The other day, a visitor came unexpectedly to my workspace.
Since Atelier Miyabi is an online-only brand with no physical store, I was surprised—but managed to greet them as best I could.
Afterward, the person said, “Your website looked so well-crafted that I assumed there must be an actual workshop.”
That comment brought back a vivid memory.
My career started in the planning office of a small art supply company in Japan—essentially a traditional shokunin (craftsman)-style business.
The founder was a president who deeply loved painting. He built the company from scratch, and everything from product photography to catalog design and writing descriptions was done in-house. It was a company that lived and breathed art.
They offered well-known paints like Holbein and Liquitex, but the most important product was their own Japanese-made paintbrushes. Even overseas painters would likely recognize the brand name.
Watching that company function from the inside gave me a deep respect for what I now call Japanese craftsmanship—not just the act of making, but the spirit behind it.
A Foundation Built on Quiet Excellence
From the outside, the building looked like an ordinary home. But inside, it was a hub of creativity and precision. Day by day, brushes and paints were packed and shipped with great care to artists across the country—and beyond.
It wasn’t a flashy place. There was no walk-in shop or showroom. Yet trust, consistency, and dedication were quietly at work behind the scenes.
That experience shaped my values in ways I didn’t realize until much later.
Atelier Miyabi: A Brand that Ties Threads with Heart
Today, I run Atelier Miyabi from a modest space—no retail counter, no gallery walls. But the same spirit lives here.
Every product photo, color curation, and description is handled with intention. I collaborate with skilled artisans across Japan who produce the actual pieces, and my role is to design, direct, and deliver—with a deep appreciation for the musubu (結ぶ) philosophy that ties it all together.
Just like the brushes of my past, the kumihimo cords I now create carry the essence of Japanese handcraft. They may be small and quiet, but they are filled with story.
Whether it’s a silk cord for jewelry, a decorative wrap for gifts, or a motif woven into clothing, each one holds a bit of that handmade honesty I once witnessed in that humble company.
Working by Hand, Working by Heart
When I’m packing orders or adjusting colors on a product page, I often think of those quiet mornings in the art supply office. Of shelves filled with materials. Of hands moving carefully and steadily.
That way of working—simple, dedicated, and true—is still what guides me today.
Looking back, even the experiences I didn’t fully value at the time — traveling to craft conventions in the U.S., designing pattern packs and art books, writing stories behind brushes — all of them were small threads that now weave together into the work I do today.
From Japanese kumihimo cords to artist collaborations, every project is part of this long journey through art, design, and storytelling.
Atelier Miyabi may not be a storefront, but I hope that the heart of what I do reaches you, one thread at a time.
Thank you for reading.
— Shizuka, Atelier Miyabi