Misaki TANAKA

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.