YOKOHAMA, Japan – As the only Japanese team on the Formula E grid, this week's Tokyo E-Prix holds special importance to Nissan. So, to mark its inaugural home race, Nissan Formula E Team has collaborated with Japanese fashion designer Jun Nakamura to create bespoke kimonos inspired by all 11 teams that compete in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
Staying true to the Japanese ideal of omotenashi, the intrinsic, deep-rooted belief that guests should be wholeheartedly welcomed, Nissan Formula E Team will gift every one of its 10 competitors a kimono inspired by each team's colours, inviting them to 'get comfortable, but not too comfortable', as the fight for championship points heats up. The collection, designed by Jun Nakamura, will be displayed at the Tokyo E-Prix on race day.
Hailing from Kyoto and fresh from a successful show at London Fashion Week, which featured on the pages of Vogue & Elle among others, Nakamura's work focuses on fusing conventional Japanese techniques with contemporary and modern design. To bring the kimonos to life, Nakamura worked alongside sustainable artisans in Japan to handcraft each unique piece.
Not only are the kimono designs inspired by Formula E teams, the choice of using the traditional Japanese garment was a deliberate one, as kimonos are almost entirely "zero-waste" products containing a whole bolt of fabric without cutting. This is a parallel that can be drawn to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, which in 2020 became the first global sport to be certified with a net zero carbon footprint from inception, having invested in certified climate-protecting projects in all race markets to offset emissions from every season of electric racing.
Jun Nakamura, fashion designer and founder of JU-NNA, said: "The kimono is very important to Japanese culture, so to be asked to design kimonos for such an iconic Japanese brand like Nissan is very exciting. My connection with kimonos started from a young age, my family owned a kimono company and my father would wear one to work. With this special collection we aim to show the hospitality of Japan, so I have designed kimonos inspired by the team colours and cars."
Tommaso Volpe, managing director and team principal, said,"We're proud to partner with such an exciting fashion designer like Jun to welcome our fellow teams in a truly authentic way. With our heart and soul hailing from Japan, the first race in Tokyo is a hugely important moment for the team. After two consecutive podiums our confidence is high, so that's why we're inviting our competitors to get comfortable, but not too comfortable, at our home E-Prix."
# # #
About Nissan Formula EOpens in a new tab.
Nissan made its all-electric racing debut in Season 5 (2018/19) of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, becoming the first and only Japanese manufacturer to enter the series.
In Season 7 (2020/21), Nissan announced its long-term involvement in Formula E and its commitment to the Gen3 era, which will run from Season 9 (2022/23) and through to the end of Season 12 (2025/26) of the all-electric racing series.
In April 2022, Nissan announced the acquisition of the e.dams race team, with the Japanese automaker taking full ownership of its involvement in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
Nissan is a world-leading expert in the design and manufacture of exciting all-electric vehicles. With almost 600,000 Nissan LEAF vehicles sold since the model debuted in 2010, Nissan made use of its existing EV experience to develop its Formula E race car. In turn, the lessons learned on the racetrack help shape the next generations of EVs from the Japanese car maker.
About Formula E
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship became the first global sport to be certified with a net zero carbon footprint from inception back in 2020, having invested in certified climate-protecting projects in all race markets to offset emissions from every season of electric racing. All cars in the championship are powered by electricity, with the series acting as a competitive platform to test and develop the latest in electric technology. The World's greatest manufacturers race against each other on street circuits and Formula E promotes the adoption of sustainable mobility in city centres in a bid to combat air pollution and lessen the effects of climate change.
About Jun Nakamura
Jun Nakamura founded the London based label, JU-NNA, in 2019. Hailing from Kyoto, Nakamura infuses Japanese heritage techniques into contemporary ready-to-wear collections. The label works alongside sustainable artisans in Japan to handcraft the unique textiles found in the core Heritage range. The JU-NNA aesthetic defies convention, transcending the boundaries between art and commerce, as well as femininity and masculinity. The brand advocates for genuine self-expression. Nakamura's innovative approach to heritage techniques has garnered critical acclaim. JU-NNA's work has been featured in renowned magazines, including Vogue, Wonderland, L'Officiel, Elle, Pap, and Noctis.
Nissan contacts:
Maria C. De Juana
Head of communications, Formula E, Nissan global motorsports
Phone: +33 617 36 37 61
mdejuana@nissan-europe.comOpens in a new window.
More information
Nissan Global NewsroomOpens in a new tab.
Nismo.comOpens in a new tab.
