Tohoku-born "SASHIKO GALS" and "1 Hotel Tokyo" Collaboration! Sashiko Sneakers to be Exhibited and Available for Limited Pre-order Sale from April 2 (Thursday)

Every year, April 22nd is "Earth Day," a day to think about the global environment, and April is designated as "Earth Month." 1 Hotel Tokyo (read: One Hotel Tokyo, location: Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, General Manager: Masahito Kominami), a sustainable luxury hotel from the US that opened in Akasaka, Tokyo in March 2026, announces a collaboration with "SASHIKO GALS," a group of artisans from Iwate Prefecture.

This collaboration has produced original sneakers that embody the shared philosophy of "sustainability" between both parties. From Thursday, April 2, 2026, a special six-month exhibition will be held on the 38th-floor lobby, along with a limited lottery sale of 10 pairs, and workshops where participants can learn directly from the artisans.

"SASHIKO GALS" originated from the "Otsuchi Sashiko Project," which began as a reconstruction support effort after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, and is composed of women in their 40s to 80s living in Otsuchi Town, Iwate Prefecture. Their activities, which breathe new life into disused clothing and sneakers using "sashiko," a traditional technique from Tohoku, are highly regarded in both domestic and international fashion and art scenes as a symbol of sustainable craftsmanship.

On the other hand, "1 Hotel Tokyo" has a mission of "coexistence with nature" and incorporates the ideas of reuse and upcycling into its design and experiences. Both parties deeply resonate with the values that do not depend on mass production and mass consumption, and the philosophy of "cherishing and using things for a long time," leading to the realization of this collaboration.

The original sneakers created for this project are designed with a "forest" theme inspired by nature. The base uses "New Balance 993" in gray, adorned with the original sashiko pattern symbolizing SASHIKO GALS. Each pair is a unique art piece, meticulously hand-stitched by artisans over 40 hours.

From Thursday, April 2, 2026, this work will be exhibited at 1 Hotel Tokyo for six months. The exhibition will feature one pair of original sneakers, along with a total of three sashiko sneakers that embody the world of SASHIKO GALS. You can view them in the hotel's sophisticated space, accompanied by special wooden displays that evoke a sense of Japanese warmth. Additionally, workshops where participants can learn sashiko directly from members of SASHIKO GALS are scheduled to be held on Friday, May 22nd and Saturday, May 23rd.

https://www.1hotels.com/ja/tokyo/do/events/sashiko-gals-x-1-hotel-tokyo-exhibition

■ About 1 Hotel Tokyo × SASHIKO GALS Limited Edition Sneakers

These collaboration items will be available for limited pre-order sale as follows:

・Original sneakers: 5 pairs
・Sneakers + wooden display stand set: 5 sets

This product includes customization where the "1 Hotel Tokyo" logo and the customer's desired name (up to 5 alphanumeric characters) are embroidered with sashiko on the shoe tongue.

Price: Sneakers: 550,000 yen (tax included) / Sneakers + display set: 3,850,000 yen (tax included)

Lottery Application Conditions・Must be subscribed to the 1 Hotels newsletter.

・Must reside in Japan.

Application Method

・Please apply from the following page:

https://www.1hotels.com/ja/tokyo/do/events/sashiko-gals-original-sneakers-limited-release

Application Deadline: Thursday, April 30, 2026, 18:00

※Only winners will be contacted by 1 Hotel Tokyo via email.

※Inquiries by phone are not accepted.

※Sizes can be specified (up to 25.0, 25.5, 26.0, 26.5, 27.0, 27.5, 28.0, 28.5, 29.0).

※As these are made-to-order, delivery will be approximately 6-8 months later. ※No online sales.

■ Special Workshop by SASHIKO GALS

On May 22nd and 23rd, 2026, a special workshop will be held where participants can learn sashiko directly from members of SASHIKO GALS. All participants will receive an original 1 Hotels tote bag and can enjoy the experience of embroidering sashiko.

