Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on January 2014

Have a white shirt ruined with a red wine stain when the office Christmas party got out of hand? Don’t be so quick to turn it into a rag. The Panda Black project is encouraging people to rescue stained or faded garments by coloring them a deep, dark black. WWF-Japan points out that Japan has one of the lowest rates in the world for recycling clothing, adding up to a major waste of natural resources. Craftsmen at Kyoto Montsuki employ an age-old process using dyes that are traditionally used for kimono. If you want to save those faded jeans, fill in an online request for an estimate (Japanese only) and ship off your garment. Prices depend on weight and start at ¥2,400. A portion of the proceeds go to the World Wide Fund for Nature to support conservation activities. When your package comes back, you’ll be ready to release your inner Johnny Cash.

For more information:
Panda Black Rewear Project
Kyoto Montsuki

Orders or inquiries in English: kyotomontsuki@kmontsuki.co.jp