Towards a world where all kinds of people can coexist naturally. Looking back at HERALBONY in 2024

The year 2024 is fast approaching its end, but what kind of year has this been for you all?

HERALBONY will be able to shine in many new ways in many different places in 2024. This is all thanks to all of you who have always supported us. Thank you so much.

This past year has been filled with many big events that will become pages in the history of HERALBONY. Today, I would like to look back on this past year in chronological order, focusing on some of the most memorable initiatives.

January "#Don'tErasePeopleWithDisabilities" project

In response to the Noto Peninsula earthquake that occurred in Ishikawa Prefecture on January 1st, HERALBONY launched a project called "#Don'tErasePeopleWithDisabilities" at the beginning of the year, with the participation of volunteers from within the company.

This project was born out of the fact that people with disabilities were pushed aside and disappeared from evacuation centers and other communal living spaces during the Great East Japan Earthquake, and out of a desire to deepen understanding of people with disabilities who are sure to be in similar difficulties this time around. Specifically, we launched a special page compiling guidelines for people with disabilities and information that will be useful in times of disaster, and made an effort to convey the real voices of people with disabilities in disaster-stricken areas through social media.

On January 5th, we also started an activity to donate a portion of the sales of our products to support and restore the Noto Peninsula earthquake. So many people placed their hopes in HERALBONY and provided us with a lot of support. To express our gratitude to everyone who helped with the donations, we distributed postcards of "Let's Sow Seeds for the Future," a work by Ishikawa Prefecture-based artist Kanta Wajima. We were also greatly inspired by this work, which depicts a wide variety of people and animals coexisting vibrantly.

Once again, we realized that it is only thanks to your daily support that we are able to devote ourselves to these activities. Please allow me to express my sincere gratitude to you all.

Please also take a look at the Isai Tsushin newsletter, which tells the inside story of the project.
>Employees united. The inside story of the "Don't erase people with disabilities" project [Unique Communication #3]

April: New brand logo

On April 23rd, the corporate logo for HERALBONY Inc., which had previously been written in katakana, and the logo for the brand "HERALBONY" were unified and redesigned into a new logo.

The logo design was done by Mizuno Manabu, one of Japan's top creators.

This change in logo is a declaration of HERALBONY's intention to expand its activities globally and create new culture in the world, and also declares the beginning of a new chapter in the second phase of HERALBONY's founding.

With a revamped logo, HERALBONY has begun a new journey, striving to create a society where 8 billion unique personalities can exist as they are.

> To the world, and to become a cultural company that will continue for 100 years. Creative director Manabu Mizuno and HERALBONY's Takaya and Fumito Matsuda talk about the background of the birth of the new logo

While we embarked on this new journey with one heart, we also felt a sense of sadness at the loss of the old logo (commonly known as the "horse logo") that we had grown accustomed to and walked alongside.

Therefore, we have opened a special page called "The Last PONY Presentation" that focuses on the horse logo that has been loved by fans up until now. HERALBONY JOURNAL has published an article that tells the story behind its creation as well as an important message to fans.

>The story behind the creation of the HERALBONY "horse logo" - What we want to say to our fans as we embark on a new journey

At that time, we received a lot of feedback and messages of support from our fans who had accepted our feelings, both on social media and through surveys; this remains one of the most memorable moments for us.

May: Winner of the LVMH Innovation Award 2024 Category Award

The LVMH Innovation Award 2024 was established by LVMH, the world's largest conglomerate that owns fashion houses such as Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior, to recognize innovative startups from around the world. We were the first Japanese company to be selected as one of the 18 finalists, and won the "Employee Experience, Diversity & Inclusion" category award at the awards ceremony held in Paris, France on May 23rd.

At the HERLABONY office in Japan, the members were watching the award ceremony live with bated breath. When the name "HERLABONY" was called, they burst into tears.

Megu Kobayashi, head of overseas operations, who was on stage at the event, was the first to hold up the artist's work to the camera when the live camera was pointed at her, and in her acceptance speech she expressed her gratitude to the artist.

May: New line "HERALBONY ISAI" is born

The brand's new line, "HERALBONY ISAI," has been launched, a product that embodies the utmost respect for art and the energy felt from the original artwork.

This iconic product embodies the future of HERALBONY, with attention to detail coming from the production background and material selection to the method of expression that connects art and fashion.

Our goal was to create a one-of-a-kind product that would communicate the appeal of the work to the world and allow people to appreciate the work on a deeper level through the original experience of becoming a museum and curating the work by wearing it as clothing.

