Journal

Bristol Japanese Cultural Showcase
Bristol Japanese Cultural Showcase
Yesterday I took part in the Bristol Japanese Cultural Showcase, an event that takes place once a year in Bristol. It’s always a special atmosphere, with performances, music, and so... Read more...
New Arrivals from Japan
New Arrivals from Japan
Today a new shipment arrived from Japan. These are pieces I’ve been sourcing for the Japanese cultural event this Sunday, so it felt good to finally have them here. There... Read more...
Japanese Shippo pattern fabric in navy blue prepared for garment production
A Change of Plans
Both today’s market at St Nicholas and tomorrow’s Tobacco Factory have been cancelled due to strong winds. I had arranged to meet a few customers, so it was quite disappointing.... Read more...
A New Fabric with Meaning
A New Fabric with Meaning
Yesterday, I sourced new fabric from Japan for shirts and dresses for next month’s festival. The pattern is called Shippo, a traditional design made of overlapping circles. It represents connection... Read more...
Cold day at Tobacco Factory Market
Cold day at Tobacco Factory Market
Today the clocks changed for daylight saving time. But it didn’t feel like it at all. It was freezing and really windy, more like the middle of winter again. Even... Read more...
A Week of Making
A Week of Making
After a busy market last week, I spent most of this week making new pieces. Many items found new homes, so it felt important to take the time to restock... Read more...
Sukajan Jackets Lately
Sukajan Jackets Lately
Lately, the sukajan jackets have been doing really well. I’ve noticed that they’re being picked not just by men, but also by women and even children. It’s been interesting to... Read more...
A busy day at Tobacco Factory Market
A busy day at Tobacco Factory Market
Today I was at Tobacco Factory Market. Since the Spring Equinox, the weather has been really good, and today was another warm, bright day. By the time the market opened,... Read more...
The Days Around the Spring Equinox
The Days Around the Spring Equinox
Yesterday marked the Spring Equinox. Over the past couple of days, the weather has suddenly turned bright and warm, almost as if it’s celebrating the arrival of the new season.... Read more...
Returning to the Bristol Japanese Cultural Showcase
Returning to the Bristol Japanese Cultural Showcase
Next month I will be trading at the Bristol Japanese Cultural Showcase. I joined this event for the first time last year, and it was such a wonderful experience that... Read more...
The Beauty of Shibori Kimono
The Beauty of Shibori Kimono
Today I spent some time looking through a few shibori kimono. Shibori is a traditional Japanese dyeing technique where the fabric is tied, stitched, or folded before dyeing. The process... Read more...
Less, But Better at Tobacco Factory Market
Less, But Better at Tobacco Factory Market
Last week I received a notice from Tobacco Factory Market. The market encourages traders to focus on handmade work, original design, vintage pieces, and thoughtfully curated collections. Because of this,... Read more...