Today, 4th June, marks the 8th anniversary of ith.
As we step into our 9th year, I am grateful for every customer who has visited our atelier and the support from my colleagues. It's my pleasure if anyone feels a connection to ith, both past and present.
On this significant day, I'd like to reflect on ith's origins and share recent updates.
ith began in 2014 with a simple desire to create rings that truly resonate with our customers. It started in a small atelier hidden in the alleys of Kichijoji.
My days were relaxed, wondering if any customers would visit. Weekends were spent taking orders and weekdays crafting and delivering rings, all done by myself.
Before ith, I worked as a craftsman, preferring to work with materials rather than people, and finding customer service challenging. However, discussing and designing rings with customers who visited my atelier brought me a joy and satisfaction I never experienced as a craftsman.
There are many skilled artisans in the world. I have wondered if it was enough for me to just hone my skills and live as an artisan, feeling uncertain about my future. However, through the daily trial and error with each pair of customers, I feel like I have somehow found a path that is uniquely mine.
This initial trial and effort, thinking deeply while crafting each ring, has led to the 'customer-centric' philosophy ith holds today.
I believe that the foundation of ith is not just about listening to what our customers say and making it accordingly, but about worrying together, thinking together, and creating something good. The words from a customer I once served, "It doesn't feel like customer service," have stayed in my mind as it felt like praise for my own approach and have remained with me ever since.
As we enter our 9th year, it's crucial for everyone involved in ith to remember and cherish this founding principle of aligning closely with our customers. It's what I believe to be ith's immutable and essential value.
Personally, I took a break last summer for childbirth and parenting but have recently returned to ith.
Until last year, my life was consumed by ith. The day I started maternity leave, I felt a release of tension, a lightness. The view from outside ith brought fresh perspectives and discoveries.
Firstly, I'm keen to bring to life the ideas for rings and anniversary jewellery that developed during my break. The world is overflowing with jewellery designs, but I want to create something uniquely possible by who I am now.
Drawing on nearly ten years of experience as a craftsman, a lifelong love for sparkling gems, and gemology knowledge honed during pregnancy, combined with experiences of physical changes during pregnancy and parenting, I feel poised to craft something new.
Maintaining ith's original charm while embracing new challenges is what I see as my role.
It might be a bit early to think about, but next year I'll be 40, and ith will be in its 10th year. I hope to make it a year to look back on as rich and fulfilling.
Ayu Takahashi, ith
