About COTOCUL
Creating a global brand originating from Kyoto
What is COTOCUL?
The brand name Kotokaru is a combination of the words "koto" (ancient capital) and "cultue," and expresses our desire to spread the culture of Kyoto and the good things about Japan through manufacturing, and we value the Japanese attitude and temperament toward manufacturing.
It all started
In 2005, we started an apparel brand of Japanese-style casual clothing, mainly jeans. Initially, we wholesaled products produced in partner factories to specialty stores nationwide, but with a desire to deliver products we made ourselves directly to customers, we started the handmade leather goods brand "COTOCUL" in 2015.
Commitment to manufacturing
Our workshop is made up of people who love making things. Because we are not skilled craftsmen, we are not bound by the norms of the industry, but think for ourselves and make things with our own hands. We cannot make a lot of things cheaply or quickly, but we strive every day to make things that enrich the hearts of those who hold them in their hands.
Attention to materials
In 2019, we launched our original leather brand, Miyako Leather. Rather than simply taking orders for custom colors and patterns, we aim to produce locally produced leather for local consumption, and are challenging ourselves to develop leather that incorporates Japanese culture, using raw hides from cows raised in Kyoto. Material development is many times more difficult and time-consuming than product development, but we are steadily evolving every day, and recently we have been receiving more and more support from overseas customers.
What we aim for
In the future, as IT and AI continue to evolve and the world becomes more convenient, we expect people to seek out other people. Therefore, we have always strived to create products that people can feel and enrich people's lives through our manufacturing.
