Fashion planner Yusuke Tani has continuously confronted the “invisible realities” behind the surface beauty of fashion. Having witnessed firsthand the harsh working conditions in garment factories in Bangladesh and the “graveyard of clothes” of discarded garments piled high in the Atacama Desert in Chile, he came to question the mass consumption and unconscious choices of affluent societies. Though fashion is meant to be an expression of personal beauty and freedom, behind it lie countless lives sacrificed and environmental damage.

In response to these issues, Mr. Tani has launched “clothing education” (fukuiku) initiatives in collaboration with governments and companies. He emphasizes that clothing is not merely a product, but something made through someone’s time and life. Understanding this background fundamentally transforms how we make choices. Through lectures and talks across Japan, he has conveyed to people of all ages the stories behind consumption—stories of the labor conditions at production sites, the natural environments that foster materials, and the ultimate destination of discarded clothes. Beyond lectures, he has developed learning experiences through workshops where participants reconstruct discarded clothing using buttons, and through interactive exhibitions that explore the possibilities of clothing.

A workshop in Dominican Republic

Participants have responded positively, with comments like: “my perspective when shopping has changed” and: “this made me think about responsibility in fashion for the first time,” indicating a clear shift in awareness. Looking ahead to 2050, Mr. Tani aims not only to deepen and expand these educational efforts, but also to explore new approaches that integrate fashion and art. Through visual arts, film, photography, and body expression, he seeks to create sensory experiences that allow people to grasp the “life and death” of clothing. He envisions exhibitions where visitors can follow the narrative of a garment—from its creation and usage to its eventual disposal—through visuals and tactile senses. Using sounds, scents, and materials, he hopes to convey the flow of Inochi embedded in garments and evoke a visceral awareness of loss, connection, and ecology.

The Inochi Forum also believes that fashion must be redefined not as mere consumer goods, but as a way of living. Clothing wraps our lived time—our very Inochi. Paying attention to where, by whom, with what materials, and for what purpose a garment is made is a profound act of respect for the Inochi of others and of the Earth. Confronting the reality that many garments are incinerated touches on our perceptions of life and death. The ultimate fate of clothing invites us to reconsider how we face the end of Inochi. Fashion holds the power to transform society. It is more than trends—it is a declaration of our stance toward coexisting with the world.

Believing in this potential, the Inochi Forum will continue working alongside fashion planners like Mr. Tani to spread the message of “responsibility in creation,” “responsibility in use,” and the “dignity of Inochi” across the globe—through the medium of fashion.

[References]

・MUJI: “[Before Choosing an Item, Think About It First—Yusuke

Tani Talk Event | Event Report ①—Nonoichi Meirin Street Store]” https://www.muji.com/jp/ja/shop/045781/articles/events-andareainfo/events/463571

・Sotokoto: “Does That Clothing Have a Love Story? A Fashion Planner Who Communicates Through Words and Attire”
https://sotokoto-online.jp/sustainability/3195

・Diario Libre: “Artistas en Proyecto” — A JICA Initiative to Promote Development Through Art https://www.diariolibre.com/revista/cultura/2023/12/27/artistas-en-proyecto-una-iniciativa-de-la-jica/2561154

・JICA: “Workshop in the Dominican Republic on ‘Fashion and the Environment – The Traveling Garment’ Instructors: Yusuke Tani, Rikiya Nakaegawa”
https://www.jica.go.jp/overseas/america/plaza/1555922_23386.html

・Miércoles: “JICA Donates Uniforms for Health Promoters and Farmers”
https://m.n.com.do/2024/10/31/la-jica-dona-uniformes-para-promotores-de-salud-y-agricultores/

・Asahi Shimbun withPlanet: “Fashion and International Cooperation — The Significance of Making Uniforms in the Dominican Republic”
https://www.asahi.com/withplanet/article/15726032

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