"Creating Items Teenagers Truly Want" – An Apparel Brand Led by Students: "BLEA"

As a school frequently featured in various media as "Japan's leading institution that respects individuality," the correspondence high school and supplementary school, BLEA (Business Life Education Academy), allows students to acquire specialized knowledge in fashion, beauty, and entertainment and obtain numerous certifications from their high school years. The school focuses on practical education not found in regular high schools and has previously gained attention for its collaboration products with WEGO and colored contact lenses produced by female high school students.

The original brand of the academy, BLEA, was launched in the summer of 2022, and began online sales in December of the same year. What kind of clothing does the student-driven brand "BLEA" create? We spoke to the founding members, Miho Sakurai, a second-year high school student, Yuka Uwatoko, a first-year university student, and Yuka Usu.