how my brand started
I want to share with you the story of how my brand started.
I lost one of my sisters in 2006.
She was a joyful, energetic, and beautiful Japanese landscape designer who loved nature deeply and dreamed of planting as many trees as she could in her lifetime.
It was her dream and her love of nature that inspired me to create my brand.
I wanted to design something that would encourage people to live more responsibly toward the environment - and to help them reconnect with nature in their everyday lives.
This is my way of continuing my sister’s mission.
When I was going through a difficult period in my life, I began visiting a heath near where I live. One sunny day, as I lay on the grass and looked up at the sky, I felt peaceful and grounded. I thought of my sister - how much she would have loved that beautiful moment.
I was filled with appreciation for Mother Earth, who gives us so much, even as we continue to take from he. In that quiet moment, I felt a strong desire to give something back. That was the moment my first collection Tsutsumi was born.
My father took this photo on New Year's Day. I was eight years old, and my sisters were just three.
I miss my sister dearly. She is always in my heart, smiling. I feel her presence whenever I'm in harmony with nature - calm, grounded, and connected.
Now, I'm starting what I call the Tsutsumi Revolution - a movement to share the Japanese Furoshiki culture with the world. My aim is to reduce waste from single-use wrapping paper and plastic bags, while keeping the beauty and joy of gift-giving alive.
If this resonates with you, I'd be so happy if you could help spread the word about the Tsutsumi Revolution to your friends and family.