--- title: The Key to Functional Fashion description: Breaking news and analysis from time.com. Politics, world news, photos, video, tech reviews, health, science, and entertainment news. canonical: https://time.com/branded-content/global-kigyo/the-key-to-functional-fashion/ article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2026-06-18T14:28:05.429Z article:modified_time: 2026-06-09T07:28:00.562Z article:section: Paid Content og:title: The Key to Functional Fashion og:description: Breaking news and analysis from time.com. 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They are at time.com/newsletters and are separate from a paid subscription.  The clothes that we wear are more than just functional; they are key drivers of how we think, act and feel. From school uniforms to public-service attire, uniforms must fulfill many attributes, helping to keep their wearers comfortable while also creating a sense of equality among people from all walks of life. In the healthcare sector, physicians’ lab coats and emergency medical technician uniforms play a vital role in instilling confidence for all. Still, survey estimates in Japan show that over 40% of workers are dissatisfied with their daily attire. In the care field—an essential sector given Japan’s booming elderly population—reasons stem from the difficulty of movement and uncomfortable materials. KAZEN, a leading Japanese creator of professional uniforms, is looking to challenge the status quo, with President Masanori Yazawa leveraging Japan’s global fashion reputation. “We believe that Japan’s value lies in subtle attention to detail, with customers growing to love products once they try them,” he said. “For us, this means maintaining excellent design and fabric quality, upholding our policy of ‘comfy to put on, lovely to look at.’ ” KAZEN has built a name for itself in the world of professional wear, crafting sleek, durable garments that can withstand the rigors of daily work in not only the medical and caregiving fields, but also other demanding use cases, such as food service, laboratories and factories. “We focus on uniforms that are genuinely comfortable that can be worn with pride, while also emphasizing functionality and hygiene,” said Yazawa. Our “4D cutting” technology, developed through extensive research on human movement, is the core technology supporting KAZEN’s products. **“Hold firmly to your core, while remaining flexible—that is the key to success”** **– Masanori Yazawa** With elastic zones and dynamically cut hems, workers gain a greater range of motion, reducing energy spent on tasks such as lifting and bending by up to 25%. Over time, this adds up significantly. “Our research revealed that human skin does not stretch evenly across the body—only certain parts expand depending on movement. This is a one-of-a-kind technology that we are very proud of,” he explained. As a leader, Yazawa emphasizes an approach that connects suppliers, researchers and end-users. “Our planning teams collect customer feedback and use it to design both standard catalog items and collaborative projects with partners like university hospitals and food manufacturers. We pay close attention to every detail to ensure it fits perfectly in the workplace. It is essential to identify our company’s strengths and adapt flexibly to needs without compromising our core,” he said. Through its textile procurement in Italy—including collaborations with renowned local artisans—KAZEN has also expanded into the cultural sphere. In the heart of Tokyo, the KAZEN Cecco Bonanotte Museum, home to the KAZEN HALL music venue, brings together the sculptor’s works with music and artistic expression. “Entering unfamiliar fields may seem unrelated,” said Yazawa. “But we believe these challenges spark new business opportunities and are essential for long-term vitality. Emotional experiences help us build deeper human connections, beyond what business or products alone can offer. And in the world ahead, people will increasingly seek spiritual richness.”  ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/branded-content/global-kigyo/the-key-to-functional-fashion/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/branded-content/global-kigyo/the-key-to-functional-fashion/"},"headline":"The Key to Functional Fashion","datePublished":"2026-06-18T14:28:05.429Z","dateModified":"2026-06-09T07:28:00.562Z","description":"","url":"https://time.com/branded-content/global-kigyo/the-key-to-functional-fashion/","keywords":[],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[],"articleSection":"Paid Content","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/branded-content/global-kigyo/the-key-to-functional-fashion/","name":"The Key to Functional Fashion"}}]}] ```