Arc'teryx Tokyo Creation Center × Bunka Gakuen Collaboration Project 2026 'JOURNEY' Results Publicly Revealed: Bunka Fashion College Students Win Top Awards

Arc'teryx Tokyo Creation Center (TCC) design team and participating Bunka Gakuen students

Arc'teryx and Bunka Gakuen's three institutions—Bunka Fashion College, Bunka Gakuen University, and Bunka Fashion Graduate University—collaborated on the academic-industry partnership project 'JOURNEY' from February 2026 for approximately two and a half months. As the culmination of this initiative, an exhibition showcasing the students' works was held at the main lobby of Bunka Gakuen (Shinjuku) and remained open to visitors until May 25 (Monday). Prior to this, an awards ceremony was held on May 20 (Wednesday), where the top prize and other awards were announced.

Project Background and Objectives

This initiative is the second phase following the 'Project 2025' launched alongside the opening of the Arc'teryx Tokyo Creation Center (hereinafter TCC). A total of 14 selected students participated—11 from Bunka Fashion College, 2 from Bunka Gakuen University, and 1 from Bunka Fashion Graduate University.

This year's theme was 'Journey.' Students explored concepts such as 'protecting the body,' 'movement,' 'evolution,' and 'transformation,' using high-performance textiles provided by Arc'teryx. Over the course of approximately ten weeks, they created original works that fused conceptual thinking with technical approaches, while maintaining a sustainable perspective on material usage.

A Rare 'Dialogue and Iteration' Process in the Industry

The most distinctive feature of this project is its 'dialogue and iterative development process,' which differs from one-off corporate-sponsored initiatives. Students maintained continuous communication with the TCC design team, refining their works through mid-term critiques, reviews, and a final presentation—mirroring real-world product development. Receiving ongoing feedback from a global brand's frontline team is an exceptionally rare opportunity in today's fashion education landscape.

Students receiving continuous feedback from professionals through mid-term critiques and reviews

Oleg Mitrofanov, former lecturer at Central Saint Martins, also joined as an external mentor. From a cross-disciplinary perspective bridging experimental design education and practical development processes, he supported interactions between students and the Arc'teryx team.

Final presentation: Students presenting their works to the Arc'teryx design team (April 20, 2026)

Furthermore, a key strength of this collaboration was the fusion of diverse backgrounds and specializations among students from Bunka Gakuen's three institutions. The coexistence of wide-ranging approaches—from conceptual ideas to advanced technical expressions—created strong synergy with Arc'teryx's core values of innovation, functionality, and problem-solving design.

Award Winners

1st Place: Kentaro Kawamura (Bunka Fashion College)

2nd Place: Rui Azuma (Bunka Fashion College)

3rd Place: Ko Otsukawa (Bunka Fashion College)

Special Award: Outstanding Functionality – Yuma Kii (Bunka Fashion College)

Special Award: Exceptional Aesthetic Expression – Jin-Kyu Jeong (Bunka Fashion College)

Special Award: Outstanding Authenticity – Nao Hirozawa (Bunka Fashion Graduate University)

Statements from Key Figures

Howard Richter (Vice President, Arc'teryx Tokyo Creation Center)

'Having collaborated with design schools worldwide, the partnership with Bunka Gakuen stands out as one of the most exceptional academic collaborations I have experienced. From the initial briefing to students through to the final presentation, the Bunka team demonstrated consistent passion, focus, and a strong sense of responsibility in supporting the entire creative process and all stakeholders.

The students were also outstanding, achieving remarkable results with exceptional dedication in just eight weeks. The educational environment at Bunka, where diverse talents coexist—from conceptually driven students to technically skilled practitioners—was particularly inspiring for Arc’teryx, a brand that values performance. This diversity was not only crucial to the project’s success but also a major source of inspiration.

Beyond the students’ achievements, this collaboration provided meaningful learning and insights for our own team. We look forward to continuing this partnership and tackling new challenges together.'

Kentaro Kawamura (1st Place Winner, Bunka Fashion College)

'Receiving continuous feedback from professionals throughout the creation process was the most valuable experience of this project.'

Photo from the awards ceremony held on May 20 (Wednesday). Howard Richter, Vice President of TCC, is on the left.

Exhibition Overview (Exhibition has ended)

• Exhibition Title: Arc'teryx Tokyo Creation Center × Bunka Gakuen Collaboration Project 2026 'JOURNEY' Student Works Exhibition

• Dates: May 14 (Thursday), 2026 – May 25 (Monday), 2026

• Venue: Main Lobby, Bunka Gakuen Campus (Shinjuku, Tokyo)

• Admission: Free

• Open to the public

This project was coordinated by the Bunka Gakuen International Exchange Center, serving as a meaningful, practical, and ongoing learning platform that bridges education and industry for both parties.

Looking Ahead

The outcomes of 'JOURNEY 2026' embody the shared belief of Arc'teryx and Bunka Gakuen—that true creative education exists through sustained engagement with industry. Both parties aim to build upon the foundation established in this project and advance toward future collaborations.

About Arc'teryx

Arc'teryx is a brand based in the Coast Mountains of Canada. Through a design process deeply connected to real-world field conditions, it develops products with exceptional durability and unmatched performance. Its products are available at over 3,000 retail locations worldwide. Continuously evolving, Arc'teryx pursues minimal, refined designs centered on problem-solving. Creating essential designs that improve people's lives—that is the philosophy of Arc'teryx. Arc'teryx is part of the Amer Sports group, a global sports and outdoor brand company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

WEB: https://arcteryx.jp/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcteryx_jp/

About Bunka Gakuen International Exchange Center

Bunka Gakuen is a leading Japanese fashion education institution comprising Bunka Fashion College, Bunka Gakuen University, Bunka Fashion Graduate University, and Bunka Foreign Language College. With over 100 years