Around 2004 or 2005, at an exhibition at Tokyo Big Sight, encounters with artisans from Okinawa specializing in dyeing and weaving sparked discussions on creating Cafe Zori sandals and bags with their fabric, marking the inception of what would later evolve into an OEM business.

Bashofu, a valuable natural fabric, is produced in Kijoka, in the northern part of Okinawa’s main island. Soetsu Yanagi once noted, “Such beautiful fabric is seldom found in modern times.” Toshiko Taira, instrumental in Bashofu’s revival, is recognized as a Living National Treasure.

Years later, the opportunity to deliver a lecture in Naha led to a visit to a Bashofu weaving workshop. Since then, regular orders have been placed for thongs, Cafe Zori sandals, and bags made from Bashofu.