The cycora® x Kozaburo debut at NYFW exemplifies a profound take on purposeful design. In this visionary collaboration, key pieces were made from end-of-life clothing that was regenerated into like-new cycora® material. In a fashion landscape dominated by shifting trends, rising designers like Kozaburo are rewriting the rules, elevating sustainability from a footnote to a core pillar of design ethos.
Kozaburo Akasaka is an LVMH special prize winner and CFDA/Vogue fashion fund finalist. His brand, Kozaburo, reflects much of his own life experience and beliefs. Born in Tokyo, Kozaburo spent his childhood studying Buddhism and philosophy before moving to London and then the US to pursue design. His unique experiences are reflected in his body of work - crossing a bridge between the East and the West.
“The sum of many parts, the crystallization of many fragments. Every point is connected by a line.” - Kozaburo Akasaka
Since his early days of design, Kozaburo was inspired by the traditional Japanese weaving technique of Sakiori, where strips of used clothing and textiles are woven into a new fabric.
Look II of the collection featured red pants made from the Sakiori technique paneled with cycora®’s regenerated canvas that was hand-dyed with natural materials. The glorious merging of regenerative techniques from the East and the West brought us the Kozaburo SS2024 collection, a collection that celebrates circularity and reminds us of the vast history of that word.
To open Kozaboro’s debut NYFW show, guests were led into an immersive experience to understand the history of the materials that would be used in his collection. Scenes of the laboratory where cycora is made covered the walls, while guests interacted with the novel process. The installation was a reminder that we exist in the past, present, and future and so do the materials we interact with daily. By reflecting on this, we can mindfully remind ourselves that resources can be used in cycles rather than in lines.
Our team is excited to continue our meaningful work with circular engineer, producer, and designer Kozaburo.
“I wanted to collaborate with cycora® in my SS2024 runway
show since their mission is in harmony with my own story of
Eastern philosophy, also hearing my mother saying that I
should waste nothing. cycora® and my work looks to the future
with a similar lens of recycling and circularity. KOZABURO is
about envisioning a future landscape and collectively, we must
work towards an optimistic future.”
-Kozaburo Akasaka
KOZABURO SS2024 RUNWAY CREDITS
Show Production/Direction/Show Caller: @othersideofthebrand @struckbymusic @theothersideofthebrain
Venue: @zerospace
ZeroSpace Production, Backstage Manager: Joe Famularo @zerospace
Runway Scenic Design Lead & Production: @kevinpeterhe
Creative Technical Lead: William “Zoe” Fitzgerald
Runway Scenic Design: @riceclubz
ZeroSpace Technical Director: @change.is
Video Crew Lead: hailhanzo
Camera Operator: Steven Bartashev
Runway & Front Row Photography: @lifeinreverie Selwyn Tungol
Backstage Photograph: @joshcroll_ @yoshikimrt
PR: @giakuanconsulting @giakuan @__fionaluo
Drummers: @lastlizard808 @gdfx
Hair: @evaniefrausto x @cutlersalon
Make Up: @bymarcellocosta & Team
Casting Director: @jonnybuckley
Casting Coordinator: @johntanstyling
Stylist: @huibenshop @eddie.3dm @yamakiiori
Collection Team: @kyleisanpc @hannah__wu @kabikooo @staywiththatdrama @estherpark03 @b.liew @derek.yu @jnllcx @masayamiyazaki @naohiro_tom
Graphic & Print Design: @tomowadachi
Soft Sculpture: @w.luuuu @cannedjunk
Silver Accessories: @kotaokuda @jes.sh @jewelry_hands_gosho
Eyewear: 82design
Natural Color: @khrystyna_f
Shoes: @asics_sportstyle
Collection Note: @kiwamu_sekiguchi
Photographer: @cutakesphotos
special thanks to @cfda
