Vautraille FA: How to Convey Brand Appeal? Gen Z Students Propose Solutions to Premium Denim Brand "YANUK" Utilizing AI Data Analysis

The Brand Management Department of Vautraille Fashion Academy (hereinafter "Vautraille," Osaka Bunka Fashion College, Chairman: Akihito Toyoda, Location: Mikunihonmachi, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka), which trains designers and fashion professionals, proposed solutions to the premium denim brand "YANUK" (developed by Kaitac International Co., Ltd.) for improving SNS operations, e-commerce strategy, and visual measures utilizing AI trend analysis tools. This is a practical education program that applies data analysis and hypothesis testing skills, cultivated through the collaborative curriculum "AI Business Utilization" with Newrope Co., Ltd. (hereinafter "Newrope"), a company specializing in fashion AI, to actual corporate challenges. ■ Project Overview Project Name: "AI Business Utilization" Practical Project Target Brand: YANUK Participating Students: 2nd-year students of the Brand Management Department Project Period: Approximately 2 months (research, planning, presentation material creation) Final Presentation Date: January 29, 2026 Instructor: Satoshi Sakai (Representative Director & CEO, Newrope) ■ Project Background and Objectives The department is the only fashion vocational school (※1) to introduce the "AI Business Utilization" curriculum (※2), which uses "#CBK forecast," an AI trend analysis tool specialized in fashion. By repeatedly formulating hypotheses based on data collected from ZOZO and Instagram and quantitatively verifying them, the curriculum aims to develop planning and proposal skills that are data-driven, not solely reliant on intuition. This project is positioned as an applied practical exercise. During the class, Mr. Yuji Matsumoto of Kaitac Holdings Co., Ltd. (hereinafter "Kaitac Holdings") shared YANUK's brand concept, customer profile, and management challenges. The presented theme was how to gain recognition among younger generations, i.e., how to reach potential future customer segments. Students then spent approximately two months researching, planning, and creating proposal materials based on their knowledge of AI data analysis. ※1 Independent research. As of April 1, 2026. ※2 Related link: "AI Business Utilization" Curriculum ■ Proposal Content Students proposed specific measures from the following perspectives, comparing YANUK's brand assets with Gen Z's purchasing behavior data: ・SNS operation improvement: Content strategy and posting design based on Gen Z's unique information contact patterns. ・E-commerce improvement: Site navigation and communication measures to improve purchase rates and brand loyalty. ・Visual measures: Directional proposals for visual expressions to enhance appeal to the target audience. ■ Feedback from Kaitac Holdings Mr. Masatoshi Kaga and Mr. Yuji Matsumoto of Kaitac Holdings, who judged and commented on the final presentation, provided specific feedback relevant to actual brand operations, such as the prerequisite balance of not only optimizing for Gen Z but also continuing to meet the needs of existing customers. For the students, it was a practical opportunity to directly experience how data-driven proposals are evaluated in a business setting. ■ Comment from Instructor: Satoshi Sakai (CEO, Newrope) Many business and marketing theories learned in school are useful. However, learning theory alone often doesn't fully resonate. Experiencing contact with real society and the process of testing theories changes the quality of subsequent classroom learning. We believe it is crucial to continue designing opportunities for industry-academia collaboration in the future. ■ Curriculum Support Company / Newrope Co., Ltd. Develops "#CBK scnnr," an AI specialized in fashion. Based on image recognition technology that can determine 600 types of features such as category, color, pattern, material, length, and detail, it provides technologies for e-commerce personalization, styling proposals, trend analysis, and demand forecasting to brands, retailers, media, trading companies, etc., as a fashion tech startup. Representative: Satoshi Sakai, Representative Director URL: https://www.newrope.biz/ ■ About the Brand Management Department This is a 3-year business-oriented department aimed at fostering leaders and entrepreneurs active in the fashion industry. In the second year, students specialize in either the "Shop Development Course" or the "Producer Course," enhancing their planning, operational, and marketing skills. They also participate in workshop-style overseas training at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York) in the U.S., gaining an international perspective on fashion business from the faculty.