From Orchard to Wardrobe: Japanese Brand ‘rrrrrrrrr’ Transforms Mandarin Waste into Chic Sustainable Sweatshirts

From Orchard to Wardrobe: Japanese Brand ‘rrrrrrrrr’ Transforms Mandarin Waste into Chic Sustainable Sweatshirts

Unveiling the latest “Mandarin Sweatshirt” born from a circular co-creation project, giving new life to fruit peels and pruned branches.

Fukuoka-based sustainable fashion brand rrrrrrrrr (Nine R) is set to launch a groundbreaking new product: the “Mandarin Sweatshirt.” This innovative garment, dyed using the otherwise discarded peels and pruned branches of mandarin oranges, will be available on the brand’s online store from January 8, 2026 (Thursday). Ahead of the official launch, an Instagram giveaway campaign for the Mandarin Sweatshirt (M size) will begin on December 28, 2025 (Sunday), offering participants a chance to win this unique item.

A New Life for Fruit Waste Through “hatake –LIFE COLOR-®”

This initiative is a key part of rrrrrrrrr’s “hatake –LIFE COLOR-®” project, a circular co-creation effort that brings together businesses, farmers, and consumers. The project’s core idea is to purchase inedible parts of fruits and vegetables, transforming them into natural dyes for textiles. By directly collaborating with Japanese farmers, the aim is to create “a garment that cannot be easily discarded,” fostering a deeper appreciation for textile value.

“hatake –LIFE COLOR-®” employs a hybrid dyeing method, blending natural dyes extracted from agricultural waste with appropriate chemical dyes. This approach addresses the challenges of reproducibility and colorfastness often associated with traditional plant dyeing, making it suitable for industrial application. After the dye extraction, the leftover dregs are not wasted; instead, they are composted under the supervision of agricultural high schools and returned to the fields, nurturing future crops.

rrrrrrrrr’s Mission: Sustainable Fashion Beyond Trends

rrrrrrrrr (Nine R) operates with a mission to “eliminate the superiority and inferiority created by fashion.” The brand offers timeless clothing designed to be functional for anyone, anywhere, at any time, prioritizing sustainability over fleeting trends. The brand is guided by its nine core values, the “9 R’s”: Refined, Real, Rational, Reset, Radical, React, and crucially, Recycle.

In a refreshing departure from the conventional fashion industry where product value often declines after new releases, rrrrrrrrr implements an early bird discount system to uphold the value of its garments. The brand also primarily utilizes a made-to-order production system to minimize inventory, proposing a sustainable manufacturing model for Japan’s apparel sector. This latest endeavor embodies the values of Recycle (“returning resources for reuse”), Refined (“using sophisticated materials”), and Real (“conveying authenticity”).

The “Mandarin Sweatshirt”: A Third Chapter in Circular Fashion

This marks the third installment of the “hatake –LIFE COLOR-®” project. Following the first series, which utilized melon peels from Yokoyama Farm for sweatshirts and skirts, and the second, which incorporated pruned peach branches from Osawa Orchard for similar garments, this new release features mandarin orange peels and pruned branches from Marumo Farm.

The “Mandarin Sweatshirt” boasts a distinctive design, including stylish voluminous sleeves. The mandarins themselves, shown ripe on the trees at Marumo Farm, provide the natural essence for the dye, with the peels being a key component in the dyeing process.

For a closer look at the operations at Marumo Farm and the mandarin project, a video is available:
https://youtu.be/ftBlqL49QWk?si=ic61788I4N5BllFh

Engage and Look Forward

The “Mandarin Sweatshirt” is set to launch on January 8, 2026 (Thursday). Prior to this, a special giveaway campaign will be held on rrrrrrrrr’s official Instagram from December 28, 2025 (Sunday), offering participants the chance to win an M-sized Mandarin Sweatshirt. Further details can be found on the official Instagram page.

• Product Page: https://rrrrrrrrr.jp/c/tops/RTP250905

• Official Website: https://rrrrrrrrr.jp/

• Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rrrrrrrrr__jp/

rrrrrrrrr aims to deepen its collaborations with domestic sewing factories and fabric manufacturers, aspiring to pass on valuable techniques and cultural heritage to future generations. Under the guiding concept of “Clothes that create my future and the future,” the brand continues to cultivate a comfortable and beneficial cycle for wearers, creators, and society. This thoughtful approach to fashion, blending aesthetics with ethical production, offers a fresh perspective on what “Kawaii culture” can encompass globally, moving beyond mere cuteness to embrace a mindful and beautiful lifestyle.