Thoughts from Those Supporting the Initiative

The clothing entrusted to us by customers is valuable, and that’s why I and other employees actually travel to the sites and confirm the garments are delivered to those who really need them. During my visit to a refugee camp in Ethiopia, I witnessed young women having a good time choosing their clothes, telling each other, “I like this color,” and, “This is the right color for you.” This made me realize that clothing, in its own small way, enriches the lives of people in the closed confines of a refugee camp. With deep appreciation for the awareness I gained from direct experience, I intend to continue promoting this project for years to come.

We at the UNHCR are now working to change people’s perceptions of refugees and refugee camps. UNIQLO’s All-Product Recycling Initiative enriches the daily lives of refugees and affords a means of self-expression through provision of clothing, an area of support that is difficult for international institutions to address. I also think the concept of reusing clothes to benefit someone else is really like passing on clothes to someone in your family. I think this is definitely different in that it’s not formal attire for conducting diplomacy or fatigues for digging wells, but it is refugee relief in the form of casual clothing. The positive, fashionable image created by UNIQLO means a lot in support. We are counting on them to continue this good work in the future.

My father was a political refugee from Myanmar, and so I left my homeland and came to Japan when I was eight years old. I’m now a fashion designer, and I take part in UNHCR refugee support programs. Although water and food are important to refugees, clothes are also valuable in terms of protecting the body with a sense of human dignity, enabling self-expression and enriching the spirit. I used to hide the fact that I was once a refugee, but now I tell people about my national origin in the hope that more people will develop an interest in refugee issues.