Collected clothing is reused through upcycling, etc.
- Merucari Green Friday Project 2024 - Launched jointly with clothing-related companies to propose sustainable fashion.
*1: Green Friday is an initiative aimed at promoting sustainable consumption that values items and encourages long-term use, in response to excessive consumption represented by the large-scale sales of Black Friday (the 4th Friday of November). Initiatives similar to Black Friday are being carried out in advance in Europe, where workshops on exchanging unwanted clothes and repairing items to continue using them are also being held during the same period as Black Friday.
Background
On July 18, 2024, regulations on the disposal of unsold clothing in the EU will be enforced, such as the 'Ecodesign Regulation for Sustainable Products' to promote the circulation of sustainable products. The issue of clothing disposal has become a global social issue *2.
In Japan, the weight of discarded clothing in one year is estimated to be 0.485 million tons, with about 90% of it estimated to be released from households *3. In this situation, the government aims to reduce the amount of clothing disposed of from households by 25% compared to the 2020 fiscal year by 2030, as stated in the 'Revised Version of the New Capitalism Grand Design and Execution Plan 2024' *4, leading to increasing awareness of sustainable fashion domestically and internationally.
Merucari has been aiming to realize a circular economy where all values circulate smoothly by pursuing 'Planet Positive' that contributes to the environment and society through its business. As part of this realization, every November, under the name of the Green Friday Project, we hold an event with multiple clothing-related companies to propose ways to enjoy sustainable fashion using reused clothes that are still wearable.
This year, from November 22nd, 2024 (Friday) to November 24th, 2024 (Sunday), we will hold the 'Merucari Green Friday Project 2024 - Fashion Fest with Zero New Releases' at Tokyu Plaza Harajuku 'Harakado'. The venue is planning to have various fashion-related events and booths where you can actually experience upcycling and repairs*. Prior to this initiative, we will collaborate with a reform studio that performs alterations for clothes and bags called 'Magic Sewing Machine' at 388 locations nationwide to start a program to collect unwanted clothes from households. The collected clothes will be utilized at the upcycling and repair experience booth of 'Merucari Green Friday Project 2024 - Fashion Fest with Zero New Releases' and also planned to be used at a barter booth where customers can bring unwanted clothes and exchange them for desired items.
*2: Europian Commission 'Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation'
*3: 'Survey on Promotional Measures for Circulatory Fashion in FY 2022 - Material flow -' (Ministry of the Environment)
*4: 'Revision Draft of the Grand Design and Implementation Plan for the New Capitalism 2024' (Cabinet Secretariat Homepage)
*5: Details of the event are scheduled to be announced in early November.
Clothing Collection
1. Bring your clothes and receive a coupon that can be used at all 'Magic Sewing Machine' locations nationwide
From October 11, 2024 (Friday) to November 8, 2024 (Friday), we will accept unwanted clothing brought from homes at "Magic Sewing Machines" stores nationwide, which operate 388 stores.
In addition, for customers who bring in clothing, we will present a 100 yen (tax included) discount voucher for clothing alterations that can be used at the next visit to "Magic Sewing Machines", one per item collected. (Up to 50 pieces per store)
When bringing in clothes, please speak to the staff at each "Magic Sewing Machines" store.
2. About the applicable clothing for acceptance
Please refer to the diagram below for the clothing being collected.
Please note that heavily soiled or damaged clothing, as well as wet clothing, may not be accepted for collection.
3. About the reception hours and corresponding stores
Reception hours vary depending on the opening hours of each store for "Magic Machine". For clothing collection and details at "Magic Machine", please refer to the URL below.
* Some stores are not eligible.
About the past Mercari Green Friday Project
For details on Mercari's Green Friday initiatives, please see here.
Fiscal year 2023
Fiscal year 2022
Fiscal year 2021
Fiscal year 2020
Overview of cooperative companies
[Reform Studio Co., Ltd.]
Headquarters Address: 3-21-1, Takasu, Mihama-ku, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture (Ion Marine Pier Special Building B1 Floor)
Representative: President and CEO Mitsuru Kameya
Main Business Activities:
[1] Fashion reform services for clothing and related service operations
(Store Names: Magic Sewing, Reform Studio, Atelier Couturier)
[2] Shoe repair, bag repair, key duplication, and related product sales
(Store Name: lear!, Mister Craftsman, Eco Craft)
[3] Rental storage space (Store Name: Kura Rent)
[4] Coin laundry (Store Name: Hare365)
Through the Green Friday Project, Mercari aims to propose a way to enjoy sustainable fashion more closely across corporate borders and aims to achieve a circular economy by reducing waste together.
