Bridging Portugal’s proud textile and apparel craftsmanship and passion with embroidery,
this collaboration brought an immersive, memory-making experience to the global stage of the World Expo.
At Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Tajima offered a personalized embroidery service using its compact embroidery machine, SAI, at the Portugal Pavilion. At the heart of this initiative were MODAPORTUGAL, which promotes Portugal’s textile and apparel industry to the world, and CENIT, a sector’s intelligence and promotional organization supporting innovation in the industry.
Over the course of three days, visitors were invited to experience on-site name embroidery using fabric offcuts from the pavilion uniforms. The booth drew a continuous stream of eager participants, many of whom took home their very own personalized piece.
Embroidery Service at the Portugal Pavilion, Expo 2025 Osaka — MODAPORTUGAL × Tajima
Luís Hall Figueiredo, President of CENIT
MODAPORTUGAL Presents: A Fusion of Tradition and Innovation
MODAPORTUGAL is a project dedicated to showcasing the advanced technology and creativity of Portugal’s fashion and textile industries to both domestic and global audiences. At Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, the project expressed the theme of “Tradition × Technology × Sustainability” through exhibitions, performances, and uniforms.
The pavilion uniform stood as a powerful symbol of this theme.
Inspired by Japan’s traditional yakisugi (charred cedar) woodcraft, the design features embroidered patterns that reflect its visual connection to architectural elements from Portugal’s Azores Islands.
Created with sustainability in mind—using recycled yarns and eco-conscious materials—the uniform embodies deep respect for both cultural heritage and the environment.
A One-of-a-Kind Name, Stitched into Fabric Scraps
Embroidery holds a warmth and elegance that printing simply cannot replicate.
We felt it was the perfect medium to offer each visitor a truly special experience.
For this personalized embroidery service, fabric offcuts from the pavilion uniforms were used. Thanks to the compact footprint and precise stitching capabilities of Tajima’s embroidery machine SAI, a high-quality personalization experience was achieved even within the limited booth space. Visitors watched with anticipation as their names were stitched, letter by letter. When they received their finished piece, their faces lit up with delight. This brief moment left a lasting impression of the Portugal Pavilion.
Portugal has a long-standing embroidery tradition, and local creators strongly resonated with Tajima’s fine craftsmanship and attention to detail.
More than just decoration, the embroidery became a “connection of memories”—a role uniquely entrusted to Tajima.
Leading the Way in a Sustainable Textile Industry
MODAPORTUGAL and CENIT have played a key role in evolving Portugal’s textile industry into one that is both sustainable and innovative.
From supporting the adoption of the EU-wide initiative for digital product passports for garments to promoting recycled materials, visualizing CO₂ emissions, and embracing circular design, they are helping drive a transformation across the industry by guiding Portuguese companies through the requirements and complexities of these innovations.
“The textile industry was once seen as a symbol of consumption.
Today, it is becoming a driver of circularity and a more sustainable future.”
This shift in perspective is clearly reflected in both the uniforms and the personalized embroidery service featured at the Expo.
Embroidery as a Bridge — Connecting People, Nations, and Meaning
“Tajima delivers more than technology—it delivers emotion.”
On the global stage of the World Expo, embroidery emerged as a powerful medium for creating shared experiences that transcended borders and cultures.
A simple act—stitching a name—was transformed into something deeply meaningful, becoming a personal and lasting memory.
With just a name embroidered, an ordinary item was elevated into a heartfelt, one-of-a-kind piece.
This experience quietly conveyed a powerful message: individuality and quality can coexist with sustainability. It became a gentle bridge, connecting the Portugal Pavilion’s core message—tradition, innovation, and sustainability—to each visitor’s heart.
Tajima’s embroidery technology is evolving beyond decoration—it’s becoming a medium for creating meaningful, memory-filled experiences. Compact yet powerful machines like the SAI are increasingly used to deliver personalization at events, in retail spaces, and beyond.
Tajima will continue to inspire through embroidery—working with users, creators, and brands around the world to craft experiences that move the heart.
