Our Concept
The concept of "Sashi.Co" is quite simple.
We (Keiko and Atsushi) decided to launch "Sashi.Co" Project as Keiko shared her honest feeling with Atsushi. She calmly said to him in a regular "mother and son" conversation.
"I just would like to do what I love, that is Sashiko."
Keiko continued.
"As a result of my Sashiko work, I would like to let people know what Sashiko is."
In Japan around the time of 19th century, Sashiko was a work for women over winter. It is now known as arts because of its characteristics such as "all hand made" and "unique traditional design patterns", but Sashiko was merely a wisdom in daily life.
I asked her what her goal is if we launch the project. She answered with clear voice.
"Creating the authentic Sashiko pieces is my goal. As a result of that, I hope, Sashiko will be passed down to next generation. I do not think I am the type of leader to make it happen. However, I would like to contribute to the Sashiko culture."
It was simple as this. The "Sashi.Co" concept is Keiko's dream.
Our Concept is...
【Sashi.Co provide the authentic Sashiko pieces with high standards.】
There are themes (sub-concepts) of Sashi.Co project. Atsushi interpret our conversations and put in to the sentences.
1. We re-create the jackets and accessories based on the Japanese culture in the late 19th and early 20th century, and modernize them to create "Sashiko version 20xx" for our generation.
2. We introduce the beauty of "Hand-Made / One-of-a-Kind" pieces, rather than "Mass-produced" merchandizes.
3. We respect the artisans and their incredible skills.
(Atsushi's Note)
To be honest with you, it might be challenging for me to manage someone like Keiko. She has been the designer, and the artist of Sashiko for more than 30 years. She is not a business person who can focus on financial statement and business strategy.
I believe I can support her. In fact, I made up my mind to help her no matter what. Although I do not know how much I can devote myself into this project (because of new environment I choose), supporting a dream of my own mother is very precious thing.
One concept I have from my experience;
【I focus on Keiko's concept rather than the financial situation.】
It sounds idiotic when it comes to the business. I understand that. However I just do not want to repeat the same mistake again. I hope, and even believe, that there is a way to manage the project with Keiko's concept(s).
Sashi.Co will be her life-telling-story, starting at the age of the retirement for most of the people.
I am sincerely happy to support her for this project, as her son as well as a passionate fan to Sashiko.
Opportunities
In Sashi.Co project, we plan to create several opportunities to meet the customer's satisfaction. We believe that it is important to involve Sashiko Passionate fans to Sashi.Co culture. Sharing Sashiko culture to actual Sashiko practitioner is also our passion.
One of the biggest, yet necessary challenge is to create the high quality materials. Sashiko Materials (Supplies) with Supreme quality such as Sashiko threads, Natural Dyed fabric and yarns, and needles / thimbles are very necessary.
One of our first goals is to prepare the materials and equipments that will meet our standard. After we examine them enough, it is our goal to have enough inventories to provide in the market. At last, making a shopping cart on this website so we can start handling the orders.
(*We successfully open a web-store. Please follow the link here.)
We once have created the great materials (Hida Sashiko Threads).
We cannot sell the great materials we once had because we had accomplished the production on behalf of the “organization.” Simply, we do not have authorization to produce and sell what I was marketing all over the world. It is unfortunate, but we do never give up.
We start from the scratch. And we will meet our standard, “the best”. We no longer have stakeholders to please or employer to apple polish. Please wait for the update!
One of the biggest, yet necessary challenge is to create the high quality materials. Sashiko Materials (Supplies) with Supreme quality such as Sashiko threads, Natural Dyed fabric and yarns, and needles / thimbles are very necessary.
One of our first goals is to prepare the materials and equipments that will meet our standard. After we examine them enough, it is our goal to have enough inventories to provide in the market. At last, making a shopping cart on this website so we can start handling the orders.
(*We successfully open a web-store. Please follow the link here.)
We once have created the great materials (Hida Sashiko Threads).
We cannot sell the great materials we once had because we had accomplished the production on behalf of the “organization.” Simply, we do not have authorization to produce and sell what I was marketing all over the world. It is unfortunate, but we do never give up.
We start from the scratch. And we will meet our standard, “the best”. We no longer have stakeholders to please or employer to apple polish. Please wait for the update!
(Atsushi's Note)
Although what I write here is not what Keiko mentioned over our conversation, this is what I dream of making it happen with Keiko. It is wonderful to meet, to talk, to listen to, and to enjoy Sashiko together with Sashiko fans all over the world.
In order to achieve this goal, what I am planning are...
- Sashiko Tours to Japan with Atsushi. Full lectures regarding Sashiko included. (You could join from all over the world.)
- Sashiko classes. / Starting from 3 hours to few days courses.
- Online Information Database.
- Hopefully, book publication…?
Keiko will be in charge of production.
Atsushi will be in charge of Sashi.Co experience and story telling. Sashi.Co is as simple as this.
Please let us know if you come up with ideas to make your Sashiko like more enjoyable. Your feedback is very helpful to establish our Sashi.Co culture.
