Member Introduction Vol. 7: Hiromi Goto
ー Where are you from?
Hida City, Gifu Prefecture.
ー What kind of work did you do before coming to Itoshiro?
I worked as a pattern maker for an apparel company.
During that time, I lived in Tanzania, Africa, for two years as a Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer, teaching clothing design at a vocational training school.
Since there was no electricity, I even held open-air sewing classes using treadle sewing machines outside!
Every day, when I left the house, I would murmur, "The sky is so beautiful," and the scenery was truly wonderful. The way people lived there, waking up with the sunrise and living amidst nature, really suited me for those two years.
ー What a wonderful environment! And now, what kind of work do you do at Itoshiro Youhinten?
I'm in charge of production management.
This includes scheduling products for sale, ordering fabrics, selecting sewing factories, and checking samples.
I also teach clothing making workshops. Since I love to sew, it's a joy to share the pleasure of sewing and to teach customers how to create clothes with no fabric waste.
I hope to take over more of the teaching responsibilities so that Kaori-san (the shop owner) can take on more challenges (I'm still not quite strong enough yet, though!)
ー It's been about five months since you moved to Itoshiro. How is life here?
The reason I decided to move here was because it felt like the same scenery as the village in Tanzania, Africa. Here, too, I feel incredibly happy to be able to spend every day thinking, "The mountains and sky are so beautiful."
I live with my African husband, and we're both working hard on farming, something we've never done before!
ー A message to our customers.
This Itoshiro region feels like a place protected by the Hakusan Chugu Shrine.
If you visit, I definitely recommend going to the shrine. I believe that all the connections you make here, and the people you meet, are due to the power of the shrine's deity. The shrine, and this nature-rich land of Itoshiro, are places where just visiting can make everyday worries melt away. Please come and visit.
ー Lastly, please tell us about your recommended item, Hiromi-san.
The sleeve length is neither long nor short, so it can be worn regardless of the weather.
Even on a busy morning, you can just slip it over your head and tie the waist string for a perfectly coordinated look!
I also love the marigold khaki (sold out...) and white versions.
Since it's a thin linen fabric, I wear an inner layer that can show through, like a black or khaki tank top. For bottoms, I recommend pairing it with white linen cotton denim, navy denim hakama, or slim-fit tatsuke. Please give it a try!
ー Thank you, Hiromi-san! We hope you'll continue to develop wonderful products by utilizing your past experience and skills! We're also looking forward to you becoming the central figure in our workshops!! (Kaori Hirano)
