Chiang Mai province in Thailand, Photo by PORNSAK   

Chiang Mai province in Thailand, Photo by PORNSAK 

Our Sustainable Direction

Well before starting the KIMONO REBORN project, sustainability has been our primary objective. We are initially a video production company with sustainability a key factor in our documentary features.

The destruction of nature and biodiversity is a huge concern of our work. I often visit a beautiful wetland near my home of 16 years in Chiang Mai where various migratory birds stop on their journeys. It is so painful to see so much waste, discarded plastic bottles and bags, masks and clothing, littering this beautiful environment. Thailand is the one of the world’s worst countries for mismanaged plastic waste.

This common practice of just discarding all that we no longer need is so true with clothing. Although I was not so familiar with the custom and history of the kimono, when I recently saw many kimono in a second-hand shop in Chiang Mai, I felt that they should be used somehow, upcycled in some way. I began my research for the KIMONO REBORN project and found many interesting facts about the kimono, and that it completely fit into this sustainable lifestyle. Kimono is a straight-seamed, “No-Waste” garment, and is intended for generations of use. Sustainability is part of the “kimono culture”. 

In order to enhance this potential, we identified the following priorities:

● A project that our customers can feel good about while nurturing a “caring mind” for our environment.

● A project that contributes to a sustainable environment and circular economy.

● A project that utilizes our team’s strengths, including my cross-cultural experiences.

● A project that utilizes our network and resources in Japan and overseas.

Mieko Saho, project director of
“KIMONO REBORN”

The wetland in Chaing Mai, a rest area for migratory birds and the littering next to the birds rest area.

In Sri Lanka, the destruction of nature forced wild elephants to look for food at landfills.

Our Collaborators, Save Elephant Foundation and Elephant Nature Park

The Contribution to nature conservation activities is a top priority for the KIMONO REBORN project. While planning the project in 2020, we had the opportunity to interview Saengduean Lek Chailert, a founder of Save Elephant Foundation, a Thai non-profit organization dedicated to providing care and assistance to Thailand’s captive elephants as well as a founder of Elephant Nature Park. In an interview for a segment we produced for a Japanese television program, Lek talked about the situation of elephants under COVID.

In Thailand, the impact COVID has had on tourism has been enormous. Although, we know Lek since 2009 and are very familiar with her life-long commitment to Asian elephant conservation,we came to learn from her how captive elephants and their care takers have suffered from the disappearance of tourism business. Elephant Nature Park, has also struggled without tourists, but Lek and her staff have been tirelessly working to help more elephants and their communities.

While the destruction of nature and biodiversity has always been a concern for us, we found that it is the time to work with Save Elephant Foundation to promote the “caring mind” and awareness for animals and nature.

Moreover, it was our good fortune to meet Leelaa, a Thai-Canadian volunteer who has been diligently working at Elephant Nature Park. She plays a crucial role as the presenter of the KIMONO REBORN project by connecting us to Elephant Nature Park and Save Elephant Foundation through her caring mind for nature and animals.

10% of our product sales will be donated to Save Elephant Foundation to support the operational costs of Elephant Nature Park. By wearing KIMONO REBORN clothing, you will also be contributing to their compassionate work for elephants and environmental conservation.

You can access more stories behind KIMONO REBORN, kimono and elephants in our blog and social media.

Save Elephant Foundation: https://www.saveelephant.org  

Almost 100 rescued elephants, as well as various other animals, are cared for at Elephant Nature Park. (Photo © Save Elephant Foundation)

The important work of Saengduean Lek, also known as The Elephant Whisperer, has been featured on many media outlets, including National Geographic and the BBC. (Photo © Save Elephant Foundation)

Leelaa, a nature and animal lover, who has work experience as a model.

Elephant Nature Park’s staff were so surprised to see her transform from an animal conservationist to a fashion model!

Our Sustainable Direction

Well before starting the KIMONO REBORN project, sustainability has been our primary objective. We are initially a video production company with sustainability a key factor in our documentary features.

