After the gigantic earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March 11, 2011, I, Nancy, have been working as a volunteer crochet instructor and visiting temporary housing where our free knit cafes for the affected people were held. In those activities, I saw so many women found joy in knitting/crocheting, and regained their smiles and energy through their creations. I was also pleasantly surprised by the fact that there were many skillful knitters and crocheters in the devastated areas, compared to urban cities in Japan. None of them were professional knitter/crocheters, but they had been creating sweaters, mufflers and mittens for a long period of time as they lived in a particularly cold climate.
Besides the knit cafe events, I also had a chance to ask the especially talented women among them to work on some projects and crochet some products to be sold in Tokyo. Fascinated by their sophisticated
skills, I chose quality yarn that would match. Their works were simply amazing – made with great care and neatly finished. In addition, I received all kinds of positive feedbacks from these women. They enjoyed crocheting, and discovered that crocheting did wonders for their hurt hearts, and that it even helped them to find friends in their new dwellings. Yes, they have time, they have skills, and they enjoy handicraft really very much.
I showed the products they had made to an acclaimed Japanese interior designer and an executive of Japan’s most famous department store, and they immediately fell in love with the beautiful works and made a snap decision to retail our products.
Actually, they sold very well in Tokyo, and these experiences made me believe that the products made with high-quality material by talented craftworkers with time and care would boast the highest commercial value in modern society.
That is how we launched our label, “Kate & Co.”
We wish that our products bring joy to all of you who will be using them, just like they bring pleasure to us who are creating them. We know for sure that it is very beneficial to everyone involved – the skillful craftworkers in the affected areas are rewarded for their great works not only with fair wages but also with comfort and quality time, while the beautiful fair-trade products would certainly attract customers.
After living in temporary housing for years, our craftworkers made a fresh start in new houses or post-disaster public housings in unfamiliar but far-from-the-sea places. They have always been dedicated to producing quality products. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in Kate & Co. If you have any queries, please feel free to contact us.
Nancy Nishikikouji
Co-founder and Designer of Kate & Co.