One Day, One Life: The Fourth Week of September: Considering new items and going to the Global Festa
Hello. The fourth week of September is starting to feel like autumn, and it's the week we take a new step forward for our brand.
Here you go!
The next step in manufacturing is finally underway
This week was when the ideas I had been nurturing finally started to take shape.
Ordering has begun for new slipper designs and restocking of popular designs.
How can you incorporate the vibrant colors and unique patterns of African fabrics into your footwear? The time spent choosing each pattern is truly exciting.
We have also begun considering a new version of the bag, aiming to create a design that is easier to use and more attractive, while taking into consideration the feedback we have received from our customers.
We have also begun meetings with a factory in downtown Tokyo, and as we discuss the production of slippers and bags, ideas for other items are beginning to emerge.
It is the moment when the skilled techniques of the artisans and our passion for African fabrics come together, and we are reminded once again that there is a certain warmth to things that are carefully made.
We are also considering other items, so stay tuned!
Sorry for being so pretentious...
What I felt at Global Festa
In between such a busy week, I decided to take a trip to Global Festa JAPAN.
Global Festa JAPAN is one of Japan's largest international cooperation events, bringing together various organizations, NGOs, companies, government agencies, etc. involved in international cooperation. Every year, many people visit the event, which is a place where they can learn about and experience global issues and international cooperation.
The venue was filled with organizations active on the front lines of international cooperation, and I was deeply moved by the passion and dedication of each of them to their work. There are people working hard every day to help people facing difficulties in faraway places. Seeing this made me think again about how we too can help in some way.
An organization called A-GOAL , to which we regularly donate, also had a booth and introduced the operation of a soccer league for boys and girls in Kibera slum.
The following is quoted from A-GOAL.
The main goal of the Kibera A-GOAL League is to bring joy into children's daily lives through soccer matches every weekend . In other words, it aims to incorporate soccer into children's daily lives, keep them healthy and busy, and keep them away from drugs and crime.
Kibera slum is poor and there is little to enjoy. Children have nothing to eat and are forced to spend their days with nothing to do. As a result, they turn to alcohol and drugs to ease their suffering, or turn to crime and prostitution to earn money. As a result, they are unable to go to school and their future is closed off.
However, if there is a match on the weekend, everyone gathers at the venue to play. Also, on weekdays, they practice together as a team after school. This means that when they get home, they naturally eat a meal, get a good night's sleep, and don't have time to do anything naughty. The Kibera A-GOAL League protects children's futures by creating "fun" places.
Source: A-GOAL
Valuing both domestic and international cooperation
I am aware that there have been many recent discussions about the nature of international cooperation, including the issue of African hometowns.
However, we don't think it's an extreme choice between zero and 100. It's important to focus on domestic issues. At the same time, it's also important to provide support and cooperation across borders. Rather than choosing one or the other, we should focus on both to the extent possible. I think that kind of balance is important.
We are a small brand, but we have international connections through African fabrics, and we create products together with artisans in downtown Tokyo. We donate a portion of our profits to international cooperation.
This is because we feel that we are all fellow citizens living on the same planet.
It may not be perfect, but we do what we can, little by little. That's our style.
At a super public bath for the first time in a while
In fact, I am writing this article at a super public bathhouse that I visited for the first time in a long time.
Photo: Embarrassing hands that forgot to shave
As someone who loves saunas and cold baths, this time is irreplaceable to me. Sweating in a hot sauna and resetting my body and mind in a cold bath. Repeating this cycle clears and organizes my mind.
It's been three years since I quit drinking, and it's no exaggeration to say that it's my greatest joy (laughs).
In the midst of our busy daily lives, it's good to take time to stop and reflect on the past week. Perhaps it's precisely because of this time that we can move forward into a new week.
Cherish each and every day
"One day for a lifetime"
With these words in mind, we build on each day. Manufacturing and contributing to society start with small choices and actions each day.
We hope to continue our activities that will bring a smile to someone's face, even if just a little, while sharing the charm of African fabrics.
Please look forward to the next one. Thank you for always watching.
Representative Kaoru Tsuji
