I Made a Brand in Japan From SCRATCH
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- Опубликовано: 4 ноя 2022
- Hello friends! I decided I'd film the process of my brand's next release from when we closed preorders in April until now! Honestly, it's been an extremely stressful situation, I'm not even sure if this video really does it justice, and I'm not sure where we'll go from here, but for now enjoy this cheeky little video of me working on my business in Japan!!
My brand: vinaofthevalley.com/
My Instagram: / mikan.mandarin
My Twitter: / citrusymikan
I Made a Brand in Japan From SCRATCH
#japan 
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![Rinotuna - Real Time Drawing Process - VOD [34] part 1/2](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/euEtCqeY28U/mqdefault.jpg)
Due to popular demand in the comments of this video, I made a Patreon for anyone who wants to support me: patreon.com/mikanmandarin
No one is obligated to join and your support via likes and comments is more than appreciated, but thank you to anyone who joins! 💖 It really would help if I had another way outside of RUclips to support my brand as it's consistently more and more financially taxing on me
Is there a possibility of using "buy me a coffee?" kind of thing? Some of us will like to help with a onetime donation :) RUclips takes 30% with the Super thanks whereas Buy me a coffee only 5%. Don't use Paypal for donations xD
@@violetasdev omg don’t mind how old it is but I do have a ko-fi from a while back! ko-fi.com/mikanmandarin
@@mikanmandarin Even better!!! :D Just update it and link it everywhere!
Good Luck
Also maybe a kickstarter is a good idea
Honestly people have to stop complaining not everything is for everyone,it can be upsetting but thats how things are. Mikan just started the business and it takes time to make everything happen. She’s doing her best with well made clothes and the workers are being paid well, people complaining about the price seem to not realise it, I was exited for the tall options she wanted to include since I’m extremely tall and most bands don’t have sizes for me but I understand I will have to wait longer. People need to be kinder mostly to small businesses that are just starting
thats so true thank nothing but facts as per ur username
to add to this, any lolita fashion enthusiast will tell you main pieces like dresses are really expensive if bought from popular Japanese brands - and they aren't even ones that are always transparent about the ethics of their business practices.
the solution to this - buy secondhand! I just looked up mikans brand on depop and people are already selling pieces at significantly reduced prices. Circlly is also a great place to check for people selling j fashion
literally,people ignore the fact that she has to pay in order to start a business too and in order to make any you have to make more than how many you have spent for your own business
People are so stupid honestly, they complain when someone prices their products higher so they can cover costs but at the same time thirst after luxury brands where you pay 4000 for a literal basic top like k
Yup, ppl will drop thousands of dollars for a white shirt with Supreme on it
I would have NEVER EVER realised how much work, dedication and thought goes into a sustainable fashion brand if not for this video
As a black person who is a fan of your channel I really appreciate you making tights for people with darker skin. Like it’s crazy to me that it hasn’t been done already. Hopefully you will generate a lot of sales from it.
We should support by buying from her ❤
@@Desiludildo she’s in Japan I don’t think she ships world wide yet
@@Mimikyu560 I went to her site and it shipped to where I live and it's not Japan so she does. She definitely ships Europe
can you paste the link ? i can't seem to find it on the site
@@VolumePerfection I don’t live in europe
It’s so admirable that you didn’t sacrifice your ethics and integrity over making the finances work ❤
exactly!
The clothing are clearly well made and beautiful and I really want to support and feel like I should pay an entrance fee for this emotional movie you served. Go, Vina (brand and person)!
And get yourself some well deserved cake after this journey.
Ahh thank you that’s really generous of you ❤
I love how you're so inclusive and concerned about ethical manufacturing and your designs are really pretty and unique! I think the prices are absolutely justified and actually on the lower end for the kind of work and quality you deliver. Also, I'm really looking forward to the long adult cute dress that was kind of teased in the beginning. Super excited for you and your brand!
Omg me too, can't wait for the longer stuff!!
@@Shannehh1337 Sammmmeeee! I just want more of her stuffff even though I can't buy it atm.
Honestly, I think her decision to keep the brand ethical may pay back well in the future. There's probably many potential customers to lolita type of brands who don't buy because they think the ethicality of it. Just keep this value and I'm sure it's gonna be huge benefit one day because people do care but there's just no options (others than sewing yourself).
@@Kotifilosofi Agree! I think some of her designs also work well for people who just want to have some cute elements in their outfits, who don't dress full-on lolita. I think the brand has the potential to be a well-known Japanese pop-culture fashion brand. For example I don't wear lolita but I like some cute, feminine elements. I would just pair the tops from her last collection with plain jeans and a light jacket. Absolutely wearable!
