Corporate Certification System and Product Certification System
that Guarantee Quality and Technique
that Guarantee Quality and Technique
What is the corporate certification system of TOKYO KNIT?
- Guarantee the credibility of TOKYO KNIT brand and certify the companies which meet the standard, in order to promote market development of Tokyo Knit Fashion Association members and sales of their high value-added products.
- Domestic and overseas apparel companies and designers would recognize TOKYO KNIT brand as a proof of trust which guarantee quality and technique so that the business would get active.
- Effected by TOKYO KNIT branding activities, members of Tokyo Knit Fashion Association would seek to enhance their enterprise power to acquire corporate certification. Even after the companies would be certified, they would continue making efforts to improve their corporate power./li>
Benefits for corpoeate certification
- Brand logo mark of TOKYO KNIT would be approved for use.
- Information and movie of TOKYO KNIT wouldl be posted on TOKYO KNIT brand site and its own social media.
- Certificated companies can participate in various events of TOKYO KNIT.
Certification Review Board Members
| Chairperson:Seiichi Mizuno | President of Institute of Marketing Architecture Co., Ltd. |
|---|
| Judge: Mineaki Saito | President of Scenery International Former Vice President of Hermès International |
|---|---|
| Judge: Masami Takahashi | Creative Director of MASAMI DESIGN Director of the Association for Promotion of Sumida Area Brands |
| Judge: Tsutomu Hagihira | Former Chairperson of the Institute for the Fashion Industries |
| Judge: Hirofumi Kurino | Senior Advisor of UNITED ARROWS LTD. In charge of Creative Direction |
| Judge: Kaname Murakami | EEditor in Chief for WWDJAPAN |
| Judge: Kanta Yoshimura | Representative of Project Chino |
Certification Standards
Application Requirements:The company seeking certification must be a member of the Tokyo Knit Fashion Association, and must have a company headquarter or business office in Tokyo that handles orders from international and domestic clients.
Premise:The company seeking certification must comply with laws and regulations, and carry out business with sufficient consideration given to the working environment, environmental protection, and safety.
1. Corporate Philosophy and Information Dissemination
- – Employees of the company seeking certification share the corporate philosophy and vision, and corporate activities are carried out with a sense of unity.
- – Information is disseminated externally by the company seeking certification in order to gain understanding of its own characteristics and strengths.
2. High Technological Skill and Ability to Generate New Proposals
- – The company seeking certification possesses specialized, high technological skills, and is proactively taking steps to improve those skills.
- – The company seeking certification is highly skilled in generating proposals for clients, and is also proactive in taking on new challenges for that purpose.
3. Quality Standards and Responsive Capability to Clients
- – The company seeking certification has its own high-quality standards and production management system for manufacturing.
- – The company seeking certification has the capability to respond flexibly to various demands of clients.
4. The Manufacturing Capability based in Tokyo
- – The company seeking certification is taking advantage of the value of a Tokyo location, and applying creative manufacturing practices.
- – The company seeking certification has factories or partner companies outside Tokyo, as well as a manufacturing system utilizing domestic networks in Japan.
5. Human Resource Development
- The company seeking certification provides employee training for the purpose of developing human resource of the next generation and has mechanisms to incorporate employee opinions.
