Web3 Denim - Enhance Primary/Secondary Value of Sustainable/Circular/Vintage Denim with QR tag/NFT/Decentralized Storage

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Masafumi Otaki

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Individual

[GENERAL] Co-proposers and additional applicants

We have various collaborators including web2/web3 developers, denim/jeans manufacturers, apparel retailers/international EC platforms, and apparel professionals, which are not registered as co-proposers and additional applicants. Please see the details below.

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

12

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

No

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

We develop a primary market and secondary market of denim jeans that can be tracked by QR tags and NFTs with IPFS storing denim photos and customization history to enhance their attractiveness.

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

No dependencies

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

No

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

Some of the ideas might be considered to be protected by patents so that it could secure the success of our future roadmap. However, we would be happy to consider letting other projects on and off Cardano community to use the patents (licensing) once they are successfully registered and we receive requests, provided they enhance the overall community value.

(The code of the website which will be launched to the public should be open source)

[METADATA] Horizons

RWA

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Denim attracts users but there are problems.

• Denim fans like to know the process of concept making, design and manufacturing of the denims they buy, but it is given up when the denims are sold on the web or in a store, or once it is bought by a consumer.
• Denim is one of the most interesting texture used for fashion since its color changes overtime, but how it was achieved such as where and how is not tracked.
• Denim is durable and can last for a long time, but sometimes is disposed very soon, which is not good for the environment and sustainability.

  

Therefore, as a solution to the above problems, we develop a primary market and secondary market of denim jeans that can be tracked by QR tags and NFTs with IPFS storing denim photos and customization history, and showing them as SNS and linking them to the NFTs.

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

I expect below positive impacts.

1. Use Case for RWA: RWA is one of the main theme of the blockchain industry. Diamonds were tokenized with NMKR Studio as in the below website. There should be more use cases for RWA and our project will provide a good case study to Cardano Ecosystem https://www.nmkr.io/drops/tiamonds-2023
2. Use Case of utilizing Cardano based platform: We are considering using the NMKR's service and infrastructure, particularly NMKR Studio. This will make another good case study of an NFT project in the Cardano Ecosystem.
3. Future roadmap to enhance the value of Cardano ecosystem: Our plan includes retail stores, vending machines, etc., which will increase Cardano’s visibility to the public. (TBD)
4. Use Case to onboard RWA which a Japanese industry has a strength in: I will share this project on my communication tools such as SNS when the right time comes so that everyone in my connections can see them, which will increase Cardano’s activities both in Japan and internationally.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

My experience include

• Experiences in finance, consulting and digital strategy with total of fifteen years
• Experiences in blockchain startups
• Quantstamp - A web3 security auditor backed by Y-Combinator, Country Manager
• NEWM - A web3 music streaming platform on Cardano Blockchian, Chief of Staff
• Network with denim brands and professionals
• [Undisclosed at this stage] An apparel professional who has broad network with denim manufactures
• [Undisclosed at this stage] A denim distributor with EC platforms which target foreign Japanese denim fans.

I visited Okayama, Fukuyama, and Kojima, where there are ecosystems of denim factories and shops, and have seen different brands, designs, stores, manufacturers, and a trading company.

I also spoke with some developers to secure preliminary technical specifications.

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Complete a denim Prototype - January, 2025

We will develop a denim prototype with a manufacture in Okayama or Kojima, which are well known towns with the majority of the denim manufacturing market share in Japan.

With modifications based on the prototype, we will manufacture 200 denims with four to five size variations. The number of manufactured denims might change depending on the cost and expected sales price.

Develop a primary platform - February to March, 2025

We have spoken with a representative from NMKR regarding the use of NMKR Studio, a platform tool for developing an RWA tokenization platform, and have secured preliminary technical specifications.

Launch the platform and market it - April, 2025

Launch the platform and sell denims to the first 100 users through below marketing efforts.

1. Partnership with denim EC platforms
2. Boutiques in NY

These are used to obtain user feedback to refine the platform functions, denim specifications (both technically and physically including denim designs, QR code, storage function, app function, etc.), and to design future development roadmaps.

Develop a secondary platform - May to June, 2025

We have spoken with a representative from NMKR regarding the use of NMKR Studio, a platform tool for developing an RWA tokenization platform, and have secured preliminary technical specifications.

Launch the platform and make secondary transactions - July to September, 2025

Launch the platform and make secondary transactions happen by finding offline buyers or conduct online marketing including SNSs, etc. and obtain user feedbacks.

Publish a report - October to December, 2025

We will conclude the project by sharing a project report so that the community can utilize learning from the project. Regardless of the success of the project, there should be learnings that the community can make the most of in future developments and collaborations in the community.

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

I will work as a project manager basically on the weekend while I will collaborate with developers and denim retailers/ distributors who will handle hands-on developments/ sales on the weekdays as well.

Developers

1. MadDevs - We have spoken with a representative and obtained a rough cost estimate.
2. MetaSill - They will support us to develop additional product functions in the future roadmap.

Denim retailers/ distributors

1. [Undisclosed at this moment] A Japanese denim distributor based in Daikanyama, a fashion town in Tokyo.
2. [Undisclosed at this moment] A Boutique in NY, which a fashion school graduate in NY has a connection with.

The developers or denim retailers/ distributors may change depending on future discussions.

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Source:

• Catalyst: 150kADA

Use:

• Development: 89kADA (including patent registration for future roadmaps)
• Patent: 20kADA
• Development: 69kADA
• Jeans production: 39kADA
• Business travel, etc.: 8kADA
• Marketing: 14kADA

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

The Cardano community will obtain below benefits.

• Experiment for RWA from Japan: The project will provide an experimental case where RWA from Japan, where the Cardano has roots in, is sold on the Cardano blockchain.
• Branding for Cardano: The project will expose Cardano together with the Japanese craftsmanship to the world through the platform.
• Successful RWA Use Case (if succeeded): The project will provide a successful use case for RWA.
• Learning from the project: The community can utilize learning from the project. Regardless of the success of the project, there should be learnings that the community can make the most of in future developments and collaborations in the community.