The joint YKK and Fashion Frontier Program, which is endorsed by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment, aims to discover and nurture upcoming fashion designers with a focus on sustainable design utilising fastening products such as snaps, zippers and buttons.

This partnership aligns with YKK celebrating its 25th YKK Fastening Awards, which is recognised as Japan's premier fashion design contest for students and serves as a platform to identify and support global fashion talent.

YKK said: “The Fashion Frontier Program is an educational programme and awards programme for fashion designers who combine and embody social responsibility and creativity. YKK deeply resonates with the vision of this programme as a space where learning and evaluation are integrated, providing opportunities for growth and reflection, along with a supportive framework that empowers future initiatives. With this shared understanding, YKK has entered into the partnership.”

YKK is set to conduct a lecture titled “Little Parts. Big Difference” during the programme's first incubation session.

This session is designed to deepen understanding of fastening products and their role in sustainable design within the circular fashion movement.

The lecture will feature discussions on YKK's product advancements aimed at fostering a circular economy, and interaction with the 16 semi-finalists of the programme.

Additionally, YKK will provide products to facilitate learning.

Looking ahead to the next fiscal year, YKK intends to engage in an incubation programme for winners of the YKK Fastening Awards, seeking to create a collaborative environment that enhances the capabilities of designers in sustainable practices.

In October last year, YKK revealed its goals for achieving climate neutrality over the next 25 years and how it plans to grow its business in harmony with the environment.