2/29 Arts Day

We have in-house training once a month inviting Mr. Masaaki Sakaguchi as a instructor.

Now we have more workshop style than discussion style we used to have.

The subject in this month is [Arts Day].


Making some arts using our textile, anyone could attend if they want to.

30 people applied then!

We had the first [Arts Day] on Sat. 26th.


They can finish making by 17th of March and each of them will show with their own comments.

They are all on the way, so please look forward to seeing them!

by izukuranaoto | 2011-02-26 16:29

2/24 I am going back to Japan soon.

It is a bit past 5pm here in NYC. I have to leave for JFK airport at 8pm.

I had a fruitful stay here in NYC.

I arrived here on 16th, and attended Susan Cianciolo's show.

Next day, I had a lunch meeting with Gilles who is a business partner of Jean Doucet, and he introduced me a textile supplier for Chanel couture, Jenevieve. Then I needed to set up for Atelier trade show in the evening.

Third day. we still worked on setting up our show in the morining, and had a pre-show sales event in the afternoon.

19～21th for Atelier trade show. We had dinner meetings every night.

On 22nd, I visited our buyers/boutiques in Manhattan and a thank you lunch, then had a dinner at a steak house with NY staff at the evening.

And the last day, yesterday 23rd, I had a meeting with our NY staff and then Susan Cianciolo, and finally Kimomo Hiro.

I have been so busy, so meetings with Gilles and Jenevieve seem so far away.

I will come to NYC in September again, and travel to NYC to Santa Fe, then Los Angeles. I assume I will get much busier.

Thinking of....

Mere 2 and a half years ago, I was seriously thinking of closing down our US office. What a big difference we made!

HINAYA can do more business here in the US?
I felt strongly so during my stay in NYC.

From a window at Hinaya USA office.

by izukuranaoto | 2011-02-24 19:29

2/23 Susan Cianciolo -when buildings meet the sky

this collection was created and made at hinaya textile in kyoto.

by izukuranaoto | 2011-02-23 20:41

Third and the last day at Atelier trade show in NYC

Since I arrived in the morning of 16th(Wed) in NYC, it had been so warm around 68F. However, as I woke up this morning(21st), Manhattan was covered with snow !

It was about 18F degree...

Honestly, I coped with this weather fine, but what a difference we had in a day! Today, the last day at our trade show, I had an appointment with a buyer from MA, so I wondered if she got here, but she made it here.

Our buyers from US cities mentioned that many had a record-breaking snow this year.

A bit later at 9PM. By the time we finished up at the trade show, we already lost snow in the streets.

Atelier trade show closed its door finally.
We received the biggest orders(volume sales) since I came to NYC for this show!

On top of that, we are working on trunk shows in Santa Fe, Minneapolis and  Massachusetts, and I conclude this show was very fruitful.

I still have 2 days here, 22nd and 23rd.

I have so many to do like, dinner appointments, visits to our client in Manhattan, meetings with Susan Cianciolo, then Kimono Hiro.
Tonight, I will make a excuse to take a deep breath for myself and take my precious staff to Peter Luger steakhouse in Brooklyn!

by izukuranaoto | 2011-02-22 23:23

Second day at Atelier trade show in NYC

Today, the second day at Atelier, 5 other trade shows started, and we had only a few buyers in the morning, and a slower afternoon time. However, we suddenly had a very busy evening with buyers who came from other shows until the closing time.


This is myself with one of our clients, Kara Mia from Oklahoma.

She is a very intelligent and cheerful Korean-American lady, and studied textile art in twenties, and showed me some of her works on iPhone. Believe or not, they are made of silk woven with lemons, tomatoes, sardines. You will not get the idea, but they looks cool anyway.

She asked me if I am on Facebook, so I replied with "Yes, Just started"

Then, she suggested "Let's take a picture together!"

I found out that she and I have only a year difference, and she is now crazy about horseback riding and boats, and has 2 horses. I hope one day we can visit her in Oklahoma.

Actually, we are supposed to have a dinner together, but I felt so tired with a jet lag and such a busy schedule, I needed to excuse myself and asked our female staff to join her for a dinner.

I feel so sorry, but next time for sure, Kara Mia-san!

by izukuranaoto | 2011-02-21 20:16

First day at Atelier trade show in NYC

Many buyers visited us and we had a wonderful 1st day sale! Our new scarf collection called "mitasu+"(not available yet in Japan), and scarves made by collaboration with Yasmine Simmon, a textile designer in Paris, both are almost sold out as of today.

by izukuranaoto | 2011-02-20 21:00

The third day in NYC

Today, we had a pre-show sale at Atelier trade show in NYC, and we had a wonderful start!

by izukuranaoto | 2011-02-19 11:43