OUR STORY
About Zusetsu
Zusetsu was founded in 2019 by Cathy,
and established with the tremendous
skill and teamwork of Yukki.
We are based in a beautiful town in
the English Cotswolds.
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Our aim is to provide a platform in the UK for the beautiful products of skilled Japanese artisans,
to share their inspiring stories in a thoughtful way,
and to celebrate the intersection
between our two different cultures.
KYOTO: WHERE IT ALL STARTED
Cathy fell in love with the city of Kyoto and the exquisite beauty of the temples, the tea ceremony, the gardens, the wrapping culture, the festivals, and the art and textiles.
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Cathy studied English Literature as a mature student with Oxford University (Cont. Ed. Dept.), achieving a Distinction.
Cathy loves learning about the Heian era of Kyoto, and reading Japanese literature of the time.
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Her favourite novel is The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu.
FROM PASSION TO BUSINESS
We adore the long history of Kyoto's artisan skills, which stretch back to when it was the Imperial capital over a thousand years ago.
We're touched how these unique skills have been passed down through generations to the modern day, and how solo artists and small companies have created contemporary designs to appeal to a modern audience.
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Our dream is to introduce these beautiful products to a wider audience.
MEET THE ZUSETSU TEAM
Meet Cathy and Yukki, the faces behind Zusetsu!
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Cathy has worked as a professional children's book illustrator for the past 30 years.
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Yukki, who is originally from Japan, moved to the UK in 2018 and has been supporting Cathy ever since!
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We're a small family business - Yukki is Cathy's daughter-in-law!
MEET THE DESIGNER
Our artist Cathy is passionate about having her furoshiki designs printed and made in the area where furoshiki originated: Kyoto.
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Because of the success of our screen-printed Snowflower, and our vibrant Yuzu furoshiki, we have launched our third furoshiki design called Winter Crane!
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Take a Look at our Latest Blogs
