ith celebrated its 9th anniversary on June 4th, 2023.
Thank you to everyone who has visited our atelier, supported us, and contributed to each day's progress, allowing us to reach this 9th milestone. We appreciate your support.
Among recent events, a significant change is the establishment of ith's atelier overseas.
An expert in overseas business joined our team, and in November 2022, we opened an atelier in Singapore. In April and June 2023, we also opened two ateliers in Taiwan.
Although ateliers overseas have been increasing one after another, honestly, I hadn't felt it until recently.
The distance of the atelier's location, the lack of opportunities to meet the concierges directly, and the fact that preparations for the opening were progressing steadily even in my absence, all contributed to the reasons why I hadn't felt it close by.
However, as I've engaged in more conversations with the concierges, a sense of warmth and color has gradually emerged when envisioning the ateliers and the artisans at work.
I've come to realize that regardless of location, the dedication of ith's craftsmen is uniform, and everyone shares the ideal of empathizing with customers and the challenges of expressing that through their work.
"To attend to each unique customer and create a ring that truly feels right"
This is a simple concept but challenging to execute.
When ith started in 2014, there was nothing but the enthusiasm of "Let's give it a try!" Over the course of nine years, I was able to solidify the core of the brand, and having the sense of growing it together with everyone is truly a precious experience in my life. I feel that by continuing to pursue "empathy," we can become a gentle yet strong brand.
About a month ago, I had the chance to reconnect with a customer from ith's early days.
Their engagement ring had deformed, and they visited the atelier for repairs after nine years.
Seeing their name in an email instantly brought back memories of the scene where they were seated together in the furthest room of the atelier, the day of delivery, and the sadness I felt at the thought of not seeing the couple for a while.
I remember in the design process making the width of the ring, called Allegro, as thin as possible for the woman with small finger sizes.
The straight shape had a single line in the center, and to enhance the design, it was better to have a certain width. However, having too much width didn't feel right. Through this process, I realized that while the concierge's intent is crucial, proposing designs that suit the person wearing them is an essential aspect of creating beautiful rings.
In our communication, the customer mentioned that they felt a bit distant as ith expanded the number of ateliers over the years. However, when they visited the atelier in Kichijoji, the relaxed atmosphere remained unchanged, and they could recall the time when they chose their rings.
This message made me feel relieved, as it seemed to affirm the essence of ith. I always value the beginning, and I believe my role is to draw a line between what remains unchanged and what changes. It was reassuring to hear, 'You're not wrong,' and that made me happy.
As we complete the repairs and hand over the rings, we shared stories about becoming mothers, and I noticed that even with a new short haircut, her calm demeanor hasn't changed. Although it was a short time, it was an invaluable moment for me.
Next year marks the 10th anniversary.
We're already in motion to showcase the new ith. While cherishing the beginning, I will do my best for another year ahead.
ith - Ayu Takahashi
