SOLIT
Overturning the fashion industry’s common sense of “fixed beauty.” Global award-winning fashion brand SOLIT! takes on the runway challenge for the first time with eight diverse models
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The brand “SOLIT!” operated by SOLIT Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Misaki Tanaka, pronunciation: Solit) will be participating in one of the largest fashion events in North America, which will be held in Vancouver, Canada, in April next year. We will participate after receiving a direct offer from Fashion Week (VFW). Now, we are pleased to announce the eight models who will be participating in the VFW together, who were finally selected through a public recruitment process held in September.
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8 SOLIT VFW models
Challenge to overturn “fixed beauty” at Vancouver Fashion Week In the fashion industry, there is a “fixed beauty” mindset that favors white and slender models, and the current situation is that the use of models of diverse races and body types is lagging behind. According to the Vogue Business Size Inclusivity Report, only 0.6% of all looks presented on the 2023-24 Fall/Winter runways featured plus-size models. This situation reinforces social prejudice against beauty, lowers self-esteem, and affects the lack of diversity and mental health.
SOLIT! takes on the challenge of dispelling this “fixed beauty” mindset and promotes change in the industry. The eight models participating this time are from diverse backgrounds, including a high school student who aims to become a deaf actor who is active around the world, a model who has decided to take on the challenge of being a human being rather than a wheelchair model, and a refugee from central Africa. I will appoint you. This is a step toward demonstrating a “new normal,” and we aim to create a show that reflects our vision of “all-inclusive.” SOLIT! remains committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the fashion industry.
Eight models taking on the challenge of Vancouver Fashion Week and their enthusiasm
Giving hope to children who cannot hear as a deaf athlete – Kazuhiro Takai [Image 2
Chihiro Takai
Deaf athlete belonging to Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Co., Ltd. Born on June 7, 1997. Born in Shiga Prefecture, lives in Kanagawa Prefecture. Congenital sensorineural hearing loss. Joined Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Co., Ltd. in April 2020. While balancing work, he is active as a high jump track and field athlete and a deaf (hearing impaired) athlete in decathlon. He is aiming to participate in the 2025 Tokyo Deaflympics and win a medal.
■What are your strengths, charms, and characteristics?
Congenital sensorineural hearing loss. Able to communicate in oral and sign language. He has outstanding athleticism and a competitive personality. In the high jump, he won three consecutive victories at the National Schools for the Deaf Athletics Championships. 6th place at the World Deaf Championships, personal record 1.91m. In the decathlon, which she started in 2023, she is close to winning the Deaflympics.
■Opportunity to participate in the VFW model
I sympathize with SOLIT!’s desire to realize an all-inclusive society. I’m interested in all-inclusive fashion, and I want to express the world without sound in my own way, and use this as an opportunity for more people to learn about the Deaflympics. When I was in high school, I had the opportunity to listen to the stories of Deaflympian medalists and dreamed of becoming a Deaflympian myself, so I wanted to give the same dreams and hopes to hearing-impaired children. I decided to participate.
■Message to those who support us
I was nervous right after I made the decision, but after getting the look taken, I started to feel more confident. I’m sure I’ll be nervous during the actual race, so I’d like to walk as if I were running the run-up for a high jump. I want to convey coolness by having fun and expressing myself in my own way, and I hope that in the future, various para-athletes and Deaflympians will wear SOLIT! clothes, and even serve as models. .
Walking the runway with pride as a “cool refugee model” – Moeba [Image 3
Moeba
Originally from central Africa. Lived in Japan for about 5 years. Speaks four languages and can read and write hiragana, katakana, and kanji. He studied international management at a university in India and worked at a non-governmental organization in his home country. Fearing for his life amidst the unstable political situation, he fled abroad and came to Japan. Worked at Mitsui O.S.K. Logistics Co., Ltd. through the certified NPO Refugee Support Association. Worked as a person in charge of international airport transportation and human resource development in the company’s overseas business.