@@julianeuschwander8381 that's a good point! There's a lot of potential, either to go "full lolita" or just use the pieces as nice spice for your everyday outfits :)
It sucks how hard everything went and is going for you because these designs are so fucking good. It would be such a shame to have to end it, because I rarely see such genuinely amazing well thought out clothes being sold, 'clothes' being an understatement, and art being a better fitting word. I just love your brand so much and i hope everything gets better 🤍
What a lovely thing to say, thank you 🥺💖
@@mikanmandarin You're welcome ❣️ It's just the facts!
We’re all proud of your achievements, Mikan. May God bless you all the way.
Please don"t worry about having to cut down on different sizes/colours and adjusting the return policy...it is more than understandable, that you can not continue to go in dept...hopefully, your business will grow the way you want it to grow and with higher capacities you can then offer more sizes/colours and just have set the purchase and return terms according to your ethics and wishes!
❤
as a small business owner I’m glad to see someone put out a video that contains all the struggles (esp financial) so people realize that fast consumer prices are just not ethical
also gave me good insights as a business owner so thank you!
I am so proud of you to making this video. People really don’t realize how much of work, stress and money you need to spend for starting and running small business. Btw, I love your brand so much!
Over one hour of Mikan??!! Now I have something to watch now while finishing my art project for tommorrow :DD Thank youuu
Makes me miss the homework streams.
Same! I love when she makes longer videos ❤
I don't usually comment, but I have to say that watching you be so independent and not settling on the core values of what you want for your business is really cool. It's apparent that even with the added stress you're built for this! Take care of yourself and wishing that only good people find their way into your inner circle from now on~
Vina, I can tell you right now that the pink overcoat with the skirt at 1:06:09 will be a hit. You know how I can tell? Because I don't care about fashion (I just like your channel and your content about Japan), but when I saw that item I said "omg it looks REALLY good!". This is literally coming from someone who doesn't care about fashion. Like I'm literally a person who would walk in a store and have no expectations, but if I saw a woman wearing that in the store I would think they look really cute. The skirt length looks fine, although I dont think I would be a fan of the white lining growing form the collar you stated you want to put closer to the edge so it comes out more. My reason is because the more you make the white lining come out, the more people interested in your designs might think that the clothing can only be worn in a "non-professional" environment. Don't limit where people can wear the clothing. If you make it so they can wear it in a professional enviroment as well as just out and about to get tea with friends while looking classy, then I think the thing at 1:06:09 will be a huge hit. :)
The lace around the collar is detachable she said latter ig
This is actually so admirable. I had NO IDEA how difficult this process was and the sacrifices you've made for this. I can see this difficult beginning blossoming into a truly great brand. You're doing amazing!
I'm really like that you don't hide the fact that creating your own business is hard and it's not just butterfly. Sending good vibes ☺️❤️ you're awesome and I really like your content
Mikan!!!! I don't know you personally but I'm so proud of the progress you've made over the time I've been watching you. From fumbling through fashion college to having your own brand, thats the dream!!!
Also not fumbling from lack of skill, it's just very hard😭
Keep it up! I'm so excited to see how your brand grows. And don't forget to create a proper hype around the products. Make people realize that this is the beginning of your brand, and what they can buy now they may not be able to buy later, and thus it may rise in value... make them see your clothes are like art collectibles rather than mass-productions ;) Good luck!
Wow, the drama! I studied fashion design, and we used to cry and have breakdowns all the time, lol. And that was just uni, so I can imagine the EXTREME anxiety that you are going through. It's good that you showed the downside of running your brand so that people can see how financially taxing manufacturing is. People are so used to fast fashion, with its low prices, low quality and horrible ethics, that they need help understanding the actual cost of a garment.
I am looking forward to your next dev/production vlog.
Just finished watching and I’m actually so glad you left all the „negative“ parts in. As a consumer it’s always very hard to imagine what actually happens behind the scenes and to me personally it’s very refreshing to have someone speak about finances and how real the struggle around money can be for Brands starting out.
Thank you for being so open and vulnerable with us💖
Like Warren buffett said, dividends are only good if the business you’re investing into can’t make good use of that capital. So if you’re trying to invest into businesses with actual growth, looking at dividends is a waste of time. Why are you investing into a company if they’re returning capital to you because they think you can make better use if it than they can. It’s not much different from bond investing. The way I see it if you have a $1 million at some point, that’d be enough to create a portfolio that would pay you between 50k-70k in dividend income...
It's not difficult, but you have to learn and handle. Another thing is that if you can't manage your home, maybe you shouldn't invest on your own. If so, you should hire a CFP to help you diversify your assets to include ETFs/index funds/mutual funds and stocks of companies with consistent cash flows, rather than betting on penny stocks.
A lot of folks downplay the role of advisors until being burnt by their own emotions. I remember couple summers back, after my lengthy divorce, I needed a good boost to help my business stay afloat, hence I researched for license advisors and came across someone of due diligence, helped a lot to grow my reserve notwithstanding inflation, from $275k to approx. $850k so far.
