Recycled and renewed DHL uniforms continue delivering joy

DHL uniforms saved from the bin, bloom in upcycling project

“When I saw DHL's uniforms, I was inspired and wondered if I could create something with my brand,” says fashion designer Johnny Hiramoto.

While working mainly as a designer, Mr. Hiramoto ventured out and launched his own brand creating artificial flowers, THE FLWRS.

His company’s signature products are flowers made from leftover fabrics from the apparel industry, including clothes and bags no longer in use.

“Home deliveries are an intimate part of our lives, and DHL’s yellow uniforms have played an essential role in that business. Though they had come to the end of their usefulness, I felt it would be a shame to see them thrown away.”

The designer had a vision to recycle these uniforms that had served a meaningful purpose and give them a new lease of life, with THE FLWRS.

On board with the idea, DHL Japan donated old courier uniforms that were to be discarded. DHL staff collected discarded uniforms from service centers throughout Japan, a total weight of approximately 200 kilograms. Thus began a project to recycle and breathe new life into the old uniforms.

Fashion is evolving for our future

There was a reason why Mr. Hiramoto, a fashion designer, launched an artificial flower brand.

“What triggered it was the death of a someone who was a senior and who had been very helpful to me in the fashion industry. I wanted to somehow keep his memory alive, and as he was a big man, I wanted to leave behind the clothes he wore as flowers.”

THE FLWRS was started with this in mind, and its mission is to contribute as much as possible to promoting recycling as a society.

We have been able to work on various projects so far. We have reused scraps from the production process of a factory in Okayama, famous for its denim, and cut up military uniforms from various countries to make flowers with a message of peace.”

THE FLWRS projects have mainly conveyed messages of environmental conservation and peace. This is the first time that the company is recycling discarded corporate uniforms.

The fashion industry is changing. As expressed in the term “fast fashion,” companies and brands are rethinking their business practices based on mass production and mass consumption, seeking new ways to address environmental issues. Not only are they using more recycled materials and reducing packaging materials, but they are also actively working to reduce CO2 emissions in the transportation and distribution processes.

This shows in how DHL's GoGreen Plus, a shipping solution utilizing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to reduce carbon emissions, has seen high demand from corporations, especially fashion and apparel companies.

“The fashion industry that I am part of produces a lot of waste and has a huge impact on the environment. I want to contribute to the environment and society by reducing waste as much as possible,” said Mr. Hiramoto.

As Mr. Hiramoto explains, the fashion and apparel industry is now taking the lead among all industries in transforming itself into an industry that is committed to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and strengthening efforts for environmental protection.

DHL Express and the fashion industry

Recognizing the strong ties between DHL and the fashion industry, Mr. Hiramoto remarked: “I think DHL has a very strong presence in the fashion world. Overseas, they collaborate with various fashion brands, and I think they are going beyond the boundaries of being an international logistics company. I am delighted to be working with DHL on this initiative in Japan.”

DHL Express plays a large role in supporting the international fashion supply chain with its global transportation network. In addition to providing logistics support as an official sponsor of international Fashion Week events, DHL Express has also supported various independent activities. In 2022, DHL Japan collaborated with BASICKS, a brand launched by designer Masanori Morikawa, to hold a fashion show at the Tokyo Distribution Center, DHL's logistics facility in Shinkiba, Tokyo.

Through this collaboration with THE FLWRS, DHL’s precious uniforms will be given a new lease of life, continuing to bring joy into people’s daily lives.

Along with the rollout of more electric vehicles and building or upgrading carbon-neutral facilities that operate on greener energy sources such as solar power, this recycling initiative is part of DHL's long-term commitment to sustainability.

Working with THE FLWRS and increasingly conscious business partners and customers, DHL will continue to make little, purposeful steps like recycling old uniforms, in hope to nurture a greater awareness and effort to protect the environment for our future generations.