The destruction of nature and biodiversity is a huge concern of our work. I often visit a beautiful wetland near my home of 16 years in Chiang Mai where various migratory birds stop on their journeys. It is so painful to see so much waste, discarded plastic bottles and bags, masks and clothing, littering this beautiful environment. Thailand is the one of the world’s worst countries for mismanaged plastic waste.

This common practice of just discarding all that we no longer need is so true with clothing. Although I was not so familiar with the custom and history of the kimono, when I recently saw many kimono in a second-hand shop in Chiang Mai, I felt that they should be used somehow, upcycled in some way. I began my research for the KIMONO REBORN project and found many interesting facts about the kimono, and that it completely fit into this sustainable lifestyle. Kimono is a straight-seamed, “No-Waste” garment, and is intended for generations of use. Sustainability is part of the “kimono culture”. 

In order to enhance this potential, we identified the following priorities:

● A project that our customers can feel good about while nurturing a “caring mind”
   for our environment.

● A project that contributes to a sustainable environment and circular economy.

● A project that utilizes our team’s strengths, including my cross-cultural experiences.

● A project that utilizes our network and resources in Japan and overseas.

Mieko Saho, project director of “KIMONO REBORN”

The wetland in Chaing Mai, a Rest area of migratory birds. The littering next to the birds rest place.

 The wetland in Chaing Mai, a rest area
for migratory birds.
 The littering next to the birds rest area.

 The wetland in Chaing Mai, a rest area for migratory birds.
 The littering next to the birds rest area.

In Sri Lanka, the destruction of nature forced wild elephants to look for food at landfills.

In Sri Lanka, the destruction of nature forced
wild elephants to look for food at landfills.

Our Collaboration with Save Elephant Foundation

The Contribution to nature conservation activities is a top priority for the “KIMONO REBORN” project. While planning the project in 2020, we had the opportunity to interview Saengduean Lek Chailert, a founder of Save Elephant Foundation, a Thai non-profit organization dedicated to providing care and assistance to Thailand’s captive elephants as well as a founder of Elephant Nature Park. In an interview for a segment we produced for a Japanese television program, Lek talked about the situation of elephants under COVID.

In Thailand, the impact COVID has had on tourism has been enormous. Although, we know Lek since 2009 and are very familiar with her life-long commitment to Asian elephant conservation,we came to learn from her how captive elephants and their care takers have suffered from the disappearance of tourism business. Elephant Nature Park, has also struggled without tourists, but Lek and her staff have been tirelessly working to help more elephants and their communities.

While the destruction of nature and biodiversity has always been a concern for us, we found that it is the right time to work with Save Elephant Foundation to promote the “caring mind” and awareness for animals and nature.

Moreover, it was our good fortune to meet Leelaa, a Thai-Canadian volunteer who has been diligently working at Elephant Nature Park. She plays a crucial role as the presenter of KIMONO REBORN products by connecting our project to Elephant Nature Park and Save Elephant Foundation through her love for nature and animals.

10% of our product sales will be donated to Save Elephant Foundation to support the operational costs of Elephant Nature Park. By wearing KIMONO REBORN clothing, you will also be contributing to their compassionate work for elephants and environmental conservation.

You can access more stories behind KIMONO REBORN, kimono and elephants in our blog and social media.

Save Elephant Foundation: https://www.saveelephant.org  

Almost 100 rescued elephants, as well as various other animals, are cared for at Elephant Nature Park.

The important work of Saengduean Lek, also known as The Elephant Whisperer, has been featured on many media outlets, including National Geographic and the BBC.  

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Leelaa, a nature and animal lover, who has work experience as a model.

[/col_inner_3] [col_inner_3 span=”6″ span__sm=”12″ margin=”-18px 0px 0px 0px” visibility=”hide-for-small”]

Elephant Nature Park’s staff were so surprised to see her transform from an animal conservationist to a fashion model!

