The Regent Street Edit

Running from the 3rd of September we will be joining 6 other brands on 88 Regent Street where you can come find our pop-up store. We believe in a slow, circular fashion and welcome you to join our personal and tailored shopping experience. We have onsite customisations available for you and our one-of-a-kind pieces made from upcycled kimonos that could be yours.

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Embrace a gender neutral closet for Pride Month

4649.REC textile pride rainbow

June 2021 marks the 51st anniversary of Pride Month. Every year, since 1969, during the month of June, the LGBTQIA+ community celebrates in various ways from parades and festivals to events and public speaking. More than a celebration, Pride Month provides the opportunity to bring awareness to important issues the community is facing. 

What is Pride Month and why does it take place in June? 

On an early morning of June 28, 1969, in Manhattan, New York, the Stonewall Inn was raided by the police. Greenwich Village was an area known to be home to sizeable gay and lesbian populations. Gay bars being illegal in the 1950s and 60s, very few places welcomed gay people and those which did were often run by organized crime groups. The Stonewall Inn, for one, was owned by the Mafia. Such bars were routinely raided. However, violence escalated during the Stonewall Raid and sparked a wave of protests several evenings in a row. The protests led to the formation of organized activist groups, calling for the creation of places where they could embrace their sexual orientation without fear. The riots served as a catalyst for the LGBT liberation movement in the United States.

As a celebration of the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, Brenda Howard organized the first Pride March in New York, which soon became a yearly event. Pride is now celebrated across the United States, but also throughout the world every year.

How does 4649.REC celebrate Pride Month? 

56% of people between 13 and 20 and 43% of people between 28 and 34 stated that they knew someone who uses gender neutral pronouns.  4649.REC stands for sincerity, harmony and respect. We hope to bring people together one garment at a time. We stand for diversity and inclusiveness, authenticity with one’s self and respect to all.

All our pieces are gender free and have a unisex fit, as we believe being authentic to oneself involves feeling free to transgress the gender conventions in fashion. Find a piece that resonates with you or guide us on how to create it for you.

How can you embrace Pride Month by experimenting with gender neutral clothing?

Unisex and non-binary clothing strive to challenge gender norms. Looking to adopt a more gender neutral closet and transgress the boundaries through fashion?  You can personalize your clothing to push back boundaries and achieve your ideal, authentic look through up-cycling and customization of all sorts (dyeing, embroidery, tailoring..). Let us help you experiment with a wide range of colors and patterns, using upcycled kimono fabrics – they are full of colours and nature themed prints which speak to us all.

Overall, despite the progress which has already been made, we must continue to increase awareness and support inclusiveness. In some places like Japan, LGBTIQ+ people are still not protected from discrimination by the law. This June the LGBT Equality Act should be adopted. However, it is contested by LGBTIQ+ advocacy groups who denounce the lack of enforceable protections contained in the bill, which only requires an “understanding of LGBT people”. More generally, as a result of discrimination, homophobia and transphobia and the rejection which may be experienced after coming out, individuals in the LGBTIQ+ community are at increased risk of mental health problems such as depression, self-harm and substance abuse. A study by Stonewall underlined that, in the UK, ⅛  LGBTIQ+ people between 18 and 24 and half of trans people attempted to take their life. Committed to inclusion and wellbeing for all, 4649.REC donates a portion of its proceeds to mental health Mind.