On June 4th, ith celebrated its 11th anniversary.
We are truly grateful to all the customers who have visited our ateliers and to the many people who have supported us through their work with our rings. It is thanks to all of you that we’ve come this far.
With heartfelt appreciation for the journey so far, we now look forward to another year ahead.
Every year around this time, I find myself reflecting on how ith began and where we’re headed.
When ith started in 2014, it was born from a simple desire: “to create rings that our customers truly love.” Back then, our quiet little atelier was tucked away in an alley far from Kichijoji Station.
I remember waiting for customers while silently working at my desk, wondering if anyone would visit that day. Though there were moments of solitude and uncertainty, facing the rings in front of me helped ease those feelings—and day by day, I immersed myself in the act of creating.
Thinking back to those early days, what stands out most are the rings themselves—the challenges of crafting them and the new designs that emerged from customer ideas I could never have imagined on my own. Through the rings, I felt a growing connection with our customers, which in turn gave me confidence little by little.
As I reflect on how I’ve changed since then, I realise I now spend much less time actually making rings at my workbench. Part of that is because I have a three-year-old daughter, which naturally limits my time. But another reason is that I’ve been spending more time thinking about how ith can continue to be true to itself.
Over the years, skilled craftspeople and concierges—both in and outside our company—have joined us, each bringing their own experience and individuality. So many people now support the brand, something I never imagined at the beginning.
Reaching our 11th year, I’ve come to feel that—precisely because we have such a strong team—I want to keep “making” in my own small way, while also finding other ways to help our customers arrive at rings they genuinely love. I’ve realised that no matter the form, I want ith to stay close to our customers through creation—and that’s what I want to protect.
Lately, I’ve been especially passionate about our connection with the concierges in our Taiwan atelier. While ith has ateliers in both Singapore and Taiwan, it hasn’t always been easy to convey the values and ideas we’ve carefully built over the years.
I still remember clearly what one Taiwanese concierge told me when I visited:
“Unlike Japan, the atelier here is still new and not well known. Compared to brands with a long history, we’re at a disadvantage when it comes to customer service.”
Those words hit me hard. I had hoped our concierges could feel proud of building something from scratch—and that if they could embody what makes ith unique, we’d surely be embraced in Taiwan too. But in that moment, my belief was shaken.
Then, in May this year—two years since we opened in Taiwan—a customer came to the atelier and said,
“I’ve always dreamed of having our wedding rings made here!”
That one visit made me so happy. I hope we can create more of these moments, and that they bring a sense of fulfillment to our concierges there.
More than simply completing a ring, what’s slowly coming into view now is the brighter sign of growth of the concierges themselves.
There are still challenges due to cultural differences, but I want to continue engaging with passion—experiencing local values and customs as much as possible, and expanding the circle of people who fall in love with ith’s rings and worldview. I hope we can leave behind something meaningful in these places.
Not long ago, I had the chance to catch up with a senior craftsman I used to work with. He was someone I admired greatly—quick, creative with design and techniques, and always entertaining everyone around him. Back then, he seemed like someone who could do it all.
When I shared how my work has changed, he said with a laugh,
“You used to love making things and spent all your time at the bench—what a change!”
There have been times when I’ve asked myself, “What is my role now?” or “Maybe I don’t actually love making things as much as I thought?” But hearing that from him helped me see my evolution in a more positive light.
Back in the day, I used to watch his back and think, “Someday, I’ll surpass him!” It was a joy to now be able to share with him how my life has unfolded in ways I never imagined in my twenties.
In the year ahead, I want to continue exploring what makes ith truly ith—more deeply than ever. The days fly by, but I hope to have new changes to share by this time next year.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support.
With gratitude,
Ayu Takahashi
ith
