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(From the left) Producer MIYATA Hiroaki, Designer NAKAZATO Yuima, Officer & Managing Director of Goldwin Inc. ARAI Gen
On 12 December 2024, the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition (hereinafter referred to as “the Association”), together with Theme Producer MIYATA Hiroaki (Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Keio University), who is in charge of the Thematic Project. “Resonance of Lives”, announced the attendant staff uniforms of the Signature Pavilion “Better Co-Being”. The uniforms were designed by fashion designer NAKAZATO Yuima and developed and produced in collaboration with Goldwin Inc. (Tokyo; President & Representative Director WATANABE Takao).
©YUIMA NAKAZATO & Goldwin Inc.
Better Co-Being -Resonance of Lives-
We call this way of looking at things and walking in harmony with the diverse richness of each individual and sustainability for the future “Better Co-Being”. The concept of ‘Better Co-being’ changes the “Well” of “Well-Being”, which focuses on the present, to “Better”, which focuses on the future and combines it with “Co-being”, meaning “living together”. This is a way of thinking that harmonises sustainability for the future and the diverse richness of each individual.
Uniform Development
Producer MIYATA Hiroaki
The signature pavilion, “Better Co-Being”, has no roof or walls and stands together with the Forest of Tranquillity in the centre of the Expo venue. Here, the essence of the technology that will bring about a shift in civilisation is seen as “resonance”, and questions about the relationships between people, the world, and the future are shared in a space that dissolves boundaries.
In embodying this philosophy of resonance in the uniforms, we considered designer NAKAZATO Yuma and Goldwin Inc. to be the perfect co-creation partners. NAKAZATO is known for his innovative design activities that connect people to the future through diverse projects exceeding the boundaries of fashion. His philosophy resonates deeply with the concept of the pavilion. Goldwin Inc. continues to explore the possibilities of clothing in various environments and operates as a link between people and the world.
The uniforms created through collaboration between these two parties connect people through the attendant staff and are an important element that embodies and supports the three resonances expressed by the pavilion. NAKAZATO Yuima and Goldwin add new value to Better Co-Being.
Design Concept: Comment from NAKAZATO Yuima
“Inspired by how sunlight shows many faces according to time of the day and place, I wanted to create clothes that could be worn and shaped in infinitely many ways according to the wearer and the environment. I would like to include the word impermanence in the title of this uniform to reflect how every object keeps changing.”
Clothing That Shares the Pavilion’s Vision for the Future
The pavilion’s concept, “Better Co-Being®,” suggests the direction of humanity’s future. What kind of clothes could embody such a concept? Countless conversations with Producer MIYATA revealed that “light” is a keyword. The kind of light that shines in the dynamism of life and the way living creatures respond to sunlight.
One summer in Southern France, I saw intense sunlight shining through the leaves. It reminded me that sunlight not only gives life to living creatures but also changes its face in countless ways, depending on the hour of the day and location. I knew then that this was exactly how I had wanted to present light and wanted to express this in the fabric of the “Better Co-Being®” attendant staff uniform.
I merged the photograph of the sunlight I saw digitally with a dotted abstract image of light and enlarged the combined image, repeating the image randomly with AI imaging technology. I then had the image printed on a textile with the most advanced printing technology(*), designing it in such a way that every item would have a unique pattern, varied by where the textile would get cut. Every uniform will have a different pattern and create a sense of individuality that suggests the rich diversity of each individual as found in the pavilion’s concept.
Various Unique Features
Browsing Goldwin’s archives, I wished to include an Eastern identity in the required details and patterns.
I designed a unique placket for the front of the shirt and included a special feature to guarantee breathability as much as possible, especially as the uniform will be worn in extreme heat. Inspired by the sliding paper doors from traditional Japanese architecture, I aimed for a structure that would take away the divide between the inside and outside of the uniform, with fasteners that can open the sides widely from underneath the sleeves to allow a breeze to pass over the wearer’s body dynamically.
The sleeves can also be rolled up to make the uniform sleeveless, presenting an option of reducing the entire surface area as much as possible. The wearer can adjust the fasteners to create various silhouettes according to their preference. Further, the waist belt was inspired by kimono belts and can be worn at variable heights to change the shape in many ways according to the wearer’s liking or body shape.