Contents of TOKYO KNIT Corporate Certification Application
| Perspective | Evaluation Points | Contents of Application |
|---|---|---|
| Company Profile | Name of company, name of representative, amount of capital, the number of employees, website, and the date of foundation Description of business, corporate philosophy, vision, and contact adress |
|
| Application Requirements | The company must be a member of the Tokyo Knit Fashion Association, and must have a company headquarter or business office in Tokyo that handles orders from international and domestic clients. | Adress of head office (adress of business office in Tokyo) |
| Premise：Corpoeate Social Responsibility (CSR) |
The company must comply with laws and regulations and carry out business with sufficient consideration given to the working environment, environmental protection, and safety. | Legal compliance with laws such as labor-related laws, act on waste disposal and cleaning, and act on control of household products containing harmful substances |
| 1. Corporate Philosophy and Information Dissemination | Employees of the company seeking certification share the corporate philosophy and vision, and corporate activities are carried out with a sense of unity. | Structure by which employees can share corporate philosophy and vision and inherit them to employees of young generation. |
| Information is disseminated externally by the company seeking certification in order to gain understanding of its own characteristics and strengths. | Ways to disseminate company information externally | |
| 2. High technological skill and ability to generate new proposals | The company possesses specialized, high technological skills, and is proactively taking steps to improve those skills. | Company's own unique techniques or excellent techniques and craftmanship |
| The company seeking certification is highly skilled in generating proposals for clients, and is also proactive in taking on new challenges for that purpose. | Track records of proposing new plan to clients and challenging new field. | |
| 3. Quality Standards and Responsive Capability to Clients | The company has its own high-quality standards and production management system for manufacturing. | Company's own quality standards and custodian of production record and result of needle detection |
| The company seeking certification has the ability to respond flexibly to various demands of clients. | Stance and system to respond to demands of clients, and evaluation by clients. | |
| 4. The Manufacturing Capability based in Tokyo | The company is implementing creative manufacturing by taking advantage of valuable Tokyo location. | Company's strengths utilizing Tokyo location (e.g. collaboration with clients and/or designers) |
| The company seeking certification has factories or partner companies outside Tokyo, as well as a manufacturing system utilizing domestic networks in Japan. | Background of domestic manufacturing | |
| Special Remarks A | Thoughts for the future. | Company's thoughts for the future |
| Special Remarks B | The company's own strengths. | Explanation of products/materials showing company's unique strengths (attachment of photos) |
Process of corporate certification
-
【Member of Tokyo Knit Fashion Association】 Submit application formThe secretariat confirms eligibility and improper documentation
→ Send application documents to judges -
【Judges】Documentary screeningThree-step evaluation by absolute evaluation method regarding 10 basic evaluation sections based on CSR and 5 viewpoints: 1.Corporate Philosophy and Information Dissemination, 2.High Technological Skill and Ability to Generate New Products, 3.Quality Standards and Responsive Capability to Clients, 4. The manufacturing Capability based in Tokyo, and 5.Human Resources Development
(3 points: Excellent, 2 points: Passable, 1 point: Insufficient, 0 point: No Description/Incorrect)Ten-step evaluation by absolute evaluation method regarding sections of free description: Thoughts for the Future and Company's Unique Strengths
→ Send back to the secretariat -
【Secretariat】Aggregate the result of documentary screeningAggregate evaluation points by each judge. Perfect score would be 50 points (10 Basic evaluation sections: 30 points, 2 Free Description Sections: 20 points)Determine the companies to progress to actual screening, based on the guideline: average of score by all judges would be at 35 or more points,
( Even if average points would be less than 35, might be possible to progress to actual screening by recommendation of judge. Each judge can recommend 2 companies.)
→Notice to applicants -
【Judges】Actual ScreeningThree-step evaluation by absolute evaluation method (3 points: Well-deserved for certification, 2 points: Deserved for certification, 1 point: Not-deserved for certification)Discuss based on the result of evaluation and determine appropriateness of certification under the collegial system. -
【Executive Committee of Tokyo Knit Fashion Association】Determine corporate certificationDiscuss based on the result of evaluation by judges and determine certification
→Notice of result to applicants
What is the product certification system of TOKYO KNIT?
- This system, indicated for the products manufactured by TOKYO KNIT certificated companies: the products of TOKYO KNIT certificated company's factory brand, guarantees the quality of products, and certificates the products by original criteria such as quality, techniques and creativity of material and sewing, and consideration for sustainability, based on the purpose to give them to the market, to enhance the value of its brand and to promote its sales.
- Fulfill social responsibility by disclosing the information of certificated products.
- Enhance the value of TOKYO KNIT brand and contribute to raising its awareness.
Benefits for product certification
- Brand logo mark of TOKYO KNIT would be approved for use.
"TOKYO KNIT" hung tug and embroidered name would be provided at a charge.
※Hung tug is required to use. The embroidered name would be provided at a charge to the company who wants to use.
Brand logo mark of TOKYO KNIT can be used both for sale at shop/EC and sales promotion such as catalog, website, and social media. - Certificated products can be sold on TOKYO KNIT EC site.
- Woould be introduced on TOKYO KNIT brand site and social media.
- Can participate in the event of TOKYO KNIT.
