As I run Tokita Kobo, I am fortunate to meet many people who pick up our creations and say things like:
“What a great idea!”
“It must take a lot of work to make this.”
“What you are doing is really wonderful.”
I truly appreciate customers who understand and respect the time and skill that go into handmade work. Meeting people who recognize the value behind what I create means a lot to me.
However, on rare occasions, I hear comments that make me feel very sad.
“Can you make it cheaper?”
“I could make this myself.”
“Would you take $OO?”
I find it very discouraging when someone tries to negotiate the price of a handmade item.
Of course, customers are completely free to decide whether or not they want to purchase something. If you feel that an item is too expensive for your budget, that is absolutely fine.
But when someone says, “It’s too expensive. Can you lower the price?” it can feel as though the time, skill, and experience that went into making that piece are being dismissed.
Everything at Tokita Kobo is handmade. Depending on the item, there are also times when I choose to lower the price myself.
That is why, when someone asks for an additional discount, I sometimes wonder, “How much lower does a handmade item need to be before its value is recognized?”
Handmade Is More Than Just a “Product”
A lot of time goes into creating a single piece.
Choosing materials, thinking about the design, making prototypes, and finally working with my hands to create each piece individually.
Sometimes things don’t go as planned, and I have to start over.
For Tokita Kobo, I first search for fabrics and materials in Japan and carefully select and purchase them. Then I think about how each material can be transformed into something new.
From there, I cut, sew, and finish each piece by hand.
The price is not based only on the cost of materials. It also reflects the maker’s time, skills, and years of experience.
We use our time and skills to create each individual piece.
So the price is not simply for the finished “product.”
There is value in the time, effort, skill, and experience that go into creating it.
Words from a Customer
Amid all of this, there was an unforgettable moment.
When someone purchased an item from Tokita Kobo, I casually mentioned, “I may not participate in events where people ask me to lower my prices anymore.”
The customer then said:
“Your handmade work has so much value. Please don’t give up.”
The moment I heard those words, I was so happy that I almost cried.
Perhaps, to that person, it was just a casual comment.
But to me, as the maker, those words meant so much.
Creating handmade pieces is not always fun or easy.
It involves searching for materials, coming up with designs, making countless prototypes, and starting over when things do not turn out as planned.
It also means preparing for events, bringing many pieces to the venue, and standing all day to sell them.
Each of these steps requires time and effort.
That is why hearing someone say that my work had value meant so much to me.
After this experience, I once again thought, “Maybe I should have more confidence in the things I create.”
And I wanted to share this message with everyone who makes handmade work:
The time, skills, and experience you have invested are all valuable.
Choosing Not to Buy Is Not Disrespectful
If something is outside your budget, you don’t have to buy it.
That is completely okay.
I don’t believe handmade products need to be affordable for everyone.
Compared with fast fashion or mass-produced products, handmade pieces may seem expensive.
But a mass-produced product and something made individually by hand cannot always be compared using the same standards.
If the price isn’t right for you, you don’t have to purchase it. You can simply look for something that fits your budget. There is nothing wrong with that.
What I don’t think is necessary is saying, “Can you make it cheaper?” or “I could make this myself,” in a way that diminishes the value of the work or the person who made it.
To be honest, I don’t feel the need to sell my work to customers who do not respect the value behind it.
I would rather have my creations chosen by people who understand and appreciate the work that goes into them.
What It Means to Choose Handmade
I believe buying a handmade piece is about more than simply buying an object.
It is also about choosing the time, skill, creativity, and story behind the person who made it.
At Tokita Kobo, I especially work with traditional Japanese kimono and kimono fabrics.
A kimono or a piece of fabric can be transformed into something completely different and given another life.
I believe there is great value in that, too.
I don’t expect everyone to understand or appreciate handmade work in the same way.
And I don’t expect everyone to buy my creations.
But I hope that people can learn a little about the story and work behind each piece.
I will continue to create things that I am proud of, carefully making each piece by hand.
And I want to share my creations with people who value the time, skill, and care that go into making them.
Handmade has a value that cannot be fully expressed by a price tag.
That is what I believe.