*Uses Seiko Epson’s digital textile printer, “Monna Lisa,” and pigment ink. It uses 96% less water than analogue textile printing and contributes to reducing waste by printing only the required amount when needed.
Seiko Epson Corporation website: https://www.epson.jp/products/textile/ (Japanese)
Planned, Developed, and Produced by Goldwin
ARAI Gen, Officer & Managing Director of Goldwin Inc.
Goldwin planned, developed, and produced a uniform suitable for the outdoor pavilion, leveraging the expertise and technology we have cultivated over many years as a sports and outdoor apparel manufacturer. Collaborating with NAKAZATO Yuima, our R&D facility, “Goldwin Tech Lab”, at our Toyama headquarters played a central role in creating a uniform that is comfortable for the attendant staff to wear in terms of design, functionality, and diversity, and that can be worn in a variety of ways to suit each individual’s personality and preferences.
Developing a New Heat-Proof Material
Our R&D facility, “Goldwin Tech Lab”, worked with a material manufacturer focused on the sun-reflecting ratio of fabrics to develop a new textile that protects the wearer from outdoor heat in summer.
Using special technologies New materials with increased UV protection and sunlight reflection rates were perfected for both synthetic fibre shirts and cotton T-shirts. This textile has been adopted for the uniform’s jacket, shirt, and trousers. This new heat-proof material is also environmentally friendly, consisting of 76% recycled ultra full dull yarn made from used plastic bottles collected in Japan.
Developing Environmentally Friendly Textile Graphics with AI and 3D Digital Technology
AI technology was used to develop the textile pattern, and Goldwin Tech Lab’s 3D digital technology was used to develop and verify the size and placement of the graphics.
It is difficult to create seamless printing data for delicate and fine textiles. The boundaries that occur when a pattern is repeated results in an increase in wasted fabric during production. To be more environmentally friendly, we have been developing seamless printing data with AI technology, creating patterns that are boundless. By applying this AI technology to the development of this new textile, we were able to reduce waste. We also applied 3D digital technology and digitally created samples to reduce the effort associated with conventional textile development, as well as sample resources.
Items provided
Cap / Jacket / Shirt / Trousers / Rainwear
Uniform Designer Profile
NAKAZATO Yuima
NAKAZATO was born in 1985 and graduated from the Fashion Department of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Antwerp, in 2008.
In July 2016, he was chosen as one of the Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week’s official guest designers. To this day he is the only Japanese designer to present a collection at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week.
More recently, his retrospective exhibition “BEYOND COUTURE” was held at the Museum of Lace and Fashion, a public museum in Calais, France.
He designs costumes for stage performances, including opera and ballet by the Boston Ballet in the U.S. and the Grand Théâtre de Genève in Switzerland. He is also the founder of the “FASHION FRONTIER PROGRAM” fashion award for the next generation of creators.
Outline of Goldwin Inc.
Goldwin Inc. (Tokyo, President & Representative Director WATANABE Takao)
Goldwin is a lifestyle creative company. Its business is built around monozukuri (the art of making things), kotozukuri (creating values), and Kankyozukuri (creating places and opportunities). Through its involvement in sports and outdoor activities, the company supports humanity in trying new endeavours and opportunities.
While conducting advanced research on materials, techniques, technologies, and the environment on a daily basis, we share the insights and ideas of our brands that have diverse contexts and expertise. This helps us continue to evolve our manufacturing and communications.
From sports to everyday life, we aim to maximise human performance, reduce environmental impact as much as possible, and enrich the natural world where people play and live.
Corporate Web Site: https://about.goldwin.co.jp/eng/about/business
[List of Sponsoring Companies for Better Co-Being]
◇ Gold Partners: OBAYASHI CORPORATION, Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
◇ Silver Partners: Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN
◇ Bronze Partners: AstraZeneca K.K., TOWA PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD. , TOPPAN Holdings Inc.
◇ Partners: Alexion Pharma GK
◇ Suppliers: Goldwin Inc., LED TOKYO Co., Ltd.
Better Co-Being Website: https://co-being.jp/expo2025/en/