[WWDJAPAN Latest Issue] HOSOO Feature: Creating the Future Industry from Silk and Hemp, the Foundation of Japanese Culture

HOSOO, advocating 'More than Textile,' is expanding the possibilities of textiles and pursuing the beauty of Nishijin weaving that people have never seen before. During this exploration, the company encountered garments from the Edo period woven from silk and hemp. Aiming to reproduce—and even surpass—their quality in the modern era, HOSOO is working from the ground up, using native Japanese species for both silk and hemp in raw material production. Collaborating with the Sony Computer Science Laboratory, researchers, companies, and artisans, HOSOO has built a co-creation framework. By leveraging cutting-edge scientific technologies such as AI and robotics, the company achieves artisanal craftsmanship that brings out the inherent character of materials, striving to present Japan’s unique and diverse beauty to the world.

This special feature uncovers the potential of Japan’s remaining genetic resources and native species, technical highlights, challenges toward realization, and the envisioned future, through interviews with experts publicly announced to participate in the silk and hemp projects. Furthermore, a long-form interview with Mai Takahashi, the 12th-generation president, delves into his philosophy and vision.

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Silk has a long history, with plain-woven silk textiles unearthed from Yayoi period ruins. Hemp’s history is even older, having supported Japanese life since the Jomon period. Historically, silk was called 'Nigitae' and hemp 'Arahae,' passed down as foundational materials of Japanese culture.

HOSOO is reinterpreting this history and culture as capital for creating the future, challenging itself to create new industries. This approach represents one answer to the universal question of how history and culture can be leveraged for future industries, and how people, nature, and technology can be reconnected.

This special feature does not merely introduce the inheritance of traditional crafts. It aims to provide a new perspective for those across all fields who are striving to create future value beyond the realm of craft.

The cover was shot by photographer Chikashi Suzuki. The location, 'Orinasu,' is a space that reinterprets the traditional tea room by replacing shoji and fusuma with 'Shoji Fabric,' a textile co-created by HOSOO and Dutch textile designer Mae Engelgeer. Selected as a place symbolizing President Hosoo’s philosophy, it was chosen for the cover.

Amazon strengthens presence in European beauty e-commerce market

From overseas, a report on the European beauty e-commerce market. While emerging players such as 'TikTok Shop,' 'Joybuy' under China’s JD.com, Spain’s 'Primor,' and France’s 'Aromazone' are rapidly growing, where does Amazon’s strength lie in maintaining its top sales position across eight major European countries? We also bring you coverage of the wedding of singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and American football player Travis Kelce, held on July 3 (local time). Taylor, who chose a DIOR dress, became a celebrity wearing the first haute couture wedding gown by Jonathan Anderson, Artistic Director. WWD US also features rare design sketches requested from multiple brands under the theme 'What if she had chosen another designer?'

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CONTENTS

FEATURE

・HOSOO: Weaving the Future with History as Capital

FOCUS

・Emerging players like 'TikTok Shop' shake up the market—Amazon solidifies its lead in the European beauty e-commerce market

・Celebrities gather at Taylor Swift’s wedding

SERIES

・Exploring Japan’s 47 prefectures with Makuake: Vol. 21 3D Embroidered Stool

・OVERSEAS NEWS: Translated articles from WWD US: Nike’s fiscal year ending May 2026 nearly flat—strong performance in North America and wholesale offset by weakness in China, among others

・Beauty Insight: Beauty experts share their views: Vol. 253 Two 'beauty experiences' side by side in Ikebukuro (Mizho Yumiita / President, YUJET, Beauty Coordinator)

This week’s eye: [Miu Miu Beauty] hosts a pop-up at Roppongi Hills, among others

EDITORS’ LETTER

・'AI is comparable to the Renaissance'—Reflecting on L'Oréal’s prediction (Kaname Murakami / Editor-in-Chief)

EDITORIAL NOTE

・Editor’s Postscript: This week’s special feature delivery team: The philosophy of HOSOO, weaving the future (Yuko Hirota / Contributing Editor, Yukiko Minai / Editorial Production Manager)

FASHION & BEAUTY PATROL

・The era of wearing 'Daisakkaie'—The inside story of the Sadako Kosugi T-shirt, how you wear it is up to you

(COVER CREDIT) PHOTOS & DIRECTION: CHIKASHI SUZUKI MODEL: YUKITO HIDAKA STYLING: HOSOO SALON HAIR & MAKEUP: MIINA TATSUTOMI BRAND: HOSOO SALON DESIGN: SUGURU NAGAHASHI

About WWDJAPAN

WWDJAPAN, the Japanese edition of 'WWD (Women’s Wear Daily)' founded in 1910 by Fairchild in the US, is a fashion industry specialist publication packed with business and trend news from the fashion and beauty industries, interviews with industry professionals, and more. Additionally, the web version of the weekly magazine 'WWDJAPAN Weekly,' 'WWDJAPAN Digital,' delivers high-sensitivity content not only on fashion and beauty news from Japan and abroad, but also on collection looks, party and street snaps, art, media, and lifestyle information, resonating with consumers deeply interested in fashion and beauty.

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