Japanese women are demanding that women’s clothing come with functional pockets, The Japan Times reported.

For years, most women’s clothing in Japan has had fake, decorative or too-small pockets, causing frustration for many wearers. Several women reported that their cell phones do not fit in the pockets, or fall out.

I used to think that the lack of pockets in women’s clothing was something normal, although uncomfortable.

told Ayako Urasawa, who launched a movement to demand women’s clothing with real pockets.

Why are pockets so important?

Urasawa’s vision changed radically after the plane crash in Tokyo in 2024. After the tragedy, it became known that passengers had to evacuate without luggage. Many men managed to carry valuable items in their pockets, while many women had no choice but to leave everything behind.

What are they doing?

In March 2024, Ayako launched a public petition to demand that women’s clothing be designed with useful pockets. The proposal already has more than 4,000 signatures. Now, Urasawa seeks to demonstrate to brands and industry that there is a real demand for this type of garment.

Some companies have already begun to react. The firm Konaka, which specializes in men’s suits, acknowledged that the design of pockets in women’s clothing is more complex due to anatomical differences. However, they stated that they are “actively working” on a solution.