Hey everyone! Thanks for stopping by and checking out Ana's Ikimaru! Check out all the events we have coming up on our Events Page!

It's been a wonderful start to Ana's Ikimaru! We debuted the business at Shukuya Con in Clearwater, FL in April with great success. Due to this, we have decided to move forward with our ideas and dive right into the Florida Convention season! Those near Clearwater should add this to their list of must-attend conventions for next year- it's local, and a lot of fun!
www.shukuyacon.org

JACON was the first convention I had attended. There was a request for more kimono that would be affordable, so we have purchased a few kimono jackets (haori) in lovely purples, pinks, and a yabane (arrow feather) antique kimono. We featured more clothing made of recycled kimono. Also, it's Kanzashi Mania here in the studio, as we sold out of all our kanzashi sets. In case you're wondering, Kanzashi are Japanese hairpins. Ana's Ikimaru creates hairpins in the "tsumami" style, wear flowers are created by folding individual petals of silk. Do make sure at future events to check them out- if Shukuya Con & Jacon was any insight, these products sell out fast!

2009 New Stuff for Ana's IkiMaru Site:
RSS Feed, Podcast, Forum, Convention Workshops
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Ana's Ikimaru was founded by Anna Rosato and RJ Schafer of Tampa, FL. Anna has almost two decades of seamstress experience, and has been personally collecting and preserving antique and vintage Japanese Kimono. She has been deeply involved since her interest budded in the culture three years ago. A scholar in the visual and musical arts, and armed with a Vocal Music A.A. degree, Anna has undertaken a mission to preserve as much as possible this quickly disappearing yet distinct aspect of Japanese Culture. Likewise, RJ Shafer has completed his Commercial Arts A.A., mastering digital arts, photography, and traditional arts, therefore blending the old with the new. Both Anna and RJ have a background in teaching, and have combined efforts for Ana's Ikimaru. Using technology of the modern era, and the history of Japanese Textiles, together Ana's Ikimaru hopes to blossom and bring a fresh breath of life to the Kimono before it fades away from our generation.



Alright, got that out of the way! Now, let's tell you a little more about what we intend to do with Ana's Ikimaru:

We promise never to use or purchase items from China to make our products. The only exception is if it is a "Product of China", verses "Made in China", and only as a last resort. We prefer products made in Japan or the United States. We believe in backing the countries that have supported the Kyoto Protocol. We also investigate companies to make sure they are sweatshop-free to the best of our abilities before we consider the use of their products. We want to support healthy business ethics and give other economies a chance to grow.

We promise to only import kimono that is from JAPAN. Kimono is a Japanese garment. While it's ties trace back to China, the garment has evolved into a class of its own. There is no much thing as a Korean, Chinese, or Indian kimono. If you would like to learn more about the amazing traditional garments from the above-mentioned countries, please feel free to email us, or search around on Google (Anna pipes in to say in particular, she enjoys the costume and the hair of the Korean kisaeng/gisaeng).

We will do our best to make every customer happy. Please feel free to email us if you have any questions or concerns. We have an "open-door" policy on communication with customers. We also ask that you understand Ana's Ikimaru is currently a two-man effort. We will try to answer any questions as quickly as possible. However, if it is a major holiday, or we are working an event, there may be a delay. Please check our events page to see if we are working that weekend if there is a delay in emails. Generally we will respond to any question within 24 hours. Thank you very much for your cooperation.


Thank you!

-Anna and RJ