Supports Us
We have a plan to register us as a Non-Profit Organization in future.
We need to consider this process very carefully before we make this big decision. No matter how we decide our business type, there are key concepts to pursuit. I come to the idea that what Sashi.Co is trying to do could be a form of "Social entrepreneurship."
I have experienced how difficult business management could be when you have to make a profit. Well... of course it is difficult because most of the business need to make profits to survive. However, the sense of profit had created many problems to avert from our goals in previous company.
Sometime we had to compromise or given up our concepts because of its BEP (break-even point). It was necessary to meet the satisfaction of the stakeholders. There was no doubt that I was doing right thing as a manager in a company pursuing profit. However, I couldn't stop feeling ashamed by providing the "commodities" regardless some (small) compromise I had to make.
Keiko and I simply do not want to compromise on anything, and anymore. No matter how costly it would be in labor or materials, we would like to pursue the best, the very best piece in the world.
We also understand that the idea of "not caring profit much" is kind of crazy dream. After all, we have to sustain our life somehow. Atsushi has a great partner who understands his goal and support his life financially and mentally. Keiko now receives “unemployment benefit” from Japanese government.
Therefore, I am not saying that we do not make a profit. My point is simple. Our pride comes first. Profit comes in second. Your help and understanding to this dignity is greatly appreciated.
(*as of 2015, unemployment benefit ended and she will start a business besides this Sashi.Co. She had made up her mind. She is so determined!!)
(*Non-Profit Organization means that we will not have stakeholders or someone who can control us by using monetary authorities. We still try to make it profitable.)
As I mentioned above, there are no rules that Non-profit organization cannot make profit. No matter what kind of organization we will become, we will try out best to pursue what we value. Our goal is to influence this world with Sashiko, even a little bit.
At the same time, when we finalize the idea of establishing the Non-Profit Organization, We might ask public for donations to sustain Sashiko culture with us, with Sashi.Co Story. Your contribution is greatly appreciated. Even before that, we will be happy to receive your feedbacks, opinions, and contributions.
We need to consider this process very carefully before we make this big decision. No matter how we decide our business type, there are key concepts to pursuit. I come to the idea that what Sashi.Co is trying to do could be a form of "Social entrepreneurship."
I have experienced how difficult business management could be when you have to make a profit. Well... of course it is difficult because most of the business need to make profits to survive. However, the sense of profit had created many problems to avert from our goals in previous company.
Sometime we had to compromise or given up our concepts because of its BEP (break-even point). It was necessary to meet the satisfaction of the stakeholders. There was no doubt that I was doing right thing as a manager in a company pursuing profit. However, I couldn't stop feeling ashamed by providing the "commodities" regardless some (small) compromise I had to make.
Keiko and I simply do not want to compromise on anything, and anymore. No matter how costly it would be in labor or materials, we would like to pursue the best, the very best piece in the world.
We also understand that the idea of "not caring profit much" is kind of crazy dream. After all, we have to sustain our life somehow. Atsushi has a great partner who understands his goal and support his life financially and mentally. Keiko now receives “unemployment benefit” from Japanese government.
Therefore, I am not saying that we do not make a profit. My point is simple. Our pride comes first. Profit comes in second. Your help and understanding to this dignity is greatly appreciated.
(*as of 2015, unemployment benefit ended and she will start a business besides this Sashi.Co. She had made up her mind. She is so determined!!)
(*Non-Profit Organization means that we will not have stakeholders or someone who can control us by using monetary authorities. We still try to make it profitable.)
As I mentioned above, there are no rules that Non-profit organization cannot make profit. No matter what kind of organization we will become, we will try out best to pursue what we value. Our goal is to influence this world with Sashiko, even a little bit.
At the same time, when we finalize the idea of establishing the Non-Profit Organization, We might ask public for donations to sustain Sashiko culture with us, with Sashi.Co Story. Your contribution is greatly appreciated. Even before that, we will be happy to receive your feedbacks, opinions, and contributions.
