The short version of the Why Japan? Story:
I like cats. Japan has good cat fabric, and I have a history with Japan because I was an exchange student there. So, I go to Japan to buy my fabrics because it is cheaper and more effective than trying to source them in Canada in less than wholesale amounts.
The Long Version of the Why Japan? Story:
Ever since I was young, I have wanted to be an entrepreneur. It’s true! I would make and “sell” bracelets when I was 5-7, dreaming about owning a shop to sell my wares. Or I wanted to be an author/illustrator. Creativity has always been key for me!
I have been a knitter since 2007. I learnt in university, took it with me on my exchange to Japan, and then continued to develop my skills when I returned by knitting through most of my classes. If I was knitting, I was paying attention. If I was doodling, nothing was getting retained. Then, when I started my 9-5, I carried it along for any chance to knit on transit or my lunch break. I began to walk and knit…and that’s when I started making project bags!
I pride myself on making all my bag styles transportable, so you can carry your knitting everywhere with you! Whether it’s a strap wrist, shoulder straps, or carabiner hook, I’ve got you covered!
Now, why Japanese fabrics? Well, remember that little note about my Japanese exchange? Here’s where that ties in! When I began making project bags, I was one of only a few project bag makers inAlberta. But then more people joined me and I started looking for a way to make my bags unique, since there are only so many ways to fold fabric and still have it work as a bag! I was already using Nekozuki in my name (Nekozuki is cat lover in Japanese), and so I looked to Japan for cute cat fabrics (which were hard to find in Canada). I found Etsy sellers, and imported from then to start. But then my husband and I went to Japan for his first trip in 2016. I said “We should look at the cost of buying fabric in Japan and bringing it back with us.” - since purchasing it with the middle man up charge was not going to be sustainable and I don’t use it in such a quantity to justify wholesale bolts. Lo and behold, it was cheaper for me to go to Japan, buy the fabric, and then return to Canada with it! It also meant I could return to Japan (the horrors!). So now I exclusively use Japanese fabrics for my exterior fabrics (with the exception of any bags with canvas, like the Kato Drawstring bag). The feel for a lot of the fabric is often nicer than North American fabrics - both in weight, texture, and hand feel. I know purchasing fabrics online is hard! It’s another reason I go to Japan for the fabrics. But, please rest assured that if you purchase a bag from me, you are receiving fabrics that are hand-selected as they are for a reason!
Does this mean my Canadian suppliers are out of the loop? No! In fact, the only thing I source from outside Canada besides fabric has been a recent addition, and that is the leather cording for the drawstrings in the Kato bag. So hardware, thread, interior cottons, and leather all come from Canadian suppliers. And the cording comes from a small business in the US!