Overview and Participation Conditions
・Participation fee: Free

・Must be a member of the 1 Hotels loyalty program "Mission Membership"
・Held twice each day (Part 1 from 10:30 AM, Part 2 from 2:00 PM, approximately 90 minutes each)

・Workshop application page (Please log in as a Mission member): https://www.1hotels.com/ja/tokyo/offers/sashiko-gals-workshop

"Mission Membership" application page: https://www.1hotels.com/ja/member

■ SASHIKO GALS
A group of sashiko artisans based in Otsuchi Town, Iwate Prefecture. Originating from the "Otsuchi Sashiko Project" which began after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, the group is primarily composed of women living in the region.

Their upcycling initiatives, which give new value to old clothes and sneakers using the traditional Tohoku technique of "sashiko," are highly praised both domestically and internationally as sustainable craftsmanship. Each piece, created by hand, combines practicality and artistry, attracting attention as an entity that transcends the realms of fashion and art.

Discover a New Tokyo at 1 Hotel Tokyo

1 Hotel Tokyo is born as a "sanctuary in the sky," located on the 38th to 43rd floors of Akasaka Trust Tower, offering panoramic views of the Imperial Palace Outer Garden, Tokyo Tower, and the city skyline. Through designs that feature nature, innovative dining, wellness experiences, and the philosophy of sustainable luxury, it brings a new hospitality experience to Tokyo.

The hotel was realized through a collaboration between 1 Hotels and Mori Trust Co., Ltd., a leading real estate developer in Japan, and will be a central presence in "Tokyo World Gate Akasaka," a next-generation large-scale mixed-use development where offices, commercial facilities, and cultural facilities merge in a pedestrian-centric environment. Akasaka, which places guests at the heart of Tokyo's culture and business vibrancy, is an ideal base for exploring the charms of Tokyo. While offering smooth access to major areas such as Ginza, Roppongi, and Shibuya, nearby parks, shrines, and embassies highlight the unique individuality of this city, which combines an international face with local charm.

In Japan, a philosophy of living in harmony with nature has been deeply rooted since ancient times, with craftsmanship, the concept of "knowing contentment," and respect for materials woven into daily life. With 211 rooms, 1 Hotel Tokyo is designed as a tranquil retreat that connects guests with nature through sustainable materials, carefully selected plantings, and handcrafted details, resonating with this sensibility and nature.

Experience a stay that discovers Tokyo from a new perspective at 1 Hotel Tokyo. For more details, please visit 1hotels.com/tokyo.

■ 1 Hotel Tokyo Overview

Location

■ About 1 Hotels
1 Hotels is a "mission-driven luxury lifestyle hotel brand inspired by nature," pursuing the fusion of sustainable design and architecture, exceptional comfort, and unparalleled hospitality. The brand's origin lies in the simple idea that "those who travel the world should cherish that world," as there is only one world we inhabit.

1 Hotels opened its first two hotels in Miami South Beach, Florida, and Manhattan Central Park, New York, in 2015. Subsequently, it expanded to Brooklyn, New York (along the East River) in 2017, West Hollywood, California (along Sunset Boulevard) in 2019, Toronto (Canada) in 2021, and San Francisco, California, and Nashville, Tennessee, in 2022. In 2023, the brand's flagship hotel opened in Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii, and its first European location opened in Mayfair, London, UK. In 2025, new hotels also opened in Seattle, Melbourne (Australia, first entry into Oceania), and Copenhagen (Denmark, first entry into Northern Europe).

Preparations for new openings are currently underway in the following cities:
Cabo San Lucas (Mexico), Paris (France), Elounda Hills (Crete), Austin (Texas, USA), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), San Miguel de Allende (Mexico)

Some facilities have also received the prestigious MICHELIN Key certification, a global hospitality evaluation index. For more details, please visit 1hotels.com.

■ About Mori Trust Co., Ltd.　https://www.mori-trust.co.jp/

Mori Trust Co., Ltd. is a comprehensive real estate developer engaged in large-scale mixed-use developments in urban areas of Japan and hotel & resort businesses nationwide. With "real estate business," "hotel & resort business," and "investment business (domestic and overseas)" as its three main pillars, the company operates 52 buildings, residences, and commercial facilities (as of March 2025) and 36 hotels and resort facilities (as of January 2026) both domestically and internationally.

The company will promote businesses that enhance Japan's international competitiveness through urban development and hotel development that preserves and utilizes historical buildings as tourism resources.

1 Hotel Tokyo Inquiry Form for Media, etc.　https://1hoteltokyo-pr.com-mix.jp/