「Sashi.Co」のコンセプト ＆ 願い
「刺し子でデザインする。」
30年以上刺し子と共に生きている二ツ谷恵子が、刺し子で何かをデザインしたいと一念発起したのがブランド「Sashi.Co」です。
「ユーザーが、刻を一緒に楽しめる布作品」を念頭において、古布を使用する事により独特の風合いを持った1点もの作品を製作し続けています。
「もう一度、世に出してやるからな。」
製作前、古布に向き合う恵子が布に語りかける言葉です。
弱くなってしまっている古布も、刺し子をすることで強くなります。刺し子をすることでより美しくなります。
すでに強い布も、刺し子をすることで耐久性が増します。刺し子をすることで年月による布の変化が楽しめます。
刺し子で私たちの日々をデザインする。
刺し子でお客様の日々を少しだけデザインする。
刺し子で社会を、僅かながらデザインする。
刺し子でデザインする。それがSashi.Coのコンセプトです。
+++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ +++++
実は「Sashi.Co」は、絶望にも似た深い悲しみの中から生まれました。
”会社”に尽力し、「刺し子」という日本文化を遺すことが人生の使命だと信じていた私たちにとって、旦那であり父親であった当時社長の死と、その死から僅か45日後に訪れるの”会社”との別れは、当時の私たちには厳し過ぎる現実でした。
プロフィールにも書いていますが、KEIKOはその厳しい現実から目を背けることなく、そして自分自身をしっかりと見つめ続け、『私は何がしたいのか』を問い続けました。その結果、生まれたのが「Sashi.Co」です。
「Sashi.Co」は、KEIKOがデザインする刺し子作品のブランド名です。
「私が作りたいものを作り、結果刺し子が残れば嬉しい……。」
……という、刺し子と飛騨高山が好きな自由人であるKEIKOから生まれるブランドの呼び名です。
ファッションの流行からはかけ離れているかもしれません。
また、大量生産ができない全て手作りの作品たちでは、流行を作ることはできないかもしれません。
それでも、今はなかなか見ることができない、大正から昭和の日本の「衣文化」を現代に甦らせようとするKEIKOのデザインセンス、そして着こなしからの訴えは感銘に値すると信じています。
「刺し子」という手仕事を後世に残すだけではなく、その「刺し子」が存在した時代のファッションそのものに”想いを巡らせて”みたい。願わくば、その手仕事が現代の衣文化と融合し、古き良き日本と今の日本が織りなすファッションを見てみたい。
力強く一歩を踏み出したKEIKOと、そんな母親を応援する覚悟を決めた淳が語り合う夢には際限がありませんが、株主にも経営陣にも気兼ねすることなく、好きな大正時代前後の日本文化を現代で具現化する……そんな戯言が「Sashi.Co」の願いです。
+++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ +++++
素敵な未来を見据えて。
KEIKOが好きな様に好きなだけ作品を作り、それを着こなし楽しんで。
淳が、そんな母親を世界に紹介し、これまで一緒に生きてきた「刺し子」という日本文化を後世に残す手伝いをする。
それ以上の夢は、この文章を読んでくれている皆様からのお力を借りることによってしか、実現しないものです。
今後とも、私たち共々「Sashi.Co」を宜しくお願い致します。
KEIKO & 淳
「Sashi.Co」ができること。
それぞれを独立したプロジェクトとして、作品を作り続け、販売すること。
そして、その作品の材料を”おすそ分け”して、刺し子文化の裾野を広げること。
今私たちができる「Sashi.Co」という商売は、基本製造業です。クラフト作家業です。
世界中で有名になっている「Sashiko」という言葉と手仕事。
多くの刺し子ファンの方のご期待に応える為にも、草木染めの糸や布を始めとした「刺し子材料」の研究開発は継続して続けていきます。自分たちが満足できるものをお客様に提供する。これまでも今からも変わりない、私たちができることの一つです。
上記に加えて、以前は一定の制限がかかっていた事にも挑戦してみたいと思うのです。
例えば……
- 日本全国、そして世界中に存在する「刺し子」や「針仕事」とのコラボレーション
- 日本全国の「刺し子」や「刺し子に関連する文化」を巡る旅の企画
- 刺し子の体験共有
- オンラインでの情報データベース（主に動画）
- 出版
など、夢は広がります。後は今までは英語でのみ行っていた講演等も夢の一つです。
上記は、私たち二人だけでは形になりきらないことばかりですが、2013年までの様な奇跡にも近い素晴らしい出会いを、ご縁を頂いてきた私たちは、結構楽観視しています。きっとなんとかなるんだろうっと。
「Sashi.Co」は多くの素晴らしい人々のお力を借りて、沢山のできること、コンテンツを持っています。
応援頂けたら嬉しいです。
アメリカで働く配偶者がいて、子育てが本業になりそうな淳。
遺族年金を主な収入としつつ、作品を作り続けるKEIKO。
根幹の事業となる作品制作への準備と環境は整えましたが、それ以上の設備投資＆事業投資となると、なかなか厳しいのが本音です。オフィスも工房もない、文字通りゼロからの出発です。
……っと悲観的に感じられてしまう文章を書いてしまいましたが、特に大きな在庫を抱える必要があるわけでもなく、大きな固定費があるわけでもないこの事業。淳の配偶者（MARINA）の協力もあって、しっかりと前には進めそうです。進めそうだから、こうして世にでることにしたわけですし。
それでも、未来の工房開設の夢に向けてお力添えを頂けたら本当に嬉しく思います。必要のなくなった着物や布等をお譲り頂けたら、そのリサイクルから新しい作品が生まれます。専門家の方に依頼をする資金はない為、今は全て手弁当で進めていますが、文字通りお力をお貸し頂ければ、「Sashi.Co」はどんどん大きくなると思います。
（*恐縮ではありますが、使える着物や布地には制限があるので事前にご連絡頂いてからの受け取りになります。）
クラウドファンディングや組織化、そして工房の開設や、最終的には個展の開催の大きな夢まで 抱えつつ、皆様に応援をお願いしつつ、一歩ずつ進んでいけたらと思っています。
