What is MUJI?
MUJI, originally founded in Japan in 1980, offers a wide variety of good quality products including household goods, apparel and food. Mujirushi Ryohin, MUJI in Japanese, translates as "no-brand quality goods".
MUJI is based on three core principles, which remain unchanged to this day:
1. Selection of materials
2. Streamlining of processes
3. Simplification of packages
Products & Services
Three Principles in Manufacturing
1 | Selection of Materials
Comfortable clothing. Household goods that are, above all, easy to use. For Ryohin Keikaku, the materials we use to make such products are of the utmost importance; consequently, considerable attention is given to their selection. We search worldwide for the most suitable raw materials. We use many industrial materials as well as materials discarded by others because of their appearance - items that can be acquired in bulk at low cost. The overriding selection criteria is always quality. These activities underpin our ability to create low-priced, high-quality products.
2 | Streamlining processes
The processes by which each product is manufactured are subjected to careful scrutiny at Muji. Processes that have no bearing on a product's quality such as sorting, sizing, and polishing are eliminated, leaving only these processes that are truly necessary. Even items that have been discarded because they do not meet certain standards of size and appperance are turned into products for sale. Focusing on true quality, Muji's manufacturing processes eliminate waste and reduce costs.
3 | Simplification of packaging
When packaging products, Ryohin Keikaku seeks not to adorn them but rather to highlight their natural colors and shapes. For this reason, we use bulk packaging and place products in plain, uniform containers. Faithful to our philosophy of simplicity, this approach is also in keeping with our policy of conserving resources and reducing waste. Thus, all Muji products appear on store shelves in simple packaging bearing only product-related information and a price tag.
Sustainability
The Ryohin Keikaku Group is aiming to become a world-class, highly profitable corporate entity as a group of independently managed stores that contribute globally toward a simple, pleasant life and society. Moreover, MUJI, which is formed with conscience and creativity, will co-create the best and strongest basics for life that can be used universally going forward with customers who wish to live a simple and beautiful life.
This site introduces MUJI's sustainability initiatives from various perspectives such as "Sustainability at MUJI", "Respect Human Rights in the Supply Chain", "Stores", "Respect the Environment" and so on.
Raw Material Procurement
The tools and clothing that we see around us were first developed when humans evolved to bipedalism and when they used objects in the natural world with ingenuity to protect themselves from harsh natural conditions and beasts. We have been ensuring safety and convenience by utilizing animals and plants as raw materials and forming them into clothes to wear and utensils for eating. Natural materials such as cotton, linen, and wool that have supported our lives since then have functions of helping humans who have lived in contact with nature.
Following in the steps of our ancestors, MUJI promotes manufacturing that makes the best use of the original functions of these natural materials. We are working to select raw materials that are collected and cultivated in a way that does not impose an excessive burden on the earth, animals and plants, and producers.
Moreover, as the primary raw materials, we use those that can be traced back to the production area as much as possible, and above all, we actually visit the production areas to check with our own eyes the conditions of collection/cultivation sites of major raw materials and the lives of producers.
We will continue to strive to procure raw materials in consideration of those who use them, those who make them, and approaches to engaging with nature.
MUJI Materials
Linen
Since the 2019 Spring/Summer season, we have started to use organically grown hemp, which does not use chemical fertilizers or agrochemicals, in some apparel products. MUJI's organic linen is cultivated on farms that have abundant melted snow water and have few pests. Although it cannot be produced efficiently in a large amount, our goal is to provide products that are friendly to the environment and people.
MUJI Materials
Wool
MUJI sticks to the gentle breeding method that treats sheep in a natural manner and uses only non-mulesed wool. There are various methods of raising sheep in each region, and non-mulesed wool refers to wool from sheep that have not undergone mulesing, which is a special technique of cutting off sheep skin and meat to prevent the infestation of maggots that is performed for sheep raised in a particularly hot climate.
We confirm that the wool we purchase is non-mulesed to ensure traceability when selecting the material.