GREEN×EXPO 2027 (International Horticultural Exposition 2027) Industry-Academia Collaboration Uniform Design Project

Daiichi Co., Ltd. (Head office: Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture; Representative Director and President: Kozue Hanmoto) was responsible for the overall supervision of the VIP attendant staff uniforms for "GREEN×EXPO 2027," organized by The Association for the 2027 International Horticultural Exposition.

These uniforms were created by launching an industry-academia collaboration uniform design project, with designs contributed by students studying design at Iwasaki Gakuen Educational Foundation (Kanagawa Ward, Yokohama City), which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2027. We contributed to the realization of uniforms that combine design, practicality, and sustainability by performing specification design and functionality adjustments with actual operation in mind, and optimizing for mass production.

The designs produced will be commercialized by Toray Industries, Inc. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo) and will be worn by VIP attendant staff at GREEN×EXPO 2027, which opens on March 19, 2027, to welcome domestic and international guests.

■ Design Concept (from the "Design Sheet" by the designing students)

- "Muscari and Wa" ~A Bright Future~

To symbolize the theme of GREEN×EXPO 2027, "Landscapes of Tomorrow that Create Happiness," we chose the flower "Muscari." Its flower language is "Bright Future." Muscari, announcing spring, evokes hope and gently encourages a positive step towards the future.

Furthermore, the spirit of "Wa" (Japanese harmony/spirit), which is our origin, means living in harmony with nature and with people, and is an essential and valuable concept for building a "happy landscape."

"Muscari and Wa." We designed this by layering these two concepts, wishing for a connection to a bright and peaceful future.

■ Main Items (from the "Design Sheet" by the designing students)

- Jacket

Inspired by the muscari flower, the jacket features a noble purple base suitable for VIP attendant staff. The collar and cuff areas are designed to resemble a kimono.

- Trousers

Similar to the jacket, the trousers also feature a noble purple base, inspired by the muscari flower, suitable for VIP attendant staff. They are designed to suit both men and women, with a slightly wide shape for ease of movement, and simple pockets that do not interfere with the design.

- Shirt

Inspired by traditional Japanese clothing, the shirt features overlapping collar design, added elegance with a belt, and three-quarter sleeves for easy temperature adjustment.

- Hat

Designed to look like a flower when viewed from above. It expresses the vibrant and energetic GREEN×EXPO 2027, full of life like spring at all times, and the desire to deliver new landscapes and hope to everyone.

■ Role of Daiichi Co., Ltd. in Practical Implementation and Overall Supervision

In this project, Daiichi Co., Ltd. is responsible for the overall supervision, elevating the students' ideas into "uniforms that can be practically operated."

While respecting the students' design concepts, we conducted specification design and functionality adjustments assuming actual wearing scenarios, and optimized quality for mass production. We held repeated meetings with the students until the final selection was made, considering the following details:

- Material selection
- Adjustment considering hot and humid environments
- Verification of ease of movement
- Confirmation of ease of donning/doffing and maintainability
- Design of specifications and patterns

Furthermore, in the final selection, Daiichi provided supplementary explanations considering implementation and mass production, and determined the direction of the final specifications through discussions with the judges. These uniforms will be the "face" of GREEN×EXPO 2027, welcoming domestic and international guests.

Daiichi has contributed to this project by utilizing its accumulated expertise in uniform manufacturing.

■ Comments from the Designing Students

We designed these uniforms so that VIP attendant staff can wear them with pride, confidence, and familiarity, and so that visitors can enjoy GREEN×EXPO 2027. We are very pleased to have been given this honorable opportunity.

From left: Fujita-san, Ogasawara-san, Morimoto-san (Iwasaki Gakuen Educational Foundation, Yokohama f College, Fashion Life Design Department)

■ Initiatives for Uniform Resource Circulation

The significance of holding GREEN×EXPO 2027 is to propose the creation of a sustainable and happiness-enhancing society coexisting with nature through interaction with flowers and greenery.

These uniforms use materials made from partially plant-derived polyester fiber provided by Toray Industries, Inc. After the exhibition period, used uniforms will be collected, and re-commercialization into flower pots, etc., through material recycling* is being considered.

*Reusing used products as raw materials to create new ones.

Keywords: