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<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:4032/3024;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Sustainability_3a4ebc9253.jpg" alt="Sustainability.jpg" width="4032" height="3024"></figure>Fashion is cyclical. What’s old becomes new again. Remember when everyone had a custom-made suit or a tailored dress? That made-to-order garment didn’t just fit better, it had higher value, lasted longer, and held meaning—quite the opposite of fast fashion that has too long plagued the fashion industry. Soon, that era of premium, enduring design will be making a comeback. Only this time, it will not only be driven by fashion or trend, but by technology aligned with circular economy principles.&nbsp;<h3>The Scale of the Problem and the Opportunity</h3>Global fiber production hit 124 million tons in 2023, translating into roughly 100 billion garments a year. Yet, fast fashion has hollowed out use;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/fashion-and-the-circular-economy-deep-dive">studies</a> show clothing use has fallen nearly 40%, while production has doubled over the last 15 years.Less than 1% of textiles make it back into new fibers, driving what the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/">Ellen MacArthur Foundation</a> calls a $500 billion lost value annually due to underuse and poor recyclability. Meanwhile, cutting-room waste eats up 10-15% of fabric before a garment even exists. That’s both a problem and an opportunity for innovators to rethink the system.&nbsp;<h3>Variloom’s Twist on a Classic: Tailored Meets Tech</h3>Enter Variloom, which is working to resurrect that bespoke spirit—tailored perfection that is 3D-printed to shape, customizing each product for design, fit, function, and future reuse.Variloom created a patent-pending filament and designed a 3D-printing system for soft goods. From bio-based plastics to textile and agro waste, Variloom owns the stack: formulation → material production → print. Reduced cutting waste, elimination of bulk greige textiles, reduced or no production MOQ, or huge merchandise inventory. They can embed trims directly into the structure, creating mono-material garments designed for easy recycling.This isn’t just theory. It’s a rebalance: bringing manufacturing back into closer proximity to customers, treating every garment as a valuable, long-lived piece, and not just a disposable trend.&nbsp;<h3>Weaving Voices Into the Narrative</h3>Moon’s discussion panel on sustainability brought this vision into sharper focus, where industry experts from Earthletica, Koobz, Rip Curl, Variloom, and YKK shared their journeys in sustainable fashion.&nbsp;<h4>Circularity Begins Long Before Manufacturing</h4>The panel emphasized that sustainable product lifecycles have to be designed starting from the materials stage, and it is not a matter of trying to retrofit them later.Rip Curl and Earthletica both shared how upstream decisions like fiber selection, trims, construction, and even end-of-life disassembly have become central to their creative processes. Earthletica’s success with YKK’s new Aerie® String zipper (a no-tape, recycled fastener) demonstrated that functionality and circularity can co-exist and improve product performance simultaneously.&nbsp;<h4>The Biggest Sustainability Problem? Overproduction</h4>It is noted that forecast-driven manufacturing leads to at least some percentage of apparel never being sold. And it ultimately ends up being destroyed or in landfills.While on-demand and made-to-order models are promising, major brands still remain tied to legacy inventory systems. This gap between technological capability and operational readiness remains one of the sector’s toughest bottlenecks. Made-to-order production by brands like Koobz can help to avoid supply-chain bottlenecks while actively reducing waste and ensuring fewer garments end up in landfills.&nbsp;<h4>Technology Is Reshaping the Supply Chain</h4>From AI-driven forecasting to digital twins, electrified dye processes, and 3D-printed apparel components, technology emerged as a key enabler of a lower-carbon future.The Variloom team discussed how additive manufacturing enables monomaterial garments, making disassembly and recycling far easier. And other panelists also highlighted the promise of 3D digital sampling. AI may be able to assist with trend forecasting and virtual product testing that can offer new ways to prevent overproduction and gather early consumer feedback before manufacturing begins.&nbsp;<h4>Fast Fashion’s Impact Is Worse Than Planned Obsolescence</h4>Panelists emphasized that apparel’s issue is not intentionally short product lifespans (as seen in tech), but it is also because of ultra-short garment use cycles by consumers, and a shockingly low wear countsIn contrast, heritage brands like Rip Curl maintain 60–70% evergreen product lines, prioritizing durability over rapid turnover.&nbsp;<h4>Everyone Has a Role, Not Just Designers</h4>While designers shape desirability and material choices, true sustainability requires participation throughout the ecosystem.From ensuring ethical material sourcing, VC-funding priorities, to consumer behavior, the panel emphasized shared accountability from all stakeholders.The panel underscored an encouraging truth: the tools, technologies, and ideas needed for a circular future already exist. What’s required now is alignment—across designers, brands, suppliers, regulators, and consumers—to scale those solutions responsibly.Sustainability isn’t a trend. It’s the blueprint for the industry’s survival—and its greatest opportunity for reinvention.What emerged from the conversation is that circularity cannot be bolted onto business-as-usual, and it has to be embedded earlier at the design stage. If it can be printed to shape, produce only what is needed, and bring supply chains closer to the consumer, waste would stop being inevitable. Policies like the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20250905IPR30172/parliament-adopts-new-eu-rules-to-reduce-textile-and-food-waste">EU’s mandate for separate textile collection</a> are pushing the industry forward, but real change will come from how we choose to design, produce, and consume.&nbsp;<h4>Circularity and Tailor-Made Trends: A Perfect Match</h4>Here’s where fashion’s repetitiveness becomes powerful. Bespoke isn’t just about luxury; it is about choosing quality, longevity, and fit. It is a mindset shift from mass-produced leftovers to made-for-you pieces. When matched with zero-waste design and circular streams, like what Variloom is doing, bespoke becomes a tool against landfills and overproduction.Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s model of the circular fashion economy urges this shift: design for reuse, materials that can be remade again, and business models that extend garment life through longevity, repair, or recycling. Making garments to last, whether they are printed on demand or custom-tailored, is rediscovering that value mindset of past generations.We’ve come full circle, fashion is returning to what it always was: personal, handcrafted, meaningful. Now it’s faster, cleaner, smarter. Bespoke is back, but with fabrics that can loop back, tech that makes it feasible, and circular systems that make it sustainable.The future of fashion is not fast, linear, or disposable. It is slow where it matters, smart where it counts, and circular by design. At Variloom, the vision is simple: fewer boxes in warehouses, fewer off-cuts on factory floors, and fewer garments destined for landfills. By pairing material innovation with localized, on-demand production, they can create products that delight customers while honoring the planet.&nbsp;We stand at an intersection where custom meets consciousness, where trends repeat, but this time, with purpose. Let’s walk through that front door of design, fully aware that better fashion means fewer boxes in the warehouse, fewer gowns in the trash, and more soul in what we wear.

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<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:25%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:2550/3300;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Subaru_b6c53fccc0_1_c34176d9a0.png" alt="Subaru_b6c53fccc0 1.png" width="2550" height="3300"></figure>Author: Subaru is a design lead passionate about crafting impactful solutions through product design and research. Her versatile background spans visual, product, and branding design, with hands-on experience in eCommerce, logistics, and healthcare. Since joining Moon, she has embraced her curiosity and commitment to innovation to create designs that improve lives. Subaru’s professional interests center on design, product innovation, and aligning business strategy with creative solutions.<hr>I've had the opportunities of working with many people new to Design Thinking, and every time, it's been an exciting experience. Watching them unlock each phase of the process and seeing their "aha" moments always takes me back to when I first discovered Design Thinking. At first, it seemed like a complex methodology, but the more I practiced it, the more I realized it’s not some exclusive concept. It’s a way of thinking that anyone can master. In fact, once you get familiar with it, you’ll start seeing how naturally it fits into everyday life, making problem-solving more creative, engaging, and even fun.&nbsp;<h3>Design Thinking in Everyday Life</h3>When we hear "Design Thinking," we often associate it with business strategy or innovation — something structured and high-level. While it’s true that Design Thinking does involve a process, it can sometimes feel intimidating, making people hesitant to explore it.But in reality, it’s not just for business; it’s a mindset for solving everyday challenges, both big and small. You can apply Design Thinking to:<ul><li>Boost Personal Productivity (e.g., redesign your daily routine for better focus).</li><li>Improve Relationships &amp; Communication (e.g., try new approaches to make family conversations more open and meaningful).</li><li>Enhance Health &amp; Well-Being (e.g., experiment with different meal plans or fitness routines to find what works best).</li><li>Redesign Home Organization (e.g., create a more functional, clutter-free space).</li><li>Develop Career &amp; Learning Plans (e.g., strategize your next career move).</li></ul>With Design Thinking, you can tackle any challenge you're currently facing. The beauty of it is that it’s all about experimenting, learning, and improving, one small step at a time.&nbsp;<h3>Let’s Practice Together</h3>By applying Design Thinking — from organizing schedules to improving communication — small experiments can make life smoother and more enjoyable. The best part? The more you practice, the more naturally you'll start thinking like a designer.So, how do we apply Design Thinking in daily life? It starts with understanding the key phases:<ul><li>Empathize: Understand your own needs and those of others.</li><li>Define: Clearly identify the problem.</li><li>Ideate: Brainstorm creative solutions.</li><li>Prototype: Test small changes.</li><li>Test &amp; Iterate: Learn from feedback and refine your approach.</li></ul>Let us consider these as they apply to our daily lives. To illustrate that, I’d like to share a personal story.&nbsp;Applying Design Thinking: My Back Pain JourneyA few months ago, I started experiencing serious back pain. Since I’m still in my 30s, people kept telling me it was too early to be dealing with body pain. But I knew I had to address it before it became a long-term issue.&nbsp;Empathize &amp; Define: Understanding the ProblemI began by defining my problem and asking myself key questions:<ul><li>Is my mattress too soft?</li><li>Am I sitting too long at work?</li><li>Do I have poor posture?</li></ul>To get a better understanding, I visited a chiropractor near my neighborhood. After an assessment, I learned that my weak core muscles were making it difficult to maintain proper posture, which was worsening my back pain.&nbsp;Ideate: Brainstorming Possible SolutionsWith this insight, I started brainstorming ways to strengthen my core and relieve my pain. I wrote down ideas on sticky notes and stuck them to my door. After considering my options, I narrowed it down to three experiments to try over the next three months:<ol><li>Regular Chiropractic Visits: Commit to sessions, motivated by the opportunity to try a new café near the clinic.</li><li>Daily Yoga at Home: Self-learn yoga and treat myself to a piece of chocolate as a small reward.</li><li>Joining a Mini-Gym: Follow a structured exercise plan and gradually level up.</li></ol>&nbsp;Prototype &amp; Test: Trying Different ApproachesFor three months, I committed to testing these solutions. I tracked my progress, noted how I felt, and adjusted my routine as needed.At the end of the experiment, I reviewed my notes and found that my back pain had significantly improved after consistently going to the gym. I felt more refreshed, had more energy for work and social activities, and was motivated to continue leveling up my training goals.Iterate: The Journey ContinuesNow that I’ve seen progress, my next challenge is figuring out the best way to stay motivated and push my training goals further. My prototyping and testing are still ongoing.I’m continuously refining my approach to make sure I maintain a sustainable and effective health routine.&nbsp;<h3>Tips To Start Thinking Creatively Today</h3>After hearing my story, you might be wondering: how can I start my own Design Thinking project? The best way is to start small: pick one area of your life and run a fun, low-pressure experiment. The key is to stay open to failure and iteration. Remember, the goal isn’t perfection. It’s learning and improving along the way.If you’re unsure where to begin or feel hesitant to tackle it alone, try involving others! Co-creating solutions with family, friends, or colleagues can boost your confidence and make the process more enjoyable. You don’t have to do it all by yourself.So, are you ready to take on your first Design Thinking challenge?&nbsp;What small problem in your daily life could use a creative, design-driven solution?

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<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:25%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:2550/3300;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Subaru_b6c53fccc0_1_c34176d9a0.png" alt="Subaru_b6c53fccc0 1.png" width="2550" height="3300"></figure>Author: Subaru is a design lead passionate about crafting impactful solutions through product design and research. Her versatile background spans visual, product, and branding design, with hands-on experience in eCommerce, logistics, and healthcare. Since joining Moon, she has embraced her curiosity and commitment to innovation to create designs that improve lives. Subaru’s professional interests center on design, product innovation, and aligning business strategy with creative solutions.<hr>We are living in the era of AI, where new models emerge almost daily, becoming more advanced and capable. For years, discussions around AI have been filled with both excitement and fear, especially when it comes to its impact on jobs. Designers, in particular, have played one of the center roles of this debate. With AI-powered tools like image generators in Photoshop and Figma’s AI suggesting UI layouts with just a prompt, some wonder: is there still room for designers to shine? &nbsp;The answer is a resounding yes. AI is not here to replace designers but to transform and enhance their role. Instead of fearing automation, designers should embrace what makes them truly valuable—creative thinking, the ability to solve human-centered problems and strategic thinking. To understand why, let’s take a look at how the role of designers has evolved over time and why AI is just the next chapter in this ongoing transformation.&nbsp;<h3>The Evolution of Designers' Roles</h3>Before we discuss the long-term value and sustainability of a design career, we must first understand the nature of a designer’s role.&nbsp;I asked ChatGPT to define it: &nbsp;“A designer is someone who creates and shapes ideas, products, or experiences to solve problems, communicate messages, or enhance functionality and aesthetics… A designer blends creativity, problem-solving, and technical skills to bring ideas to life in a way that is visually appealing, functional, and meaningful.” &nbsp;The essence of design has always been about creative thinking, problem-solving, and strategic thinking. A designer’s role is never fixed (we’re very lively!); it evolves alongside technology, business demands, and user expectations. AI is the latest force driving this transformation forward. In the past, designers specialized in distinct disciplines—graphic design, fashion design, interior design, industrial design, and more. They honed deep expertise in their craft, evolving from traditional handcrafting to digital workflows with the rise of tools like Photoshop and Illustrator. This marked the first major shift: the transition from physical to digital-first design.As businesses became increasingly digital, a second wave of transformation emerged. Designers expanded into UI design, collaborating closely with developers and marketers. Beyond aesthetics, they began shaping brand storytelling, emotional connections, and consistent user experiences across web, social media, and mobile platforms.With the explosion of mobile apps and SaaS platforms, design evolved yet again. UX and UI design became industry standards, and designers moved beyond visuals to focus on user-centered experiences, research, usability testing, and data-driven decision-making. Agile methodologies further reshaped their workflows, positioning designers as integral members of cross-functional teams. Now, as we enter the era of Industry 5.0, where human-machine collaboration takes center stage, designers are once again adapting. They are no longer just creating individual products but designing entire systems—design systems, service blueprints, and omnichannel experiences. AI is accelerating this shift, pushing designers toward new responsibilities such as problem definition, ethical considerations, and human-AI collaboration. The role is evolving from designing static products to shaping dynamic, intelligent experiences.&nbsp;<h3>So, What’s Next For Designers?</h3>How can designers carve out a meaningful place in this AI-driven world? The answer lies in embracing change, not resisting it. Designers have always adapted—whether it was the shift from handcrafting to digital tools or from visual design to user experience. Now, in the AI era, their role is evolving once again. Rather than being replaced, designers are becoming curators, strategists, and facilitators, leveraging AI to enhance their creative thinking, solve human-centered problems, and drive meaningful innovation through strategic thinking. With AI handling repetitive tasks and accelerating execution, designers have a golden opportunity to focus on what truly matters—crafting exceptional user experiences, shaping human-centered design, and thinking strategically. This is also the perfect moment to broaden their expertise, stepping into areas like business strategy, marketing, and systems thinking, where design plays a crucial role in shaping the future.AI is not an enemy; it’s a powerful ally. The essence of being a designer has never been about mastering a single tool or process—it’s about thinking creatively, problem-solving, and strategic thinking. Just as designers have evolved in the past, they will continue to do so now. The future belongs to those who are willing to embrace change, explore new possibilities, and redefine what it means to be a designer in the age of AI.So, the real question is: How will you design your future? &nbsp;

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<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:25%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:2550/3300;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Subaru_b6c53fccc0_1_c34176d9a0.png" alt="Subaru_b6c53fccc0 1.png" width="2550" height="3300"></figure>Author: Subaru&nbsp;is a design lead passionate about crafting impactful solutions through product design and research. Her versatile background spans visual, product, and branding design, with hands-on experience in eCommerce, logistics, and healthcare. Since joining Moon, she has embraced her curiosity and commitment to innovation to create designs that improve lives. Subaru’s professional interests center on design, product innovation, and aligning business strategy with creative solutions.<hr>I recently had a conversation with other designers about the evolving role of design tools. As we talked, we noticed a growing trend—some teams are moving away from traditional design prototypes and opting instead for rapid coding to build their prototypes. This got me thinking:&nbsp;Do we still need design prototypes?After debating this in my head, my answer is a firm&nbsp;yes! You might be wondering why, especially since jumping straight into a technical prototype seems faster. But speed isn’t the only factor that matters. Let me explain why design prototypes still play a crucial role in the creative process.&nbsp;<h3>From Sketch to Code:&nbsp;The Key Differences Between Design and Technical Prototypes</h3>First, let’s clarify the difference between a&nbsp;design prototype and a&nbsp;technical prototype.<ul><li>A&nbsp;design prototype includes wireframes, mockups, and clickable prototypes. It can be created quickly using tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD, or even papers requiring minimal resources.</li><li>A&nbsp;technical prototype is a coded, functional version of the product. It takes longer to develop and requires engineering resources.</li></ul>Each has its own advantages and trade-offs. A technical prototype provides a fully functional demonstration, allowing teams to test ideas with greater accuracy, assess feasibility, and uncover potential technical challenges. However, a design prototype enables rapid iteration based on user feedback, refining the concept before any coding begins. This flexibility helps teams adapt quickly and ensures they are well-prepared when development starts.For example, imagine you're in the early stages of designing a communication app. After several rounds of user testing, you decide to modify the chat screen layout to enhance the user experience. With a design prototype, you can make adjustments in minutes. Now, consider if you had jumped straight into a technical prototype—making such changes would be significantly more complex and could slow down the process.By starting with a design prototype, teams can iterate quickly, explore different ideas, and reduce the risk of costly rework later in development.&nbsp;<h3>Reclaim Your Focus: Innovate the Experience</h3>One of the biggest advantages of using a design prototype in the early stages is the freedom to explore new user experiences without being constrained by technical limitations. Without the immediate need for engineering support, teams can focus entirely on crafting innovative interactions and intuitive designs rather than worrying too much about how to implement them.A design prototype also allows test participants to concentrate on the experience itself rather than getting distracted by technical details. This creates a more authentic and unbiased response, leading to unexpected insights and organic innovation.By prioritizing the user experience first, teams can push creative boundaries and refine their vision before diving into development—ensuring that when it’s time to build, they’re working toward something truly impactful.&nbsp;<h3>Wait! What About Technical Prototypes?</h3>With all the praise for design prototypes, you might be wondering, what about technical prototypes? Are they still necessary? The answer is, absolutely! But the key is knowing when to use each type.&nbsp;<h3>What we need is… hybrid!</h3>Before jumping into prototyping, it’s essential to clarify&nbsp;your objective:<ul><li>What stage are we in?</li><li>Why do we need a prototype?</li><li>What are we trying to test or validate?</li></ul>By answering these questions, we can strategically choose the right type of prototype. Generally, we can break it down into two key scenarios:<ul><li>Use a design prototype → for early-stage ideation, user validation, and stakeholder alignment.</li><li>Use a technical prototype → for testing real-world functionality, system performance, and technical feasibility.</li></ul>A design prototype helps teams minimize risks, refine the user experience, and ensure that development resources are used efficiently on well-validated ideas. Meanwhile, a technical prototype is crucial for analyzing feasibility and performance factors, such as loading times, response time, frame rate (FPS), rendering speed, and overall responsiveness.&nbsp;<h3>Stay Agile and Adopt a Hybrid Mindset</h3>The best teams don’t limit themselves to just one approach—they adapt.&nbsp;Be flexible. Stay hybrid. Always ask yourself:&nbsp;What is the purpose of this prototype? Let that answer guide your process to success.

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<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:3024/4032;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/IMG_3695_1_427bf48618.jpeg" alt="IMG_3695 (1).jpeg" width="3024" height="4032"></figure>Moon Creative Lab recently presented to Stanford University’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stanfordfashionx.com/">FashionX</a> group, a student-led, pre-professional group focused on innovation in fashion design. The discussion dove into the intersection of sustainability and technology in fashion, with a spotlight on 3D printing. The fashion industry, long marred by significant material waste, sees much of its surplus end up in landfills, a problem ripe for innovation.Lovette Appleton, Sr. Product Developer at Moon Creative Lab,&nbsp;explored the pressing need for sustainable material alternatives in fashion, highlighting how this mission aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12, which advocates for sustainable consumption and production patterns. The emphasis of the discussion was on how 3D printing could radically transform the future of fashion by disrupting traditional manufacturing and the fashion supply chain.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1600/1200;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/variloom_2_use_dac4ee2369.png" alt="variloom 2 use.png" width="1600" height="1200"></figure>Traditional fashion manufacturing often yields excessive material waste with designers forced to cut from bulk materials, leaving scraps and unused remnants. By contrast, 3D printing offers a precision-focused solution, enabling designers to build garments and accessories layer by layer, using only the materials required. Materials used in 3D printing allow for reusing and recycling, embedding sustainability not only into the reduction of waste during the production process but also into the end-of-life of the product as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;Moon Creative Lab’s sustainable 3D printed fashion venture,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/stories/variloom-wins-ispo-2024">Variloom</a>, is tackling this problem and transforming the fashion industry by inventing new 3D-printable materials that create soft wearable fabrics that are fully recyclable.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1201/1600;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/unnamed_463dc1eb0b.png" alt="unnamed.png" width="1201" height="1600"></figure>We were thrilled to engage with students, answering their questions on scalability, material innovation, and the design possibilities of 3D-printed fashion. The collaboration highlighted the shared vision between academia and industry to pioneer advancements in sustainable practices. Stanford's FashionX students – future leaders in design and innovation – bring fresh perspectives to solving complex challenges like waste reduction in fashion. These discussions open up exciting pathways to reimagine how fashion can evolve in a resource-conscious world, aligning with Moon Creative Lab's mission to drive purposeful innovation that contributes to a more sustainable planet.&nbsp;Learn more about Variloom at&nbsp;<a href="http://variloom.com">variloom.com</a>.

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Congratulations to Moon venture, <a href="https://www.variloom.com/">Variloom</a>, for winning the <a href="https://www.ispo.com/en/promotion/ispo-award-winner-rip-curl-mirage-3d-boardshort">ISPO 2024 Award</a>! Every year, the ISPO award honors outstanding products in the sporting goods industry — past recipients include North Face, Kathmandu, Arc'teryx, and Puma. Variloom, along with Rip Curl and Bilio, has received this year’s award for the creation of the Mirage3DP Boardshort, which integrates 3D printing technology and sustainable materials into an innovative boardshort that sets a new standard for comfort, durability, and eco-friendly design. &nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:512/341;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/ISPO_award_e469d5f881.jpg" alt="ISPO award.jpg" width="512" height="341"><figcaption>From left: Danit Peleg (3D Printed Fashion Designer), Bethany Meuleners (Senior Product Development Lead, Moon), Milan Thompson (Global Head of Product Innovation &amp; Sustainability, Rip Curl), Kaichi Yokoyama (CEO, Moon), Billy Smith (Founder &amp; CEO, Bilio)</figcaption></figure>Using Variloom’s filament and 3D printing technology, the Mirage3DP boardshorts feature a 3D waistband for stability in the water, integrated panels for fit and ventilation, and a recyclable blend of bio-based TPU and wool for comfort and durability. “Winning the ISPO award for our innovations in sustainable 3DP material, production, and design is an amazing honor, and we could not be more pleased to receive this recognition with our partners Rip Curl and Bilio,” said Kaichi Yokoyama, Chief Executive Officer, Moon Creative Lab. “The Mirage3DP Boardshort made with Variloom’s 3D-printable materials is breaking ground for unrivaled comfort, resilience, fit, and performance. We will continue to work closely with Rip Curl to give customers completely on-demand, customizable, and 100% 3D printed and circular products made from sustainable materials.”&nbsp;<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Mirage3dp_shorts_c37d33954b.png" alt="Mirage3dp shorts.png">In addition to its innovative filament, Variloom is further transforming the fashion industry by creating new systems and processes to bring production closer to the consumer and make circularity a reality. The patent-pending 3DP filament and print system balances softness, stretch, and adaptable performance by utilizing bio-based TPU with carefully selected natural additives and fibers. Variloom’s 3D printing technology will offer on-demand, on-site, print-to-shape 3D fabrication that exponentially reduces production waste, lead times, product inventory, and dependence on offshore manufacturing by bringing customizable production closer to consumers.To close the loop and improve circularity for a product’s end of life, goods made with the Variloom filament can easily be returned and recycled.&nbsp;<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/MIRAGE_3_DP_INT_EXT_2_76bd96cf7c.png" alt="MIRAGE3DP_INT_EXT 2.png">“Our Variloom patents cover a number of ways to produce 3D printed textiles that are flexible, soft to the touch, and wearable with adaptable performance,” said Bethany Meuleners, venture lead, Sustainable Fashion, Moon Creative Lab. “The ISPO Award is a tremendous recognition of the work Moon, Rip Curl, and Bilio are doing in the area of sustainable and high-performance apparel and materials. We will be continuing to improve our capabilities and speed in our processes through innovations in revolutionary machinery to create and fully recycle these fabrics.”See Bethany talk more about Variloom in <a href="https://youtu.be/uMI13osJArI?si=qb5Ck69bIHbXbTjg">this video</a> and look out for the Mirage3DP boardshort, available in 2026.&nbsp;About Variloom Variloom is transforming the fashion industry by creating new systems and processes to bring production closer to the consumer and make circularity a reality. Variloom’s patent pending 3DP filament and print system balances softness, stretch and adaptable performance by utilizing bio-based TPU with carefully selected natural additives and fibers. The future of Variloom and 3D printing in soft goods offers on-demand, on-site, print-to-shape 3D fabrication that exponentially reduces production waste, lead times, product inventory, and dependence on offshore manufacturing by bringing customizable production closer to the consumer. For more information, visit <a href="https://www.variloom.com">www.variloom.com</a>.

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<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:800/534;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/54123221287_a09013fbf4_c_6bd4f768e7.jpg" alt="54123221287_a09013fbf4_c.jpg" width="800" height="534"><figcaption>Photo courtesy of @design.bayarea and RVSF.co @rvsf.inc.</figcaption></figure>In October, Moon Creative Lab hosted&nbsp;<a href="https://designpaloalto.org/about/">Design Palo Alto</a> — a series of events for industry professionals focused on Innovation, Architecture, Tech, Startups, Ventures, Art, and more. The multiday series took place across various locations in Palo Alto and Stanford, California, featuring panel discussions, presentations, and tours of studios and homes.&nbsp;&nbsp;The event, held at Moon’s Palo Alto studio, kicked off with a thought-provoking discussion on "Design Meets Venture Capital," featuring Bill Burnett, Executive Director of the Life Design Lab at Stanford and co-author of the New York Times bestseller,&nbsp;Designing Your Life, alongside Tara Tan from Strange Ventures. They explored the evolving interplay between design, innovation, and investment, sharing insights from their extensive experiences with founders, tech giants, and investors over the years. “Their reflections brought in a diverse audience we were grateful for,” shared Peter Antonelli, Moon’s Global Head of Design. “The audience was very engaged, and we made a lot of great new connections!”&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:800/534;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/54123221722_845083edc5_c_307cbd082a.jpg" alt="54123221722_845083edc5_c.jpg" width="800" height="534"><figcaption>Photo courtesy of @design.bayarea and RVSF.co @rvsf.inc.</figcaption></figure>Following “Design Meets Venture Capital,” Peter presented&nbsp;<a href="https://designpaloalto.org/event/adaptive-by-design/">Adaptive by Design</a>, where he discussed Moon's human-centered design philosophy and how it shapes the products, services, and experiences we develop. “At Moon, design and entrepreneurship are highly symbiotic. Particularly with our early founders, design helps unlock emergent ideas by translating them into tangible, user-facing provocations, which in turn helps shape the path forward. Conversely, entrepreneurs often bring a holistic perspective that provides the essential constraints for design to thrive,” he says.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:800/534;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/54123220167_d50047981f_c_06e447830e.jpg" alt="54123220167_d50047981f_c.jpg" width="800" height="534"><figcaption>Photo courtesy of @design.bayarea and RVSF.co @rvsf.inc.</figcaption></figure>Moon’s Chief Creative Officer, Mike Peng, then took the stage to elaborate on how we apply design in diverse ways to unlock value within Moon and in collaboration with founders. “Design to me is all about intention. It's about taking the time to think through what experience you want people to have and then executing it to the best of your ability," Mike says. "Whether it's our space, our programs, or how we communicate to the world, we want to make sure it feels very Moon — and that's why design is so important to all of us."&nbsp;This insightful event allowed us to engage deeply with the design community and offer them a sneak peek of Moon’s innovative projects. “Hosting events like Design Palo Alto lets us share Moon’s culture and initiate new conversations, opening doors to valuable future collaborations,” Peter explains.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:800/534;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/54124067071_c199a43a7b_c_443918dd52.jpg" alt="54124067071_c199a43a7b_c.jpg" width="800" height="534"><figcaption>Photo courtesy of @design.bayarea and RVSF.co @rvsf.inc.</figcaption></figure>New collaborations and connections are a current focus of Moon Creative Lab, particularly for our new incubation program, Moon In-Residence. “One of our main goals is to bring even more creative energy to our Palo Alto studio through our Moon In–Residence program, which is designed to help entrepreneurs push their ventures to the next level,” Peter adds. With industry events like this one, Moon aims to bring the entrepreneur and startup communities together to create meaningful interactions that inspire creativity, diverse perspectives, and innovation.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:800/534;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/54124523425_af3402bed1_c_45df758931.jpg" alt="54124523425_af3402bed1_c.jpg" width="800" height="534"><figcaption>Photo courtesy of @design.bayarea and RVSF.co @rvsf.inc.</figcaption></figure>To learn more about Moon’s In-Residence program and how you can get hands-on help and support for your venture,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/in-residence">check out our website</a>.If you’d like to collaborate and host an event or workshop with Moon, reach out to us with <a href="https://share.hsforms.com/1u98RYOcPTfefjoRhgX-xewcxaid">this form</a>.&nbsp;

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Key Learnings:<ul><li>Why creativity is essential for innovation</li><li>How to foster creativity</li><li>Developing a creative mindset</li></ul><hr>Creativity takes a certain degree of confidence, doesn’t it? It requires vulnerability, the uncertainty of what might come out and where it will end up. But how do you find that confidence that allows you to jump into something new? We sat down with Moon Creative Lab’s Chief Creative Officer, Mike Peng, to hear his take on finding creative confidence. &nbsp;<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Mike_Peng_702f14ff0b.jpg" alt="Mike Peng"><h4>Innovation needs creativity</h4>Innovation is all about creating something new to the world, and often, the way to get there means you need to do things differently. If you do things in the typical way, you will likely get typical results. “You have to use different processes and different tools to achieve out-of-the-box thinking,” Mike says.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The only way you can do that is to utilize creativity – creative tools, creative processes, and most importantly, a creative mindset. Doing so will enable you to get to an outcome that maybe wasn’t originally imaginable, which is exactly what innovation is all about. ”&nbsp;<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h4>Cultivating creativity</h4>The key to manifesting creativity is to ensure that you are fostering diversity. At Moon, experts in design, engineering, product, operations, and more come together to offer their unique perspectives. It’s this collaboration and exploring through others that allows creativity to thrive, which is something Mike is passionate about. “I think creative collaboration is really, really exciting. When you bring together different types of people who each have different backgrounds, skills, and experiences, you’re able to get different perspectives on the same problem. When you have different perspectives all working together, you can come up with something that’s way more interesting in the end, better than if you were to have done it alone.”&nbsp;Experimentation is another key to creativity, and an experiment isn’t always perfect. “We introduce tools like quick prototyping. I think oftentimes we try and perfect the thing we’re trying to create and wait until the very end to launch. But what we do at Moon is a rougher version, a rawer version that we can test into the world, learn quickly from it, and then re-launch an even better version.” So creativity can sometimes be scrappy and imperfect? Got it!&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h4>What is a creative mindset?</h4>Mike mentioned the importance of a creative mindset, but what does that mean? In some ways, it means being okay with not knowing what it means! “When you’re trying to create something new, we actually have no idea what the ‘right’ answer is. In school, we’re typically taught that there’s always a right answer and a wrong answer. But applying a creative mindset means that we’re going into the problem being okay not knowing what the answer is. We need to explore, try new things, embrace ambiguity. We need to remind ourselves to be okay with not knowing. I know it’s really hard, but that’s one of the things that I think is key to being creative,” Mike explains. “Often, we’re waiting for people to tell us which direction is right and which is wrong, but utilizing a creative mindset means you’re going to suspend judgment and explore options.”<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h4>Creative confidence at Moon&nbsp;</h4>“We’ve been able to apply a lot of different types of creativity to Moon’s projects,” Mike says. “This involves a lot of exploration and experimentation. Sometimes we launch a simple website just to see if potential customers are interested and will sign up! The thought is that if they do, that’s a great indication of traction. You know that we’re onto something. But that’s something you normally wouldn’t do, right? In most cases, you wouldn’t ever create a webpage until you’re actually done with a product, right?”&nbsp;Creative confidence sounds like the reassurance we need to be unsure. To be open to the unknown, not always knowing the answers, and making just about anything, never striving for perfection. Remember, being creative and innovative means doing something new and discovering what’s possible.Jump in. Find inspiration through others. Get scrappy. Experiment. And be ready for new possibilities. Creativity can be scary, but it’s the only way to create something new. As Mike encourages, “Embrace the ambiguity of not knowing what the answer is and then be open to what those potential solutions can be. I think that’s really exciting.”&nbsp;

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Mateus Rezende, Senior Design Lead at Moon Creative Lab, reports on a recent meetup event held in February 2023 in collaboration with&nbsp;<a href="http://canvas.co.com">Canvas Tokyo</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.figma.com/">Figma</a>. What can someone do in three minutes? What about in three hours? In early February this year, Moon was happy to host our first public event directed at the creative and entrepreneurial communities in Tokyo. The formula was simple. We had a three-hour gathering, where the entire Moon team and Entrepreneurs-in-Residence could commingle with other designers, artists, developers, and entrepreneurs who live and work around Tokyo. The core of the event was an open mic session where anyone could present their portfolio, their personal projects, or pitch their startup in three minutes on stage. This gave presenters the opportunity to quickly share their passion to the entire audience for further collaboration and gather potential feedback.&nbsp; &nbsp;<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/machi_event_4700c763cf.jpg" alt="machi event.jpg"> This event was organized in partnership with&nbsp;<a href="http://canvas.co.com/">Canvas Tokyo</a>, an online platform where creatives can share their work, create discussions on an online forum, and find work on their recently launched Jobs page. We also had support from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.figma.com/">Figma Japan</a>, a widely known tool for UX and UI design. While Canvas Tokyo invited their community of creatives to bring physical works to be displayed on a gallery wall during the event, Figma gifted swag to those who were brave enough to take the mic for three minutes on stage. On the opposite wall from the gallery with displayed artwork there was a six-meter wide projection screen with an online white-board powered by FigJam where creators could place the digital version of their artwork. This wall contained lots of different real-time interaction which created an even greater engagement and unforgettable experience for attendees! &nbsp;<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/PXL_20230203_113522584_2_4e996a721f.jpg" alt="PXL_20230203_113522584 2.jpg"> Overall, it was an evening full of great conversation, endless laughter, and networking opportunities. Everyone had an opportunity to talk and meet with someone new.&nbsp;The only moment there was&nbsp;silence was when the open mic session had started. We heard from one of our Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, Satoshi Yoshida, presenting his venture GORIL, and even&nbsp; professionals&nbsp;in the business world who are also artists. Using only one illustrated image and a microphone in hand, those who did choose to present inspired the crowd at the event. &nbsp;<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Event_photo_c6fc8854c6.jpg" alt="Event photo.jpg"> This Open Creative Night was the first public event that Moon hosted, in partnership with Canvas Tokyo and Figma, hosted. The intention is to make this event into an ongoing series of gatherings. Our goal is to create a space in the heart of Omotesando where creatives, entrepreneurs and all ofMoon can commingle, learn, become inspired, and connect with people old and new.&nbsp; Be sure to check out our <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/ja/stories/page/1">Moon Stories</a> for upcoming events!&nbsp;Matheus Rezende Senior Design Lead&nbsp; <a href="mailto:mateus@mooncreativelab.com">mateus@mooncreativelab.com</a>

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Moon Creative Lab, Canvas Tokyo, Figma event 

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