FAQ

4649 (pronounced ‘Yo ro shi ku’) means “Nice to meet you” in Japanese, and REC stands for our values of REConnect, RECycle and RECreate (and so much more). Just like the brand name suggests, 4649.REC exists to REConnect the stories in each precious piece of kimono fabric, giving them a new life, unlocking their beauty and making you a part of their story.

You should typically receive your order within 5-10 business days for UK, 10-30 business days for the rest of the world. All orders are shipped with Royal Mail ‘Tracked & Signed’ service. You can read further about our postal information here, or should you have any queries regarding your order, please email us with your order number.

You can return any item within 28 days of receipt for a refund of that item or to exchange it for a different item. If you need to return an order, please email us and request an item return form.

All our pieces are gender free and have a casual unisex fit. In order to make the best use of unthreaded kimono fabric and prevent from creating any waste, sizes vary in each item and you can find suze information inside each product description. 

Kimono is a traditional Japanese garment and the national dress of Japan. Worn only on special occasions, the creation of these pieces of exceptional quality require both time and skill. Thus, they are passed down for generations and take on an emotional and cultural significance. However in modern Japan, kimonos are not everyday garments and there are an estimated 800 million kimonos sleeping in the cupboards of modern day Japanese households. Despite the emotional value to their owners, the majority of these precious pieces are sold for next to nothing in thrift stores or even end up in landfill. 4649.REC is committed to give these pre-loved treasures a new life, releasing their full potential and creating transnational flows of energy and value chains.

Traditional kimonos are made from pure silk or cotton, and mostly hand-sewn by kimono seamstresses.

The reclaimed fabrics used in our items are all very personal to the designer/founder Yumi; the vintage kimono fabrics have been passed down in her family for generations, while other surplus fragments of fabrics are acquired from small businesses she’s had personal connections with. We also get our kimonos by kind donations from Japanese households who we have personal connection with.

Yes you can donate your old kimonos to us, granted that they are in the condition which we can turn them into cloth. There are estimated 800 million kimonos sleeping in closets of Japanese households only, plus more in households all over the world – and we would love to give them new lives. If you would like to donate your old kimono to us, please get in touch so that we can arrange a collection from UK or Japan.

We say absolutely not. We stand for cultural appreciation, not appropriation and hope you enjoy and feel as proud wearing our upcycled kimono items as we did making them, honouring the artistry and emotional value of these traditional garments.

Our items are lovingly crafted by founder/designer Yumi, or other local independent designers who we have deep respect and trust for. You can find a hand signature of the maker on each certificate card that comes with your purchase.

First we unstitch the kimono – which takes us a day or two, depending on the condition of the garment. This process is like rewinding time and having conversations with the women who made them long ago – helping us switch off from the rather turbulent world outside and unwind. Next we wash/clean them to turn them back into cloth; at this stage we know how much fabric we have to work with, which enables us to decide what piece of a new life we can give to the precious fabric. Then finally we cut and sew the fabric, turning them into modern street wear you can all enjoy. 

From SDGs set by the United Nations, we focus especially on:
GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-being
GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal

Upcycling is reusing (discarded garments or materials) in order to create a product of higher quality or value than the original. Entrenched in the ideas of slow fashion, upcycling intends to create a more circular fashion industry, reducing waste and also attributes clothing an emotional, rather than simply economic value. Read more about our upcycling service here.

Yes we can, and hope to encourage you to create something new out of pre-loved clothes passed down in your family. You can simply walk-in to our popup creative hub when it’s open, or simply get in touch with us to discuss your next upcycling project. 

We believe that working together across the globe makes us all better, and here to share insights, expertise and ideas with like-minded organisations and individuals changing lives for the better. If you have any collaboration ideas, please get in touch and let’s start the conversation now.