[Rext Holdings Co., Ltd.]
Upcycle kimonos that can no longer be worn as recycled silk! Achieved 870% of crowdfunding target amount for “KINUITO”, an unprecedented solid shampoo containing highly concentrated silk extract extracted from kimono
*Rext Holdings Co., Ltd.*
Press release: September 11, 2024
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Upcycle kimonos that can no longer be worn as recycled silk! Achieved 870% of crowdfunding target amount for “KINUITO”, an unprecedented solid shampoo containing highly concentrated silk extract extracted from kimono
*~Procurement amount exceeds 4.3 million yen, and domestic release is scheduled for November~*
Rext Holdings Co., Ltd. (Head office: Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, Representative: Sogo)
Ryoju) will release KINUITO, an unprecedented solid shampoo containing recycled silk extracted from kimonos, on the US crowdfunding site Kickstarter on August 2, 2024 (Friday). ), and by the final day of September 11th (Wednesday), we had successfully raised 4,397,850 yen. This product is scheduled to be released in Japan around November 2024.
Project page:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/168045895/100-silk-luxury-revitalize-hair-with-kinuito-shampoo-bar
ingredients, so they last longer than liquid shampoos, and they are lightweight and compact, making them ideal for travel and business trips. While most liquid shampoos contain more than 50% water, this product’s water content is approximately 15%. Furthermore, by using paper packaging, we reduce water and plastic consumption, reducing the impact on the environment while allowing you to experience beautiful, healthy hair.
KINUITO is named after “silk thread” as its name suggests. Just as there is a culture in Japan where kimonos are passed down from generation to generation as family heirlooms, this expression expresses the idea of passing down kimonos made of silk to the next generation through threads, which represent connections. It embodies the hope that it will become your hair. In addition, the brand logo depicts the story of how a silkworm’s cocoon travels through silk thread to reach human hair. The silhouette of a cocoon is expressed as an oval, and the flowing curve is inspired by the initial “K” of the brand name.
*Product features*
Contains silk ingredients extracted from kimono
It is said that there are an estimated 800 million kimonos lying around in households in Japan, and many of them are difficult to wear due to scratches, wear, or stains from long-term storage. In order to change the current situation where kimonos are discarded, we are looking for ways to upcycle kimonos. Focusing on the fact that kimonos are made of high-quality silk, we overcame various challenges over the course of about a year and a half to successfully develop a prototype shampoo bar containing silk extract extracted from kimonos. *1). Uses water-soluble fibroin, which has hair repair and moisturizing effects. Silk is a material that is widely used not only for clothing but also for medical products and cosmetics, and the amino acid composition of silk is almost the same as human hair. Hydrolyzed silk is used in many silk-based cosmetics, but the original properties of silk may be reduced during the manufacturing process. On the other hand, “water-soluble fibroin” is made water-soluble while maintaining the composition of silk, and has been recognized to have better hair repair and moisturizing effects than hydrolyzed silk (*2).
Solid shampoo “shampoo bar”
A shampoo bar is a solid shampoo that looks similar to soap, but contains ingredients specifically designed for hair care. The big appeal of shampoo bars is that they have a low impact on the environment. Typical liquid shampoos require plastic containers, but KINUITO is a paper package with low water content and is lightweight, reducing CO2 emissions during transportation. Also, because the ingredients are concentrated, it lasts longer than liquid shampoo and is more cost-effective.
white tea scent
The refreshing and relaxing scent of white tea reduces daily stress. The scent that refreshes both body and mind and the elegant mood created by traditional Japanese silk will transform your bath time into a special time.
* (*1) For safety reasons, we do not use stained kimonos, and instead use undyed, white kimonos*
* (*2) If you are allergic to silk, please refrain from using it*
*Crowdfunding achievement status*
Crowdfunding was conducted from August 2, 2024 (Friday) to September 11, 2024 (Wednesday), and as of August 6 (Tuesday), the target amount of 500,000 yen was achieved. In the end, 4,397,850 yen was raised from 83 supporters, successfully raising approximately 879.6% of the target amount.
*Comment from brand manager Arika Tokunaga*
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Kickstarter for exceeding our fundraising goal and exceeding our fundraising goal.Kimonos are gorgeous and symbolize Japanese culture, but there are a lot of them that have no place to go and are being discarded. This is the reality. By making use of silk, which is the material of kimono. Even kimonos that would otherwise be thrown away should be able to be used as high-quality materials to create new value.We will continue to release not only shampoos but also products that can lead to chemical recycling and circulate resources. Therefore, we appreciate your continued support.”
*KINUITO official account*
*Official Instagram*: @kinuitobeauty *Official Facebook*:
https://www.facebook.com/people/Kinuito/61562679038942/
*Kickstarter project page*:
*Rext Holdings Co., Ltd. Overview*
Representative: Representative Director Yoshihisa Sogo
Head office location: 3-5-13 Azuchi-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture URL: https://www.rext.co.jp/
Year of establishment: April 2016
Capital: 70 million yen
Business content: Formulation and promotion of group-wide management strategies, auditing of group management, other business management, etc.