About COTOCUL
Creating a global brand from Kyoto
About COTOCUL
The brand name COTOCUL is a portmanteau of "koto" (ancient capital) and "culture," reflecting our desire to share Kyoto's culture and the best of Japan through manufacturing. We value the Japanese spirit and attitude towards craftsmanship.
The Beginning
In 2005, we launched an apparel brand specializing in Japanese-patterned casual clothing, primarily jeans. Initially, we sold products made by partner factories to specialty stores nationwide. However, driven by a desire to deliver products made with our own hands directly to customers, we launched COTOCUL, a handmade leather goods brand, in 2015.
Our Commitment to Craftsmanship
Our workshop is a gathering place for people who love to create. Precisely because we are not seasoned artisans, we don't adhere to industry norms; instead, we think with our own minds and create with our own hands. We may not be able to make things cheaply, quickly, or in large quantities, but we are constantly striving to create products that enrich the lives of those who hold them.
Our Commitment to Materials
In 2019, we launched our original leather brand, Miyako Leather. Rather than simply requesting custom colors and patterns, we aim for local production and consumption of leather, utilizing hides from cattle raised in Kyoto and challenging ourselves to develop leather with processing that evokes Japanese culture. Material development is many times more difficult and time-consuming than product development, but it is steadily progressing every day, and recently, we have seen increasing support from international customers.
What We Aim For
We anticipate that as IT and AI evolve and the world becomes more convenient, people will seek human connection in some form. Therefore, we have always strived, and will continue to strive, to create products that evoke a human touch, with the goal of enriching people's lives through craftsmanship.
