RiPiЯ

RiPiЯ is a sustainable women’s apparel brand that remakes new stock items worldwide.

While the domestic apparel market was 15 trillion yen during the bubble economy period*, but has recently shrunk to 10 trillion yen these days. On the other hand, the supply has almost doubled from about 2 billion to 4 billion items in the same period. As a result, supply outstrips demand, and many brands hold excessive stocks, resulting to both business and environmental issues.

*the bubble economy period: an economic bubble in Japan between 1986 and 1991

To fix the current circumstance where valuable products are discarded, RiPiЯ purchases stock items from apparel brands and remakes them. In this way, these remade items are almost one-of-a-kind items and highly valued.

The brand name “RiPiЯ” has the meaning of red thread (R/Я), which connects people (P) from both directions, and R/Я, which stands for reproduction in each process (Restock / Redesign / Reproduction / Repromotion / Rejoice / Reduce / Recover).

The brand is also environmentally conscious as its clothing tags are made with biodegradable seed paper. Also, they donate part of the proceeds to an organization that supports the environment. They are creating a good cycle that benefits everyone involved with the brand, based on the concept that “the joy of wearing clothing cures society and the environment.”

1. Adding excess value to stock items while reducing waste

RiPiЯ has their own route to buy stock items from domestic and international brands to approach the issue of the apparel industry’s massive waste of clothing. In particular, instead of selling stock items at a low price, they collaborate with local designers and artists to add more value to the original products. From that way, the products become unique, and people use them for an extended period.

2. Collaborating with local artists to preserve traditional handcrafts

In 2021, when RiPiЯ was born, they started collaborating with an embroidery director in Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture, to decorate fabrics. By teaming up with domestic designers and artists, RiPiЯ realizes high-quality refashions and protects local traditions and techniques while spreading its activities.

3. Building a sustainable cycle with a win-win business model for everyone

RiPiЯ helps apparel brands diminish the cost of disposal and storage of clothing. At the same time, they contribute to promote and develop the local areas by featuring regions and artists there. In addition, their donation system encourages consumers to support the environment and society by purchasing their products. In this way, the brand works as a hub of the whole cycle and builds a sustainable business model beneficial to everyone involved.