Solit
/Show Day
Apr 23, Tuesday
/Social Media
SOLIT! is born as a solution to the discomfort we have felt in fashion. Size diversity is a given, making it easy for people with disabilities to dress and undress, avoiding the unease of body shaming, and allowing gender blending according to the expression of one's sexuality. Designed based on the thoughts of each individual, for whom the conventional mechanisms and shapes offered limited choices. Drawing on research data woven by professionals in ergonomics, humanities, healthcare, and designers, alongside insights from social minorities, SOLIT is crafted to realize "wear what diverse people want to wear."
What may seem like ordinary buttons are magnets, enabling wear without the need to use fingers, and jackets are designed to be worn by those with limited range of motion. By allowing size adjustment for each part of the body, SOLIT enables people with diverse body types to find clothing that suits them.
Born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, Misaki TANAKA continued her activities as a social entrepreneur and activist in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake. She visited various disaster affected areas, fashion disposal sites, and slums, continuously analyzing social issues and considering how they could be addressed through design. Subsequently, she obtained a master’s degree in liberal arts and business administration from graduate school.
In September 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, she launched her brand with a team gathered online and raised funds through crowdfunding, commencing sales the following year. Her design methodology earned her the prestigious GOLD award at the German "iF DESIGN AWARD" and a BRONZE award at the Italian "A' DESIGN AWARD." In the latter, she was ranked third globally in the "Social Design" category as a brand designer. Additionally, she clinched victory at the "Fashion Values" global fashion competition developed by London College of Fashion, Kering, IBM, and Vogue Business.
The 10 minutes of the show, in all its films, sounds, people walking, and their clothes, represent the ordinary scenes of everyday life in Tokyo, from morning to night. The clothes are not extraordinary, but an extension of everyday life.
The music played at the show was created from 'sounds' collected from the streets of Shibuya, Tokyo, and from everyday sounds. And the films projected on the screen are also a collection of scenes from the city we live in every day. The hair and make-up is not about changing the models into something they are not, but about supporting each model to become the person they want to be. Each model is a person with some kind of difficulty in understanding, and each piece of clothing they wear symbolizes the thoughts and feelings of each person who lives in uncertainty.
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What inspired you to create SOLIT!?
Misaki Tanaka created SOLIT after realizing that many people have limited fashion choices because of body shape, disability, age, sexuality, faith, culture, and other factors. She wanted fashion to support individual expression without leaving people or the environment behind.
How would you describe your design style?
SOLIT uses an all inclusive design approach that responds to different bodies, abilities, and identities. Adjustable sizing and accessible details allow each garment to adapt to individual needs while also considering environmental impact.
What can people expect from your Vancouver Fashion Week collection?
The FW24 presentation expresses SOLIT’s vision of a world where diverse forms of self expression are simply normal. The runway was developed collaboratively with people of different bodies, disabilities, sexualities, nationalities, faiths, ages, and experiences.
How do adjustable features make your clothing more inclusive?
Individual parts of the garments can be adjusted to accommodate different body shapes and preferences. This flexibility gives wearers greater choice in how clothing fits their bodies rather than requiring them to fit standardized sizing.
How do accessible details make the garments easier to wear?
Features such as magnetic buttons reduce the need for finger movement, while some jackets accommodate people with a limited range of motion. These details are developed around different users’ actual dressing needs.