Kyocera launches the 'TRUE BLUE TEXTILE' project to promote the new 'Wear to Save Water' fashion concept

In 2023, Kyocera Corporation released its new sustainable inkjet textile printer, “FOREARTH” (*1), which reduces the water usage for textile printing to virtually zero in order to solve environmental issues, such as water pollution, in the textile and apparel industry. The new ‘TRUE BLUE TEXTILE’ project based on a ‘Wear to Save Water’ fashion concept was launched to promote consumer awareness of environmental issues and features textile design exhibits by Anrealage and Vantan Design Institute to be held on Friday, March 22 to Sunday, March 24 to coincide with World Water Day 2024.

‘TRUE BLUE TEXTILE’ promotes a new ‘Wear to Save Water’ fashion concept that encourages consumers to learn and think about the environmental issues in the textile and apparel industry by wearing sustainable fashion.

‘TRUE BLUE TEXTILE’ fabric was printed by Kyocera’s FOREARTH water free concept digital inkjet printer with patterns based on the Niyodo River in Kochi Prefecture, which boasts the best water quality in Japan.

A total of five outfits were produced for the project by ANREALAGE – a company founded by Kunihiko Morinaga, who endorsed the aims of this project – and the Vantan Design Institute, which has produced numerous globally renowned designers. Through these initiatives, Kyocera is committed to tackling environmental issues affecting the textile and apparel industry.

About the ‘TRUE BLUE TEXTILE’ Project
Until now, the textile and apparel industry has used vast amounts of water in processes such as steam and washing when dyeing fabrics, and water pollution resulting from this wastewater has become a global environmental problem. In addition, the problem of mass disposal due to overstocking is also under scrutiny, requiring an immediate response. To help address these issues, Kyocera has developed the new FOREARTH inkjet textile printer, which reduces water use to the absolute minimum by combining inkjet technology for high-speed, high-quality printing with the ink and equipment development technology of Kyocera Document Solutions. The ‘TRUE BLUE TEXTILE’ project is an initiative to nudge people to think about the significance of ‘Wear to Save Water’ by choosing garments with sustainable fabrics.
‘TRUE BLUE TEXTILE’ is printed using FOREARTH, featuring the surface of the Niyodo River in Kochi Prefecture, which has been voted the river with the best water in Japan eight times in ten years*2 in a nationwide first-class river water quality survey conducted by the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism. Donning these garments allows the wearer to both protect beautiful water by wearing beautiful clothes and express their willingness to protect the environment and save the future of water.

‘TRUE BLUE TEXTILE’ Project realized with collaboration by leading designers in the Japanese apparel industry
For the launch of ‘TRUE BLUE TEXTILE,’ dresses were created by ANREALAGE, the brand established by Kunihiko Morinaga and budding designers at leading Japanese design school Vantan Design Institute, which is also Morinaga’s alma mater.

Kunihiko Morinaga (ANREALAGE) Design Concept
Morinaga’s ‘Water Drop Collection’ is an earth-shaped garment inspired by a drop of water in circulation.
The water cycle begins with a single drop. It takes the form of the first drop of seawater or water on the earth’s surface that evaporates, becomes clouds in the sky, and eventually turns into rain or snow. This epitomizes the ‘FOREARTH’ concept, which reduces water consumption by 99% *3 compared to conventional textile printing.

Vantan Design Institute Design Concept
‘Water Metamorphose’ is fashion inspired by the movement of water, created by a fresh new emerging talent. Water changes its form depending on temperature and conditions. It sometimes comes down in gentle waves and sometimes in torrents as rain that benefits us all. There is also the strength and beauty of the ever-changing appearance of water as it freezes taut and eventually melts and flows; this constantly changing nature is perhaps precisely why water fascinates us so much. Vantan’s designs explore water’s constantly shifting forms in three design types: wave, waterfall, and ice.

About the ‘FOREARTH’ Inkjet Textile Printer
‘FOREARTH’ reduces the amount of water used during the printing of fabrics to almost zero, thus eliminating the need for specialized equipment to steam and wash the fabric, which is conventionally used in the pre- and post-treatment processes of textile printing. This contributes to a significant reduction in energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Furthermore, the system provides a soft feel to the fabric, which is important in the textile and apparel industry, and realizes high-definition printing on a wide variety of fabrics, including cotton, silk, polyester, nylon, and blended fabrics.