■What are your strengths, charms, and characteristics?
I can speak 4 languages. He is also a refugee who fled the country and came to Japan because he felt his life was in danger amidst the unstable political situation. I am kind, calm, polite and have a positive personality. I value teamwork, always maintain high motivation, and am good at encouraging those around me.
■Cause for applying as a VFW model
It all started when I heard about a call for applications from NPO WELgee, which helps refugees in Japan design their future. I feel that the values I hold dear are in line with SOLIT!’s philosophy, and I always welcome participation in projects like this.
■Message to those who support us
We really appreciate any support you can give us in any way. We would like to express our gratitude to everyone who is building our hopes and goals.
High school student who aims to become a deaf actor who is active in the world – Mirai Mizuguchi
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Mizuguchi Mirai
Born in Tokyo. Belongs to Accessi Beauty Management, 15 years old. He was born deaf and went to a school for the deaf from kindergarten to middle school, and now attends a hearing high school. From
kindergarten to elementary school, after the school for the deaf is over, children attend after-school clubs, swim lessons, Kumon lessons, and art lessons among hearing children. Belonged to his current entertainment agency since his second year of junior high school and started working as a model and actor. My first language is Japanese Sign Language.
■What are your strengths, charms, and characteristics?
Having the ability to take on challenges is a strength. In addition to his entertainment activities, he is active as a training athlete in the sport of differential sailing. I am also currently studying various sign languages such as International Sign Language, Korean Sign Language, and American Sign Language. Taking on challenges is fun because you can discover various things, learn a lot, and broaden your horizons.
■Cause for applying as a VFW model
I was moved by the phrase “Leave no one behind, neither the diverse people nor the global environment,” and wondered what it would be like to wear clothes made by SOLIT! I really want to wear it! Walking on the runway and working overseas were some of my goals, so I wanted to take on the challenge.
■Message to those who support us
Thanks to the people who always support me, I am able to take on this challenge. Everyone’s encouragement and support gives me energy. I want you to see yourself changing as you take on the challenge of going to Vancouver as a SOLIT! model. Please provide some support! Express yourself as a person, not as a wheelchair model – Haruna Kinoshita [Image 5
Haruna Kinoshita
Born in Hokkaido. At the age of 13, he developed a muscle disease of unknown cause and became a wheelchair user at the age of 21. After I started using a wheelchair, I realized that just having a disability makes it very difficult to live in the world, and I wanted to do something for other people who were facing the same problems, so I started modeling. In parallel with her professional modeling activities, she is also focusing on art activities, creating works that continue to ask, “What is normal?”
■What are your strengths, charms, and characteristics?
Due to the symptoms of a chronic disease, my whole body has weak muscles and I use a wheelchair to get around. Also, due to the side effects of medication, he did not grow taller, so his body is small. Generally speaking, I have a physical disadvantage as a model, but I believe that my strong point is my strong attitude of trying out various things without hesitation.
■Cause for applying as a VFW model
What if I’m in a wheelchair? I’m short, so what? This is nothing but an excuse. Everyone has the right to challenge. I believe that there is something that I can express because I am tall and walk
beautifully, which is a far cry from the traditional image of a model. people will give up on becoming a model because of their disability, and I thought that there will be people who look up to you, so I decided to enter.) ■Message to those who support us
We would like to create a show with the thoughts of everyone who supports us. I want to create a world where everyone can enjoy fashion – Yuki Hiwasa [Image 6
Yuki Hiwasa
Born in Aichi Prefecture. After 7 years of various experiences at an apparel company, he is currently working as a team leader for a sports brand’s official website. As for her physical characteristics, she has had a disease called Nevus of Ota on her face since she was born, from her forehead to her cheeks. He believes that these outward
characteristics are a part of his own individuality, and through his day job and other activities like this, he works to enlighten the idea that “any person can shine”.
■What are your strengths, charms, and characteristics?
