Visiting weavers, frequenting dye workshops, drawing patterns. How three people with different roles built a brand that "translates handwork into everyday wear" - and what comes next.
- How do the three of you divide the roles? "Research and materials for one, design and patterns for another, production and numbers for the third. We all weigh in on each other's territory, so it turns into a debate constantly (laughs)."
The first 30 shirts
- What was hardest at launch? "The first 30 linen shirts. The workshop's looms could only weave so much - 30 was our limit. But those 30 sold out, and that convinced us: it's fine to start at this scale."
What translating means
- You often use the phrase "translating handwork." "Bring traditional craft over as-is and nobody can wear it daily. Can it survive a washing machine? Can you commute in it? That work of landing it in modern life is what we call translation."
- Goals from here? "There are so many workshops we haven't met yet. We want to add one new region's handwork to the collection each year. In ten years, the ideal is a full set of translations from all 47 prefectures."