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MIYASHITA PARK: Where Style Meets Sustainability in Shopping

2024.1.16

MIYASHITA PARK 

#PR #OTHER

J-WAVE’s radio program GRAND MARQUEE’s “BACKPACK TOKYO” strives to offer an authentic and captivating guide to Tokyo. In the episode aired on December 21st, Yanagi Gari from comdey dup Denko Sekka introduces MIYASHITA PARK, an intricate facility situated a mere 3-minute stroll from Shibuya Station, seamlessly blending parks, commercial spaces, and hotels.

Fukuoka’s Popular Daimyo Soft Serve Now Lands in Tokyo Only at MIYASHITA PARK

Celeina (MC): Where are you today?

Gari: Today, we are at MIYASHITA PARK, a commercial complex just a 3-minute walk from Shibuya Station. The Christmas mood is at its best.

Celeina: That’s nice.

Gari: I just had the limited Christmas menu “Strawberry Short Soft Matcha Christmas Version” at MIYASHITA CAFE.

Celeina: Strawberry and Matcha?

Yanagi Gari (Denko Sekka)

Gari: Yes, it represents a Christmas tree with soft serve ice cream, and it’s delicious with lots of fresh cream. This menu is only for Christmas, but you can always enjoy the fluffy soft-serve ice cream with fresh cream on our regular menu.

Celeina: Sounds delicious.

Daimyo Soft Serve from Fukuoka, maed with fresh milk and cream from Kyushu. Known for its fluffy, creamy texture, it’s exclusively available at MIYASHITA CAFE in Tokyo.

Warm as Down Jacket and Eco-friendly – the Essential New Winter Coat, KAPOK KNOT

Gari: But, I understand everyone’s feeling. The current temperature is 7.8°C, one of the coldest nights this winter. Some of you might think, “It’s too cold for soft-serve ice cream.” However, no worries. Even in the dead of winter, there’s a shop at MIYASHITA PARK where you can get highly functional outerwear that allows you to enjoy soft serve without feeling the chill.

So, today, I’d like to introduce an apparel brand, “KAPOK KNOT,” located on the 2nd floor of MIYASHITA PARK South2.

Launched in 2019, the Japanese clothing label “KAPOK KNOT” inaugurated its inaugural store at MIYASHITA PARK in September 2022. Overcoming the intricacies of working with kapok seed-derived material, the brand presents an extensive collection of products highlighting kapok material’s distinctive durability and shape-retaining features—qualities that were once deemed challenging to manage.

Takano (MC): What kind of store is it?

Gari: I’m trying on a coat called “Hood Coat” from KAPOK KNOT, which is ridiculously warm and ridiculously light.

Celeina: Lightness is important for outerwear, isn’t it?

Kapok, known for its moisture-absorbing heat generation, possesses a distinctive trait of capturing warm air within its hollow fibers, resulting in a lightweight yet cozy feel reminiscent of down jackets. It’s also convenient to hand wash and requires minimal maintenance.

Gari: Just by wearing this “hood coat” over a short-sleeved T-shirt, I’m fine with the outside temperature of 7.8°C.

Takano: What’s the design is like?

Gari: Despite my height of 178cm, this long coat reaches below the knees and comes with a hood. Despite its considerable length, it allows for incredible ease of movement and feels as light as just a normal jacket.

Celeina: Sounds very warm.

Gari: If you layer up inside, it’s so warm that you might start to break a little sweat. This coat is definitely going to help me get through this winter without a doubt.

Takano: It’s that warm.

By directly sourcing from farms in Indonesia and sewing factories in Aomori Prefecture, KAPOK KNOT achieves a cut in production costs and is committed to offering products in an affordable price range and engaging in the creation of items that is transparent where the products come from.

Gari: Inside the store, you’ll find not only coats but also jackets, sets, down stoles, and more. The coat I’m wearing is a solid blue, but there’s a wide variety of options from patterned styles to chic designs.

Aside from the lineup, there are also numerous highlighted features. Today, we would like to hear more about them from Akiyama, the manager of KAPOK KNOT. Thank you for joining us today, Akiyama.

Akiyama: Nice to meet you.

Gari: What is kapok, which is also the name of your store?

Akiyama: It is the fruit of the “kapok” tree, native to warm regions like Indonesia. This material is used as padding in coats, combining the 1/8th weight of cotton with the same level of warmth as down.

Gari: It’s an unbeatable material. So that’s why it’s so lightweight.

Akiyama: That’s right.

Gari: It’s quite remarkable that 1/8th the weight of cotton.

Akiyama: Our customers often say it is so light that they don’t even feel like wearing it.

Yanagi and Akiyama of KAPOK KNOT MIYASHITA PARK STORE

Gari: Kapok is a new material derived from tree nuts, so it is a very sustainable.

Akiyama: That’s right. As it is derived from the fruit of the tree, there is no need to cut down the trees. It’s currently gaining attention as a sustainable material since it’s said that a single tree produces around 300 fruits annually, ensuring a non-depleting source.

Gari: It’s excellent. Being able to wear a lightweight and warm coat while also being mindful of the environment.

Akiyama: That’s exactly right.

Gari: You don’t see many products using kapok, even though it is such a material.

Akiyama: Recently, I have seen more and more products using kapok in other stores, but I am confident that we are one of the pioneers.

Gari: I see. Could you tell us about any products you recommend?

KAPOK KNOT MIYASHITA PARK STORE down stole

A collection designed by the environmentally conscious actor Fumi Nikaido, who is involved in initiatives like animal-free advocacy, is currently on sale. The collaboration materialized thanks to her personal use of and fondness for KAPOK KNOT.

Akiyama: My favorite is the down stole.

Gari: They are so cute. There are quite a few with patterns and unique textures.

Akiyama: The material is smooth but has volume, but it is compact and easy to put in a bag when not used. They are very easy to wear.

Gari: And down stoles are a trend item now.

Akiyama: Certainly. I believe you might see them around the town. I hope that by wearing a down stole made from tree nuts, people can experience warmth both in their hearts and bodies.

Gari: I heard that in addition to the products, KAPOK KNOT is engaged in initiatives that allow customers to learn more about the brand’s commitment. Could you share what’s about?

Akiyama: We conduct a reservation-based KNOT LAB, where customers can physically touch the kapok material and have detailed information about the material and the brand’s background explained to them.

Gari: It’s a wonderful initiative because we don’t often think about what kind of materials we are wearing.

Why don’t you spend this winter with KAPOK KNOT while caring about the materials and backgrounds? Thank you very much for your time today, Akiyama.

Information

MIYASHITA CAFE
Address: MIYASHITA PARK South 2F, 6-20-10 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03-6712-5650
Access:3 min. walk from Shibuya Station
Business hours: 11:00 – 21:00
(*Following the business hours of RAYARD MIYASHITA PARK)
https://miyashitacafe.business.site/

KAPOK KNOT MIYASHITA PARK STORE
Address: MIYASHITA PARK South 2F, 6-20-10 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03-6450-6588
Access: 3 minutes walk from Shibuya Station
Business hours: 11:00 – 21:00
(Hours of operation are the same as those of RAYARD MIYASHITA PARK.
https://kapok-knot.com/

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