>Click here for a list of ISAI products

At the same time as developing this product, we announced a new "Declaration of Responsible Manufacturing." As a company that strives to change the negative image of disabilities, we expressed our desire to fulfill our responsibilities in manufacturing as well. The unveiling of HERALBONY ISAI, which was exclusively open to online store members, was an opportunity for many people to learn about the passion and dedication we put into manufacturing.

June: Hankyu Umeda "HERALBONY ART COLLECTION"

In June, a large-scale POP UP called "HERALBONY ART COLLECTION" was held at the Hankyu Umeda Main Store.

Based on the concept of "This art will make you an artist," products with the new logo were unveiled for the first time. In addition to sales, various events were held where visitors could experience the art for themselves.

August: "HERALBONY Art Prize 2024" Exhibition & Award Ceremony

The HERALBONY Art Prize 2024, announced on January 31st this year, "Isai Day," is an international art award hosted by HERALBONY with the aim of creating opportunities for people with disabilities to have their talents recognized as artists and to further expand their avenues of success.

A total of 1,973 artworks were submitted during the application period. A total of 924 artists from 28 countries around the world submitted works, and many artists received the Grand Prix, including Haruka Asano's "Hyouka," as well as other awards such as the Special Jury Prize and Corporate Award.

In August, the "HERALBONY Art Prize 2024 Exhibition" was held, displaying all 63 works by 59 artists, including the award-winning artists and those who advanced to the final round. A total of 10,000 people attended, providing an opportunity for visitors to experience the unique talents of artists all over the world.

At the awards party, the sponsors and the award-winning artists gathered together, creating a special space where communication could take place regardless of whether they had a disability or not. Many memorable scenes were created, such as the proud expressions on the artists' faces during the awards ceremony, moving speeches from artists who usually don't speak out, and the biggest smiles of the day in the venue as the artists took unexpected action.

September "HERALBONY EUROPE" established.

After receiving the LVMH Innovation Award 2024, the company began to take on the global challenge in earnest, and in September, a subsidiary was established in Paris, France.

In time for Paris Fashion Week (Women's) in September, the brand held its first overseas exhibition at the art gallery "Galerie Christian Berst" in the Marais district of Paris. The brand unveiled its latest silk satin scarves, carefully woven from 100% of the highest quality silk, with the brilliance of unique art.

> See the first exhibition in Paris, France on Instagram
>See the full list of silk scarves (Paris Edition) here

October: Iwate Kawatoku Crowdfunding begins

HERALBONY has operated a permanent store in Kawatoku, a long-established department store representing Iwate Prefecture, the birthplace of HERALBONY, and has been visited by many customers.

Next year, the HERALBONY store in Kawatoku will undergo a major renovation and reopening.

In October, we teamed up with Kawatoku to start a crowdfunding campaign. We reached our goal of 10 million yen in just 10 days. We received many messages of support, and we felt motivated to create a wonderful place that would live up to everyone's expectations.

The stretch goal is still in the works, running until January 23, 2025.
>Crowdfunding here

The new store is planned to be more than five times larger than the previous one, and will include not only a shop but also a gallery and a cafe. Through Heralbony's goal of "changing the image of 'disability' and realizing a society where 8 billion people with disabilities can live as they are," the company aims to create a space where everyone can feel a sense of belonging and feel that "it's okay to be there."

Please look forward to our reopening next year.

November Tokyo Daimaru & Iwate Kawatoku POP UP STORE

In November, POP UP will be held at Daimaru in Tokyo and Kawatoku in Iwate.
This year, we held our first ever "Artists as Store Staff for a Day" event, with a total of seven artists in both Tokyo and Iwate helping to liven up the storefronts.
At HERALBONY, we value the opportunity for everyone to spend the same time and space with the artists in a variety of settings.

Through the experience of meeting an artist, you can experience the charm and interest of the artist, and develop feelings like "respect" for the artist. And the person who experiences this can feel affirmed in their own way and can encounter new realizations.

HERALBONY will continue to create spaces such as department stores and event venues where people of all kinds can come together freely and without any pressure.

Please also take a look at this note.
>Why we continue to create a place where you can encounter "uniqueness" | Writer's 1-day store staff report

And then to 2025.

In 2025, HERALBONY will continue to deliver uniqueness to the world, together with our artists and all of our supporters.

A large-scale art exhibition called "PARADISCAPE: The World Painted by Distinct Artists" will be held at SHIBUYA SKY from January 16th. Please look forward to this special exhibition that will shine on the world from the rooftops of Shibuya.

>More details here

In addition to Iwate Kawatoku, we are also planning to open new stores. Please look forward to these too.

Thank you very much for your continued patronage of HERALBONY in 2024.
We look forward to your continued support in 2025.