[Wearable Art] The first collaboration between Yukiya Co., Ltd., a group of young artisans of “Tokyo Tegaki Yuzen” and the cutting-edge fashion brand “KARMA et CARINA.” Starting with the “Yuzen Art Blouse,” we propose “crafts for everyday wear.”
KARMA et CARINA Press release: June 11, 2025 To members of the press The first collaboration between Yukiya Co., Ltd., a group of young artisans of “Tokyo Hand-painted Yuzen,” and the cutting-edge fashion brand KARMA et CARINA. Starting with the “Yuzen Art Blouse,” we propose “crafts for everyday wear.” The delicate brushwork of “Tokyo Tegaki Yuzen,” a traditional craft designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, is fused with the sensibility of modern fashion. We will continue to convey the charm of traditional crafts by developing them as “wearable art,” rather than crafts that are too expensive and out of reach.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/162923/2/162923-2-1d6b7f55b158ac62b3543238d5bbf094-3900×2601.jpg Yuzen Art Blouse KARMA et CARINA (headquarters: Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture, CEO: Hideaki Kitasako), a fashion brand, and Yukiya Co., Ltd. (headquarters: Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, CEO: Miyuki Ohno), a group of young artists of the traditional craft “Tokyo Tegaki Yuzen” designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, will collaborate to release the “Yuzen Art Blouse” in late June 2025. As people are increasingly moving away from kimonos, this collaboration aims to re-advocate Japanese traditional techniques for modern daily life and promote them as “everyday crafts” rather than as overly expensive crafts. By reproducing the original hand-drawn drawings by artisans using Epson’s cutting-edge digital printing machine, we have achieved both quality and price, and are a step towards paving the way for a sustainable future for traditional crafts. This product will be sold at department stores and EC sites nationwide. Official website https://www.karmacarina.com/ https://www.yuzen-yukiya.com/ Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/162923/2/162923-2-49dbd8079f618e854b2f41a0b2b802a1-3900×2600.jpg All-season Yuzen art blouses available in 3 colors | Hand-painted Yuzen x digital technology challenges “affordable prices” ■Project Overview “Tokyo Tegaki Yuzen” is one of Japan’s traditional crafts. With the amount of spending on kimonos decreasing after peaking in the Showa period, how can we make use of its techniques and value in the modern era? To face this challenge, Yukiya Co., Ltd. and KARMA et CARINA have collaborated for the first time. By reproducing the original Tokyo Tegaki Yuzen paintings in high definition using Epson’s latest printing machine “Monna Lisa,” we have achieved an affordable price. Everyday items that are useful in the lives of Japanese people. By fusing fashion and crafts, tradition and technology, we present a new option of “everyday life with traditional crafts.”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/162923/2/162923-2-45a2943e469e9c381f945b51e489e8c3-3900×2600.jpg “Denim and Yuzen” coordination example | Black with “colored flowers” Not a souvenir for inbound tourists, but a tradition that lives on in everyday life in Japan ■Development background and story KARMA et CARINA is a fashion brand that works to revive and popularize traditional crafts by finding “narratives and cultural backgrounds that go beyond the value of materials” in traditional crafts and translating them into the modern era. Yukiya Co., Ltd., our
collaborating partner, is a group of Tokyo hand-drawn yuzen artisans who have continued to preserve traditional techniques despite facing a decline in kimono demand. This collaboration marks Yukiya’s first foray into full-scale apparel products. This project was launched in August 2024 as an opportunity for artisans to explore new areas of expression and new customer bases. The project was launched based on the shared values of both parties that “crafts can only become popular if they are rooted in the lifestyles of the times.” The “Yuzen Art Blouse” was born from our search for a way to incorporate crafts into everyday wear in a natural way, rather than being limited to the framework of “inbound” or “a select few wealthy people.” As the starting point of the design, we deliberately moved away from “Japanese” and adopted a “Western” design that fits in with modern Japanese society.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/162923/2/162923-2-a8b9a27ab379505a4b3d698180a7e68d-3900×2600.jpg The pattern is based on the motif of flowers, “mimosa” and
“calligraphy flowers”, which are “symbols of supporting women’s activities”. The “mimosa” is a symbol of International Women’s Day, and the “calla flower” is named after its pure shape like a nun’s collar. Since monasteries were once places of learning, the name represents the hope for “women’s intelligence and free learning.” By suppressing Japanese elements, we aimed for a design that would naturally fit into modern society. All of the original artwork is hand-painted Yuzen, brushed by artisans one by one. From there, we designed the pattern, dyed it with a cutting-edge printing machine, sewed it, and went through a careful process to complete the “Yuzen Art Blouse” for early summer 2025. This product combines the delicate beauty of traditional techniques with modern technology to be available at an affordable price. We sincerely hope that “traditional crafts will once again become a part of everyday life.”