Japanese Convenience Stores
Family Mart, Lawsons, The shocking clothing lines we didn't know about
It’s day thirteen in Japan, and something has stuck out to me — The clothing lines of convenience stores. All hail Family Mart. Family Mart is on every other corner. It is a Japanese staple; they call it Konbini (コンビニ convenience stores). It is for all ages and any time of day. You can find virtually any food or goods needed. At first, no thought was given to this store, especially the clothing section — then, a friend of mine started to talk about the socks and the other items they had. Suddenly, I couldn’t unsee what was there—the Convenience Wear.
Shirts, pants, joggers, cardigans, socks, winter jackets, underwear, undershirts, long sleeves, camisoles, rain jackets, and the list goes on. Picture this: you walk inside a 7-Eleven or whatever your local convenience store is, and there is a mini Uniqlo placed in the front aisle. It is lined with tiny packaged goods, cheap and at the ready. How amazing is that accessibility to essential durable and well-made clothing goods from what I’ve gleaned so far.
High Snobiety did an article last year about the 100+ item clothing line. They focus on the stylish side of the Family Mart clothing line, which is a plus for anyone who needs access to clothing at low cost and still wants some swag.
Before Family Mart launched its own line, it used to supply Muji products. Once it ended the partnership, Lawsons, another convenience store in Japan, took over. Now, Lawson supplies Muji clothing and other products at the ready for customers countrywide—I guess the convenience store clothing game is a competitive one here.
At first I sat with shock of the FamiMa clothing line, how could this be possible, should I buy everything, no that’s wasteful, then came some formualized thoughts.
Part One—
Spending some time in Japan has expanded my ideas on how it is possible to run a city efficiently. The country oozes convenience, and its overall design concepts are well thought out. Each city I’ve visited encompassed design elements pointing towards future thinking with minimal complications and a deep connection to nature. Now, when it comes to clothing and durable goods, they have outdone themselves. They have created a way to give easy access to clean, durable essentials at low costs. Maybe this wasn’t Japan, the country doing this, and rather a corporation inside the country, but it still was from the minds of those who live and breathe these daily life patterns.
Part Two —
What is the production efficiency here, is there massive amounts of textile waste coming from Family Mart because of the new clothing line? There are now 24,574 stores worldwide in Japan, Taiwan, China, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Japan is typically known for slow, thoughtful creation anything from Matcha Tea Ceremonies to Furniture Making to preparing a table for you at a restaurant. Their rituals, attention, and care are embedded into the culture that, naturally, my mind links to a grand waste management plan to the Convenience Wearables.
Unfortunately, after much digging Family Mart Sustainability Material and Statement does not give hope of a plan. The transparency is in the statements, they do not hide any facts of the waste they create yearly. The current plan discusses food waste (yay!), reducing plastic (ok), and reducing emissions. Yes, these are great, and we are here for Family Mart to hit the goals for 2050. Yet they say nothing about the textile waste and plan of action with the new clothing line that launched. Is it all a charade? Who’s to say? Only those behind the plan and numbers really know.
With life I have found there is always duality. Good wouldn’t be good if we didn’t have bad to measure it against. We must see both in each situation. Even though the heart behind Convience Wear is not about giving easy, low-cost access to those who need it but about increasing revenue, it inspires the idea in my mind that good can come from even the murky waters. We can use what may have been for profit — for good.
If you walked into a FamiMa, would you buy one of the Convenience Wear items? If so, which one? If you’re interested in sampling the clothing, let me know. I can bring something from Japan back to the States.
Interesting thoughts Leigha - enjoying this journey of yours in Japan very much.
Love this but yes concerned about the massive waste problem. Hoping they tackle the solution. And yes am curious of the 'high Quality' and what that actually means? Fabrics that are not chemical? Wearable for many seasons-Unlike Uniqlo's one time use? Well stitched ? Etc.