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Our collaborators, Save Elephant Foundation
and Elephant Nature Park

The Contribution to nature conservation activities is a top priority for the KIMONO REBORN project. While planning the project in 2020, we had the opportunity to interview Saengduean Lek Chailert, a founder of Save Elephant Foundation, a Thai non-profit organization dedicated to providing care and assistance to Thailand’s captive elephants as well as a founder of Elephant Nature Park. In an interview for a segment we produced for a Japanese television program, Lek talked about the situation of elephants under COVID.

In Thailand, the impact COVID has had on tourism has been enormous. Although, we know Lek since 2009 and are very familiar with her life-long commitment to Asian elephant conservation, we came to learn from her how captive elephants and their care takers have suffered from the disappearance of tourism business. Elephant Nature Park, has also struggled without tourists, but Lek and her staff have been tirelessly working to help more elephants and their communities.

Almost 100 rescued elephants, as well as various other animals, are cared for at Elephant Nature Park. (Photo© Save Elephant Foundation)

The Contribution to nature conservation activities is a top priority for the KIMONO REBORN project. While planning the project in 2020, we had the opportunity to interview Saengduean Lek Chailert, a founder of Save Elephant Foundation, a Thai non-profit organization dedicated to providing care and assistance to Thailand’s captive elephants as well as a founder of Elephant Nature Park. In an interview for a segment we produced for a Japanese television program, Lek talked about the situation of elephants under COVID.

In Thailand, the impact COVID has had on tourism has been enormous. Although, we know Lek since 2009 and are very familiar with her life-long commitment to Asian elephant conservation, we came to learn from her how captive elephants and their care takers have suffered from the disappearance of tourism business. Elephant Nature Park, has also struggled without tourists, but Lek and her staff have been tirelessly working to help more elephants and their communities.

While the destruction of nature and biodiversity has always been a concern for us, we found that it is the time to work with Save Elephant Foundation to promote the “caring mind” and awareness for animals and nature.

Moreover, it was our good fortune to meet Leelaa, a Thai-Canadian volunteer who has been diligently working at Elephant Nature Park. She plays a crucial role as the presenter of the KIMONO REBORN project by connecting us to Elephant Nature Park and Save Elephant Foundation through her caring mind for nature and animals.

10% of our product sales will be donated to Save Elephant Foundation to support the operational costs of Elephant Nature Park. By wearing KIMONO REBORN clothing, you will also be contributing to their compassionate work for elephants and environmental conservation.

The important work of Saengduean Lek, also known as The Elephant Whisperer, has been featured on many media outlets, including National Geographic and the BBC. (Photo© Save Elephant Foundation)

While the destruction of nature and biodiversity has always been a concern for us, we found that it is the time to work with Save Elephant Foundation to promote the “caring mind” and awareness for animals and nature.

Moreover, it was our good fortune to meet Leelaa, a Thai-Canadian volunteer who has been diligently working at Elephant Nature Park. She plays a crucial role as the presenter of the KIMONO REBORN project by connecting us to Elephant Nature Park and Save Elephant Foundation through her caring mind for nature and animals.

10% of our product sales will be donated to Save Elephant Foundation to support the operational costs of Elephant Nature Park. By wearing KIMONO REBORN clothing, you will also be contributing to their compassionate work for elephants and environmental conservation.

You can access more stories behind KIMONO REBORN, kimono and elephants in our blog and social media.

Save Elephant Foundation: https://www.saveelephant.org

Almost 100 rescued elephants, as well as various other animals, are cared for at Elephant Nature Park. (Photo© Save Elephant Foundation)

The important work of Saengduean Lek, also known as The Elephant Whisperer, has been featured on many media outlets, including National Geographic and the BBC. (Photo© Save Elephant Foundation)

You can access more stories behind KIMONO REBORN, kimono and elephants in our blog and social media.

Save Elephant Foundation: https://www.saveelephant.org

Leelaa, a nature and animal lover, who has work experience as a model.

Elephant Nature Park’s staff were so surprised to see her transform from an animal conservationist to a fashion model!

Leelaa, a nature and animal lover, who has work experience as a model.

Elephant Nature Park’s staff were so surprised to see her transform from an animal conservationist to a fashion model!