I have a wide range of career experience in the apparel industry (sales, planning, area manager, e-commerce, etc.). Through this experience, I was able to hone my “grit” and “challenge spirit”. I feel that I have acquired the ability to continue trying new things in order to continue producing results in an industry that requires always trying new things.
■Cause for applying as a VFW model
Participating as a volunteer at POP-UP STORE was a big opportunity for me. I myself have a disease called nevus of Ota that stretches from the forehead to the cheeks of my face, but I believe that you can enjoy fashion regardless of your disability, and I want to convey this through the challenge of modeling. I applied.
■Message to those who support us
First of all, I am filled with gratitude for giving me such a wonderful opportunity. I feel that this brand exists because of the great efforts and thoughts of many people. We are proud to be able to help share what you have built with the world.
As a life-sized high school student, I naturally embody flat values - Nao (Nao)
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Nao
A current second-year high school student living in Tokyo. There are no physical or mental disabilities. My hobbies include saunas and visiting second-hand clothing stores. As I went to a high school where there were a lot of girls, I was inspired by girls’ make-up, fashion, and values, and started wearing genderless fashion and make-up. From there, she began to become interested in gender issues. Later, through a friend’s connection, he met SOLIT! and strongly sympathized with SOLIT!’s ideas. Currently, he is studying hard for his university entrance exam.
■What are your strengths, charms, and characteristics?
What makes me unique is that I have the ability to take advantage of my youth as a high school student to create flexible and new ideas. What appeals to me is that I understand that “healthy people” and “people with disabilities” are individuals with their own strengths and weaknesses, without distinguishing them as majority/minority or strong/weak.
■Cause for applying as a VFW model
When I participated as a volunteer at a SOLIT! pop-up, I had a customer in a wheelchair say that my skirt style was “cool.” At that moment, I realized that a world where diverse people can coexist and respect each other is truly “all-inclusive.” I felt the warmth of “. I applied because I wanted to experience and spread this warmth even more.
■Message to those who support us
I will do my best with a sense of responsibility, keeping in mind that I have the support of many people involved in SOLIT! behind me. Determination to live as a model and actor without hiding scars, disabilities, or past – Hayuka Yoshizaka
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Eiyuka Yoshisaka
Born in Toyama Prefecture. From an early age, he became familiar with various expressive activities such as acting, singing, writing poetry and novels. Just before graduating from graduate school, he was involved in a traffic accident. It took three years to complete the treatment, leaving aftereffects and scars. Then moved to Tokyo in 2019. Started his entertainment career while working as a copywriter. He has appeared on stage and in film productions as an actor. As a model, she appears in domestic fashion shows and advertisements. She will make her overseas collection debut at “Milano Fashion Week 2023″. ■What are your strengths, charms, and characteristics?
People with developmental disabilities (ASD/ADHD). abuse survivor. I am a person with a physical disability acquired due to a traffic accident. Scars and surgical scars caused by the accident cover multiple areas of the body and a wide area. I believe that my strength lies in the fact that I am a person with both obvious and invisible disabilities, and I continue to work in the entertainment industry without hiding my disabilities, upbringing, and scars, and continue to share information about myself.
■Cause for applying as a VFW model
I’ve always been a fan, but I was moved by the warm and accepting atmosphere on set when I modeled for SOLIT!, and I wanted to know more about SOLIT!. I knew that models could take on challenges as part of a team at VFW, and I also felt that as a member of SOLIT! I would be able to convey my feelings to many people that I could not reach by myself, so I immediately decided to apply.
■Message to those who support us
Thank you very much for your continued support and support, including through crowdfunding. We are the models who go to the site and ultimately walk the runway as the face of SOLIT!, with many team members spending a huge amount of time trying to overcome the challenge. I will turn the weight of responsibility into strength and express my desire to “maximize the chemical reaction between viewers and SOLIT!”!