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/162923/2/162923-2-9ec4a5bcbe28652b7855e1a712c87add-3275×2183.jpg Light blue and white with “mimosa” design Product features and appeal • Everyday wear that combines artistry and functionality: A long-tail silhouette that makes the most of the bold yet delicate pattern. All original drawings, hand-drawn one by one by artisans, are precisely reproduced using cutting-edge printing machines. Designed with attention to detail to faithfully express the nuances of the brushstrokes and the depth of the colors. All are carefully produced domestically, and the high quality that is unique to Japanese products is also attractive. • Suitable for all seasons: Available in three colors (white, light blue, black). Unisex, free size design that goes with any outfit. • Lightweight and wrinkle-resistant material: Light and soft polyester material. A “Yuzen product” that has good color and can be washed at home. Perfect for traveling and everyday outings. It can be used in a wide range of situations, from casual holiday coordination with denim to dinner parties and gallery tours. Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/162923/2/162923-2-9e78d8929f553d607d2fd37c399159b7-3900×2600.jpg Long-tail silhouette | The pattern is placed in a way that follows the pattern placement of a kimono.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/162923/2/162923-2-7f2d08d7ec2d3580843838c6c93ace9e-3900×2600.jpg The soft fabric, translucent in the sunlight, sways in the wind. There, mimosa flowers painted by the artisan’s hand bloom. Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/162923/2/162923-2-d5e8936ee8f48ba4c075cb296897c9d4-3900×2453.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/162923/2/162923-2-1c118dfd38e7fb879d22a8c84b3f8105-3900×2600.jpg Light blue and white with “mimosa” design
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/162923/2/162923-2-e2a60abe285a756133c7cbe69d92ec10-676×454.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/162923/2/162923-2-195a96c0a49940138967ae459430774e-335×248.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/162923/2/162923-2-66387c6ae0ab1998f4cf288a23251c2b-241×243.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/162923/2/162923-2-69489e6883e4d265d6683279277accbe-241×243.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/162923/2/162923-2-dfcd6fe3200a1a645dde7b8fb2b4a5f8-241×243.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/162923/2/162923-2-0bc4ccad9daf8e04b31192144ab54390-241×243.jpg *All original artworks are individually drawn using the traditional “Tokyo hand-drawn Yuzen” technique
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/162923/2/162923-2-f11ac3c1920b9ff592fe30026868dfd3-3900×2600.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/162923/2/162923-2-b0530c49531dcdc4424f98d8f374cf45-3900×2600.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/162923/2/162923-2-07047c3925534e0bdb8db3977f047c7a-3900×2600.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/162923/2/162923-2-260e43d86eb79ee1727dfb81bb349d0f-3900×2600.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/162923/2/162923-2-964c27aebba06eecd1c773b8b18cd57a-3900×2600.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/162923/2/162923-2-a7a3bf622f7f67a1cb1b523dea882abb-3900×2600.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/162923/2/162923-2-455d6fe369ec469d5696ac3f47fbc95b-3900×2600.jpg The calla lily flower hides its will within its stillness. Its beauty is strong and quiet, blooming with a strong core. Product overview • Product name: Yuzen art blouse • Price: 38,500 yen including tax (base price 35,000 yen) • Size/Color: Unisex Free Size/White, Light Blue, Black • Material: 100% polyester Technique: Tokyo hand-drawn yuzen • Country of manufacture: Japan • Planned sales: Department stores nationwide, pop-up shops, EC sites, etc. • Release date: Scheduled for late June 2025
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/162923/2/162923-2-6d723c50608be57e4efad59ba8cd7c8b-1713×1240.jpg [Brand introduction] • Yukiya Co., Ltd. https://www.yuzen-yukiya.com/ Head office: Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture Representative Director: Miyuki Ohno / Director: Kumiko Machida Established May 9, 2017 They studied under Norihito Sakai and Ryuji Nagasawa, respectively. Many awards including national dyeing and weaving exhibitions Established Yukiya Co., Ltd. in 2017 Regular member and director of Tokyo Crafts and Dyeing Cooperative Association Member of the Ota Ward Traditional Crafts Development Association, Ota Ward Traditional Craftsman (Machida) • KARMA et CARINA https://www.karmacarina.com/ Headquarters: Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture Representative: Hideaki Kitasako ESMOD PARIS Graduated from Esmod Paris After working in the costume department of Shiki Theatre Company and the design department of Shochiku Costumes, he went independent 2018 Launch of KARMA et CARINA 2021 Kobe Collection, Pop-up Shop 2024 Start product development in collaboration with traditional crafts 2025 Registered for EXPO2025 Osaka Kansai Expo “Co-creation Challenge” and “Future Route” with the support of the Kanto Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry [Contact for this matter] ■KARMA et CARINA (Karma Carina) Person in charge: Kitasako TEL: 090-4426-0643 Business: Women’s fashion brand, design, planning, sales Official website: https://www.karmacarina.com/ E-mail: info@karmacarina.com ■Yukiya Co., Ltd. TEL: 045-834-4288
(Representative) Person in charge: Ohno Business description: Design, dyeing, tailoring and sales of kimono and Japanese clothing Official website: https://www.yuzen-yukiya.com/
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/162923/2/162923-2-39d93d3b5e931c40e6930bcba3663873-1814×892.jpg KARMA et CARINA, Yukiya Co., Ltd. A collaboration project between Yukiya Co., Ltd., a group of young Tokyo hand-drawn yuzen artists, and KARMA et CARINA, a cutting-edge brand that develops conceptual fashion. Special site now open *This email has been sent automatically, so please do not reply.
