Necessities of Life: Food, Clothing and Shelter Week
Fashion COUTURE “We are ALL Designers!!!”
EXPO 2025 Thematic Project “Invigorating Lives” (Producer NAKAJIMA Sachiko)
We interpret the "democratization of creativity" advocated by EXPO theme producer Sachiko Nakajima as the "democratization of fashion." Recently, the fashion industry has been shifting from mass consumption to products that meet individual needs. The enjoyment of fashion will be deepened if individuals can easily design and produce products that also meet the SDGs. We hope that you will experience a new creative consumption lifestyle through this web app, which aims to revitalize the industry.
Recorded video available
Discussion
- Sustainable fashion
- Fashion creativity
| Transmission of simultaneous interpretation | Provided |
|---|---|
| Language of interpretation | Japanese and English |
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Signature Programme
- Time and
Date of
the event -
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2025.06.06[Fri]
14:30 ～ 16:30
(Venue Open 14:15)
-
- Venue
- Pavilion
- Playground of Lives: Jellyfish Pavilion
Programme details
*Subtitles: Choose “Subtitles/CC” in the “Settings” (gear icon) at the bottom right of the YouTube video.
*Subtitles may not show with multiple languages or overlapping audio.
Design your own one-of-a-kind fashion goods digitally, simulate the finished product, and then actually manufacture it. This is the entire process that we will be putting into practice.
First, choose your favorite 3D item on the app, and arrange it while enlarging, reducing, rotating, and moving the "color, pattern, logo, etc.". After checking the finished product that you could never have imagined before, you can actually move on to manufacturing. This time, we will introduce items that can be created on the spot. "Color, pattern, and logo" can also be created using linked emotion AI software. By showing each other their work and evaluating each other's work, creators can understand each other's creativity, collaboration, and individual thoughts, which is in line with the philosophy of the Theme Pavilion.
*We would hold several workshops within these 2 hours.
Reports
【Reflection】
We conducted a workshop using the "COUTURE" app, which allows intuitive item design, as an event where participants could actually experience the concept of "democratization of creativity" advocated by the "Playground of Life: Jellyfish Pavilion."
In this workshop, we utilized various materials including the Jellyfish Pavilion's symbol mark, jellyfish images created by children and designers, and video footage of "Kakumei" (a concept where mathematics, life, and art intersect). Participants were able to design their own tote bags and Jellyfish Pavilion uniforms. For the tote bags in particular, we used RICOH's garment printer to print the designed patterns directly onto the bags, which were then presented as gifts to 14 participants among the many attendees..
Most participants came as families or groups, and it was impressive to see them gathered around the pre-prepared tablet devices working together. The fact that each participant was able to enjoy creating diverse and unique designs truly represents the realization of the "democratization of creativity" concept.
However, several areas for improvement also became apparent. Since many participants were young children, there were initially some moments of confusion when operating the tablet devices and the app. We projected slides explaining the operation methods onto a 60-inch monitor, but due to the various sounds filling the venue, the effectiveness was limited. As a result, the most important role became having attending staff provide individual explanations to each participant. When we tried continuously projecting actual operation screen videos, this seemed to be more helpful to participants than the slides.
Additionally, it was unfortunate that functions such as using photos taken on the spot as design patterns, extracting images from the "Kakumei" videos prepared for this workshop to use as patterns, and the coloring function for the Jellyfish Pavilion symbol were only utilized by few participants due to their complex operations. Furthermore, since printing on tote bags took considerable time, the cumbersome process of having participants return later to collect their items is another point we would like to improve. We also received requests from participants who wanted to use their own hand-drawn designs, but this was not possible with the current "COUTURE" system as it would require very time-consuming processes, which remains a challenge to address.
There were also issues that the current version of "COUTURE" was not yet able to address. What I felt most this time was the strong desire to create something original from scratch that was unique to each individual. This is truly a democratization of creativity, and I felt that this event will lead to each and every one of us "designing a future society where life shines." Thank you very much.
【Post EXPO Initiatives】
In this workshop, we implemented a project where unrestricted users, including groups and young children who had not been sufficiently considered previously, actually used the "COUTURE" app and printed their designs on tote bags on-site as gifts. Through this initiative, we gained confidence in realizing the "democratization of creativity," while also identifying several challenges for further practical implementation.
Based on this experience, we are currently focusing on the following improvements. First, we are advancing improvements to the screen display and operation methods of the "COUTURE" app for young children, aiming to create an environment where intuitive operation is possible regardless of age. Additionally, we are actively developing a function to easily import hand-drawn patterns, which was highly requested by participants. We are also conducting detailed examination and refinement of various elements required in actual operational settings, such as standardizing troubleshooting procedures during printing work, shortening processing time, and enabling simultaneous processing.
Furthermore, as part of our future development, we are considering strengthening collaboration with educational institutions and local communities. We plan to explore the potential applications of the "COUTURE" app in diverse settings, such as supporting creative activities in school education, providing hands-on experience opportunities at local events, and utilizing it for recreation in elderly care facilities. We are planning to develop functions and support systems optimized for each environment.
Through these comprehensive improvements, we will evolve the "COUTURE" app into a truly universal tool that everyone can use, creating an environment where all people can intuitively and freely design items for their own use or as gifts for loved ones. We plan to continue our activities from both technical improvement and social implementation perspectives toward the further spread of the "democratization of creativity.
Cast
Moderator
NAKAJIMA Sachiko
Thematic Project ”Invigorating Lives" (Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition)
Musician, a mathematics researcher, and a STEAM Educator. She is also CEO of steAm, Inc.,the representative director of steAm BAND Association and a thematic project producer of Expo 2025, Osaka, Kansai, Japan. She also serves as a STEM Girls Ambassador, Cabinet Office. She won the gold medal as the first Japanese woman in the International Mathematical Olympiad. She passionately conducts research on art and technology as well as music, mathematics, and education. Winner of 2025 Power Of Radiance Award by Cle deau Peau Beaute (Shiseido).
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©COUTURE DIGITALE LTD.
Morita Nobufumi
COUTURE DIGITALE LTD.
CEO of Couture Digital Inc. President and CEO of Digital Fashion Inc. Representative Director of the Digital Fashion Creators Association (general incorporated association)
Director of Solve Inc. Visiting professor at Kwansei Gakuin University. Japan representative expert at ISO TC133. Committee member of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Committee on the Future of Fashion, etc.
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Co-organiser
COUTURE DIGITALE LTD.
Necessities of Life: Food, Clothing and Shelter Week
Fashion COUTURE “We are ALL Designers!!!”
We interpret the "democratization of creativity" advocated by EXPO theme producer Sachiko Nakajima as the "democratization of fashion." Recently, the fashion industry has been shifting from mass consumption to products that meet individual needs. The enjoyment of fashion will be deepened if individuals can easily design and produce products that also meet the SDGs. We hope that you will experience a new creative consumption lifestyle through this web app, which aims to revitalize the industry.
-
2025.06.06[Fri]
14:30～16:30
(Venue Open 14:15)
- Pavilion
- * Programme times and content are subject to change. Any changes will be announced on this website and via the ticket booking system.
- * The schedule is subject to change depending on the organiser's circumstances.
©steAm Inc. & Tetsuo Kobori Architects All Rights Reserved
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Necessities of Life: Food, Clothing and Shelter Week
