INDEX
Fashion as a Social Infrastructure
What impact will alternatives in education and society have?
Kurino: The election of Satoko Kishimoto as the mayor of Suginami Ward in 2022 left a similar impression on me. Kishimoto, who originally lived in the Netherlands and was involved in civic movements there, returned to Japan and ran for the mayoral position in Suginami. Her election represents a return to the true essence of democracy, where ordinary citizens, not driven by business interests, are chosen as our representatives. The change from this ideal, which seems to have happened over time, reflects the public’s doubts and frustrations manifesting in tangible ways.
Kōhei Saitō and Takuya Matsumoto’s co-authored book, 自治とコモン (Autonomy and Commons), also features Kishimoto and provided valuable insights. Though focused on politics and current affairs, it offers various perspectives on how to create a better society in the 21st century. I was particularly pleased to see a discussion on retail included in the book. Having been in the retail industry for nearly 40 to 50 years, I believe that UNITED ARROWS has continued to thrive through the challenges of the subprime mortgage crisis and the pandemic by not underestimating or excessively glorifying retail, but by engaging with it faithfully.
-The quest to build a better society is intimately intertwined with our daily lives.
Kurino: The reason for addressing this topic is that fashion is not just about buying items; it’s deeply connected to the broader social infrastructure. It involves the people who make the clothes, the stores where they’re sold, the taxes paid by the sellers, and the homes of those who work in the industry. If fashion continues to be dominated by luxury business trends, it risks becoming a world where only wealth is valued, catering solely to the affluent. Unfortunately, fashion is increasingly being absorbed into this aspect, but I believe Japan can be different. I want to help reclaim fashion from this money-driven game and make it something that truly benefits people, supporting Japanese designers, artisans, and new approaches to education, like what was attempted with “cococuri.”
