For many years, the apparel industry has been marked by oversupply, such that the circulation of existing clothing and second-hand garments alone would be enough to meet demand. Since the founding of MITTAN, we have continued to question our own act of creating new clothing within such a context, and we operate our brand based on the following principles.

RELEASE

At MITTAN, we are concerned with producing clothing of real value. This value can be seen in designs that are not subject to trends, garment quality that allows for long-term use, transparency about the stories behind our clothing, and a careful selection of materials.

With regard to this last point, we primarily use natural materials because of their inherent functionality and their low environmental impact. We are also in the process of reviewing the materials we already use, in order to make sure that we are using the ones with the lowest possible impact. Here, we pay close attention to the holistic context in which materials are produced, including working conditions and animal welfare. By 2028, we aim to transition to using only materials that meet these standards.

We are also working to reduce waste, not only from our products themselves, but also from the production process, including fabric offcuts and other materials.

REPAIR / REDYE

Since MITTAN was founded in 2013, repair and redyeing have been central our activities. We aim to preserve and deepen the value of each garment through repair, accepting and working with the traces left by long-term use. We also understand redyeing as a step toward extending the life of our clothing, bringing a new character to the garment.

Rather than prioritizing efficiency, we focus on the beauty of the finished product, using cotton thread for sewing. Whether using natural or synthetic dyes, this allows the fabric to take the color well, resulting in the highest quality redyeing.

REPURCHASE

Launched in 2021, our buyback program allows customers to sell back any MITTAN garment to us, regardless of its condition, for 20% of its original retail price in Japanese yen. By offering a consistent purchase price, we aim to create a system in which MITTAN clothing retains its value even after purchase. This allows our garments to take on new roles within a cycle of reuse, rather than reaching an end as a form of temporary consumption.

RESELL

The clothing that we purchase through the buyback program is repaired and redyed as needed, and then resold. This extends the life of each garment, and helps reduce waste. At the same time, this activity allows us to both affirm for ourselves the value that each garment accumulates over time, and, further, to share that story.