Founder & CEO
2nd SKIN LABS Inc. (USA)
AddElm® TECHNOLOGY Corp. (Japan)
Takeshi “Ken” Sugimoto is a ceramic textile innovator who, after establishing AddElm® in Japan, relocated to California to launch 2nd SKIN LABS—advancing responsible, human-centered fabrics through ENERGY SKIN™.
He is widely recognized in Japan for pioneering ceramic-based functional textiles, with his work featured in WWD JAPAN, Fashion Tech News, and Senken Shimbun.
Recognition & Media
ENERGY SKIN™ and the underlying AddElm® textile technology have received international recognition for innovation in performance and functional fabrics.
Awards & Honors
- ISPO Munich Textrends — Top 10 Product (2021)
- ISPO Munich Textrends — Top 5 Product (2022)
- ISPO Munich Smart Technology Category — Best Product Designer (2024)
Selected Media Coverage
- WWD JAPAN — Expanding Human Potential with Textile Technology
https://www.wwdjapan.com/articles/1752753 - Fashion Tech News (ZOZO) — Next-Generation Functional Materials Developed from Minerals
https://fashiontechnews.zozo.com/research/addelm - Senken Shimbun — Creating “Hero Suits” Through Textile Innovation
https://senken.co.jp/posts/person-addelm
ENERGY SKIN™ — The Story Behind the Fabric
From Ceramic Textile Innovation to a California-Based Research Startup
Recognized in Japan as an innovator in mineral- and ceramic-based textile technology, Takeshi “Ken” Sugimoto spent over a decade pioneering functional fabrics designed to support human performance through the skin. After establishing AddElm® as a new category of performance-enhancing textile materials, he began a second phase of innovation focused on deeper research. At the core of this work is Sugimoto’s concept of Energy Fabric— responsive fabric designed as a second skin, interacting with the body’s sensory system through the skin itself. Relocating to California, Ken founded 2nd SKIN LABS Inc., a U.S.-based R&D startup advancing responsible, human-centered fabrics in collaboration with North American universities and research partners. ENERGY SKIN™ represents the first expression of this vision—a proof of concept translating ceramic textile innovation into a wearable system for real-world athletic and everyday use. Born in California, built on Japanese innovation, ENERGY SKIN™ represents the next evolution of functional fabrics—designed to support the human body as a true second skin.
Learn more about our company ▶︎ 2nd SKIN LABS Inc. USA
▶︎ AddElm Technology corp. JAPAN