The Story Behind “zutto matsurika”
“Wear to Connect”
The brand name “zutto matsurika” comes from my daughter’s name.
She has lived with illness since birth.
While raising her, my desire to protect her became overwhelming.
There was a time when I couldn’t rely on anyone and carried the burden alone.
I couldn’t bring myself to go outside, and before I knew it, the world felt incredibly small.
During that time, someone who was going through a similar experience said these words to me:
“Maybe you should just step outside and talk to someone.”
Talk to someone.
Listen to someone else’s story.
Just doing that made me realize,
“I’m not alone,”
“There are others who feel the same way,”
Little by little, my heart grew lighter.
Connection doesn’t have to be a grand gesture.
I truly felt that even the smallest spark can help someone move forward again
Since then, I’ve always tried to open my shell just a little.
To accept myself as I am now —
including the things that don’t go well or don’t turn out as I hoped.
I feel every day that this accumulation leads to my next choices.
That’s precisely why, through the clothes I create, I want to tell children:
“It’s okay to accept yourself just as you are.”
“It’s okay to trust your own feelings.”
“It’s okay to choose for yourself.”
Representative Naoko Takahashi
Naoko studied Universal Design at the University for the Creative Arts in the UK. She subsequently joined Issey Miyake Inc., where she spent approximately 19 years involved in all aspects of brand management, including overseas operations, product planning, and marketing. Through her experience as a parent, she recognized the need for clothing that anyone can wear naturally. She later founded zutto matsurika in 2025.