The dream I almost gave up on, the challenge of collecting overseas – Shuu Maruhashi
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Kazuya Maruhashi
Born in Chiba Prefecture, raised in Chiba City. In June 2017, he suffered an injury to his cervical spinal cord in a traffic accident and now lives in a wheelchair. Aftereffects include quadriplegia, trunk disorders, and autonomic nerve disorders. After undergoing rehabilitation at hospitals and rehabilitation facilities for about three years, he began living on his own. Because she loves fashion and beauty and was interested in modeling, she took on the 2022 audition for Accessi Beauty Management, an entertainment agency specializing in people with disabilities, and passed. Currently working as a wheelchair model.
■What are your strengths, charms, and characteristics?
I am a wheelchair user due to cervical spinal cord injury and quadriplegia and am unable to move my fingers or legs, but my strength is that I am 182cm tall and can make use of my slender body and long arms and legs to look beautiful in any clothes. . I also try not to be overconfident in myself and spare no effort in building that confidence.
■Cause for applying as a VFW model
By appearing in the world as a wheelchair model, I hope that not only people with similar disabilities, but also people with or without disabilities who want to try something but are unable to do so, will be inspired to try something themselves. When I was an able-bodied person, I had the experience of choosing not to try anything and regretting it after I became disabled, so I wanted to tell people that it is important to take on challenges when you have a dream. I also applied because I wanted to convey SOLIT!’s message of
all-inclusiveness and mutual recognition.
■Message to those who support us
We, the models, express what SOLIT! staff and everyone involved has put their thoughts into creating, so we will do our best to deliver those feelings.
Future plans related to Vancouver Fashion Week
・Monday, December 11, 2023, Monday, January 8, 2023: Training (Training such as walking and posing)
@Held at a studio in Tokyo or online (held as appropriate until March) ・April 23rd (Tuesday) – April 28th (Sunday), 2024: Vancouver Fashion Week show (schedule is currently being adjusted)
・May 2024: Post-event report meeting/Product exhibition (tentative) @ Scheduled to be held in Tokyo.We are also accepting in-depth coverage of training sessions and other events at any time.
The reason why SOLIT!, which has been established for 3 years, has received praise from all over the world
For many years, the fashion industry has been unable to shake off its “fixed beauty” mindset, largely due to sample size contracts and the design process being based on a specific body type. SOLIT! uses “inclusive design,” which involves developing designs by involving people who have issues with clothing from the planning stage. Furthermore, each part of the product can be customized according to one’s own preferences and body shape, regardless of classification such as disability or sexuality, and as the products are made to order, we are taking on the challenge of eradicating the idea of “fixed beauty.” This is a business model that allows you to About the fashion brand SOLIT!
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https://solit-japan.com/About Vancouver Fashion Week
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@VanFashionWeekYouTube:
Message from Misaki Tanaka, CEO of SOLIT Co., Ltd.
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Misaki Tanaka
SOLIT! was started to solve the problems of people close to us, but through our activities we learned that the design can solve the problems of many people who have not seen the problem yet. And I believe that this is not limited to Japan. I was very surprised when I was invited to the VFW, but I would like to see this as an opportunity and use it as a springboard to realize the all-inclusive society that we aspire to.
Representative Profile Representative Director and CEO Misaki Tanaka (Misaki Tanaka) Born in 1988. After graduating from Ritsumeikan University, he was responsible for information support projects for evacuees in Fukushima Prefecture in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake. In August 2013, she established Disaster Prevention Girl, a general incorporated association with the motto of “updating disaster prevention.” Received the Minister of Economy Encouragement Award at the 32nd Human Power Awards. She was the only Japanese to be selected as one of the world’s 22 female social entrepreneurs selected by Sparknews, and was the winner. In February 2018, he founded Morning After Cutting My Hair Co., Ltd., a PR company specializing in solving social issues, and is the CEO. In September 2020, he founded SOLIT Co., Ltd. and serves as its representative director in order to realize an “all-inclusive economic zone.”
About SOLIT Co., Ltd.
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