About the Brand:
Ucou is Japan-made high quality textile brand. The brand’s mission is to discover locally manufactured fabrics in Japan and
introduce them to the world. It uncovers the hidden magic and stories from the manufacturing process of textile,
and shares the experiences through the maker’s handcrafted work.
Ucou’s spirit is rooted in authentic craftsmanship—every product is produced by small, home-based textile makers in Fuji-yoshida region.
Ucou’s designers,Chabata and Michiyo, believe that a piece of fabric that is a condensation of traditional wisdom,
technique and passion repeatedly passed on for centuries. The craftsmen in Fuji-Yoshida have a very high level of techniques and standards,
yet their products are little known to the world, and most of them find it a struggle to expand their markets overseas.
In 2014, Chabata and Michiyo decided to collaborate with craftsmen in Fuji-yoshida to produce original fabrics
that are perfect for dresses, pillows, bags, or anything handcraft fans would love to make with them.
This is when Ucou was born.
About the Designers:
Yuka Chabata
After studying psychology in college, she found her true passion in fashion.
She studied fashion in Paris for two years, then continued to pursue fashion design at Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo.
She worked in the apparel business for four years. When she was working for a fashion trading company,
she met weavers in Fuji-yoshida, Yamanashi prefecture. That encounter inspired her to start a business of her own.
Michiyo Terao
She spent her senior year in high school in Vermont, United States as an exchange student,
and later majored in International Relations in college in Tokyo.
However, she spent most of her time there working on theatrical productions.
She worked at an advertising company for four years, then as a cook at a local diner for another four years.
She has always admired traditional fabrics, thanks to having a mother who was a professional handweaver.
關於品牌：
ucou 是來自日本山梨縣的高級紡織品牌，每件成品均是日籍設計師及當地專業手織達人的匠心獨運，
訴說著山梨縣富士吉田市每家每戶編織出來的優質布料故事，並頌揚那代代相傳的傳統工匠技藝。
ucou設計師Yuka Chabata小姐及Michiyo Terao小姐，深信來自日本山梨縣手織布料上的每條經緯線，
都交替道出了當地人代代相傳的傳統智慧、非凡手藝，以及對手織布工業的熱誠。
每位日本山梨縣手織達人均擁有超凡的織布手藝，以及對每幅成品質量均有崇高的要求。
惟當地品質再好的手織布，也難以拓展海外市場，為世人所知。有見及此，Yuka Chabata小姐及Michiyo Terao小姐於2014年，
決心跟日本山梨縣手織匠人攜手合作，將他們高質手織布創作成裙子、枕套、手袋等各式各樣的時尚布藝品，
而ucou的品牌亦由此應運而生。
關於設計師：
Yuka Chabata
在大學修讀心理學畢業後，Yuka Chabata小姐發現自己一直鍾情於 時尚服裝藝術，於是她獨自遠走法國巴黎，
在濃厚的藝術氛圍下，修讀了兩年時裝學。回國後，她繼續在日本東京的文化服裝學院修讀服裝設計。
在修畢時裝課程後，Yuka Chabata小姐一直從事成衣買賣達4年之久。當她在一家時裝貿易公司工作期間，
因工作關係遇上了日本山梨縣富士吉田市的織布達人，從而啟發她開設自己的公司。
Michiyo Terao
在美國佛蒙特州以交流生身份完成高中課程後，Michiyo Terao小姐選擇回流東京在大學主修國際關係科，
而在修讀期間，她花了很多時間從事舞台製作的工作上。畢業後，她在廣告公司工作4年，再輾轉在一家當地食肆當上廚師又一個4年。
這位由設計到廚藝都全心投入的設計師，自小受到專業手織師媽媽的技藝薰陶，一直鍾愛傳統布藝；
在2014年後，她決定再花上一個4年或更多年，為日本山梨縣富士吉田市的傳統布藝，
傾情傾力，立志讓世人從此認識來自日本一隅、可以隨身的手工匠品。