Certification Review Board Members
| Chairperson:Seiichi Mizuno | President of Institute of Marketing Architecture Co., Ltd. President of the Association for Promotion of The Sumida Area Brand Promoting Conference |
|---|---|
| Judge: Hirofumi Kurino | Senior Advisor of UNITED ARROWS LTD. In charge of Creative Direction |
| Judge: Mineaki Saito | President of Scenery International Former Vice President of Hermès International |
| Judge: Masami Takahashi | Creative Director of MASAMI DESIGN Director of the Association for Promotion of Sumida Area Brands |
| Judge: Tsutomu Hagihira | Former Chairperson of the Institute for the Fashion Industries |
| Judge: Kaname Murakami | Editor in Chief for WWDJAPAN |
| Judge: Kanta Yoshimura | Representative of Project Chino |
Certification Standards:
Application Requirements: Only TOKYO KNIT certificated company can apply.
1. Applicant company takes full responsibility for the products.
2. For the time being, the products of certificated company's factory brand and products collaborated with designer can be eligible for certification.
3. Contents of application form are as follows:
- Name of brand, target, item, price for customers, sales channel, specific points, sample of product, and photos
- Name of sewing factory (must be located in Japan) and specific points for sewing
- Name of dyeing/processing factory (must be located in Japan) and specific points for dyeing/processing
- Name of fabric/material company, material structure, mixing rate, and specific points for fabric/material
※ For each section of product planning, sewing, processing, and materials, trials from the point of view of SDGs should be described as much as possible.
4. The products made in Japan can be eligible. Imported thread is acceptable, however, fabric/material must be made in Japan (place of origin must be proved).
5. Domestic cooperating factory who meets certification standards can be used.
Contents of TOKYO KNIT Product Certification Application and Perspective
| Section of Certification | Evaluation Points | Contents of Application |
|---|---|---|
| Company Profile | Name of company, address of head office, name of representative, and contact address | |
| Application Requirements | Only TOKYO KNIT certificated company can apply for product certification. | Certificated company or company appring for corporate certification |
| ① Planning on selling | Product should be manufactured based on specific points mobilizing great techniques of TOKYO KNIT brand, and should be environmentally friendly as much as possible. | Name of brand, target, item, price for customers, sales channel, specific points including information of trial for sustainability, and photos of product (actual product is required for actual screening) |
| ② Sewing | Sewing factory should be located in Japan. Specific sewing techniques worthy of TOKYO KNIT brand are utilized. | Name of sewing factory (must be located in Japan) and specific points for sewing |
| ③ Dyeing and processing | Dyeing and processing factory should be located in Japan. Specific dyeing and processing techniques worthy of TOKYO KNIT brand are utilized. | Name of dyeing/processing factory (must be located in Japan) and specific points for dyeing/processing |
| ④ Fabric/material | Fabric made in Japan is woven/knit with specific points worhy of TOKYO KNIT brand. | Name of fabric/material company, material structure, mixing rate, and specific points for fabric/material |
Process of product certification
-
【Member of Tokyo Knit Fashion Association】 Submit application formThe secretariat confirms eligibility and improper documentation
→ Send application documents to judges -
【Judges】Documentary screeningTwenty-step evaluation for ① Planning on selling by absolute evaluation method. For ② Sewing, ③ Dyeing and processing, and ④ Fabric/material, ten-step evaluation by absolute evaluation method.
→ Send back to the secretariat -
【Secretariat】Aggregate the result of documentary screeningAggregate evaluation points by each judge. Perfect score would be 50 points (①Planning and on selling: 20 points, ②Sewing,③Dyeing and processing, and ④Fabric/material: 30 points)Determine the companies to progress to actual screening, based on the guideline: average of score by all judges would be at 35 or more points,
( Even if average points would be less than 35, might be possible to progress to actual screening by recommendation of judge. Each judge can recommend 2 companies.)
→Notice to applicants -
【Judges】Actual ScreeningApplicants would give the presentation of specific manufacturing points and sustainability information for each manufacturing step, showing the products and materials, and have a question and answer session, for 10 minutes.
Three-step evaluation by absolute evaluation method (3 points: Well-deserved for certification, 2 points: Deserved for certification, 1 point: Not-deserved for certification)Discuss based on the result of evaluation and determine appropriateness of certification under the collegial system.
（全員が3評価の場合は認証、過半が1評価の場合は⾮認証、その他の場合は合議で決定する） -
【Executive Committee of Tokyo Knit Fashion Association】Determine corporate certificationDiscuss based on the result of evaluation by judges and determine certification
→Notice of result to applicants