Over the following 3 months, I want to increase my reserve from $280,000 to at least $550,000. I would be grateful for any advice you can give on how to accurately predict the market and how to diversify and balance my portfolio in order to accomplish my goal.
I really don't like making such recommendations, because everybody's situation is unique. But there are many freelance wealth managers you could check out. I have been working with *Jenny Pamogas Canaya* for about four years now, and she's really, really good. If she meets your discretion, then you could go ahead with her. I endorse her.
Thank you. I just checked her out now and I've sent an email. I hope she gets back to me soon. I've been thinking of doing this for a long time now, and I've procrastinated enough already.
Wow, watching this really opened my eyes. I knew that small businesses struggled but I didn’t realize the ways they struggled and how stressful it truly can be. Hang in there even when it’s hard, you’re doing the best you can!
Mikan, I'm not even a subscriber but I'm so glad I RUclips suggested this video for me. And although I don't wear the style of clothing you design, I followed your brand on instagram and subscribed to your channel, just to maybe in a small way support you (I'm also looking forward to your jewelry collection because I think I'll be more open to try that).
But anyways, I just wanted to tell you that you've inspired me SO SO MUCH. It's SO DIFFICULT to start a brand and seeing you go through it, through the ups and downs really fueled something in me. For years, I wanted to write a cooking book and I've always ended up giving up before even starting because of how hard it is. But seeing how hard it was to you yet you kept pushing through even after losing money is so inspiring. I mean, life is an adventure isn't it? Why do I fear failing so much? even if I end up with no profit or even losing money, I know it's something I want to at least try.
Thank you Mikan, all the luck to you.
Wait omg, I'm so proud of you??? Like, okay, I've been watching you for a few years now and I've see how you've grown and the amount of pride I have for you rn is insane lmaooo. I wish you the best and I'm so excited to buy from your brand 🥰
Mikan, I know you had some reservations about leaving some parts in the video, but I'm really glad you did. All the drama and hardships you had to go through has really made me trust your brand even more. Seeing the entire process of what you went through and seeing what you've sacrificed to make these clothes is very admirable. This video was super interesting to watch because nobody really talks about the business and behind the scenes of planning and creating clothes. I definitely want to buy the winter dress/jacket/beret combo !!
Hi Vina. First of all: I feel like a proud sis, really! 2. Thank you for keeping all the personal bits, the finance related "mishaps" (you now know better and you will do better next time! ) and the vulnerable moments! And above all, thank you for putting in so much work into this video aside of already all consuming brand and business work!
🌼
it's so fun seeing how your hair changes as the months go by
I felt the same way while I was editing 😂
I hope this comes across sincere/ constructive and not annoying, your vision and brand are so rare to come across, I desperately want to see it thrive!
If Instagram's reach is so bad can you promote on RUclips more? Show sneak peaks here too, create the hype! I feel a lot of the process/ general launch/ the exciting stuff that's been shared on Instagram hasn't been on RUclips (could very well be wrong, sorry if so!)
Also the fleece tights sound like an awesome idea, I will buy multiple!!! I'm tall and it's a nightmare to find good tights, especially fleece, but from the few brands that do do various sizes the bigger sizes usually relate to the height and weight differences, ie a taller person of less weight will have the same size of a shorter person with more weight because of the stretch. I assume you wouldn't need 3 different sizes as a "standard" tall size and a "standard" plus size could be the same? I don't know if this makes sense, but that's something I've noticed with regards to tights as a tall person who has been plus size and then slimmer
So glad things are going better though, unfortunately if you want something done right you have to do it yourself! I really hope this all works out and flourishes!!!
I feel like it would be good if you posted tiktoks with the process of building your brand. Instagram sucks but i have seen a lot of people successing bc of tiktok
RUclips seems to really be promoting stories, some brands just cross-post Instagram stories onto RUclips shorts! Even if it’s just a few key posts I think it would really help. I love watching your RUclips videos but I knew almost nothing about the new releases before today!
I don’t think fleece tights are as stretchy as regular tights so they’re more made to the exact shape so plus size doesn’t translate to tall. I may be wrong though.
@@rachelcookie321 ahh you're probably right. I've never actually had any fleece that fit so I don't really know haha
@@eliontheinternet3298 my point exactly!
I usually don’t comment but I will here; hoping it will boost the video. I’ve been following you for 5 years and you can be so proud of yourself and everything you achieved, even with so many things going wrong. It’s been fun to watch your journey and this video specifically was so interesting and didn’t feel long at all! I lovee the black and white and the pink set and I’m looking forward to the longer, more “adult” dress, since that might be something I’d wear. The way you are so concerned for ethical manufacturing and inclusiveness despite just having started the business is really admirable as well. I know it’s a bummer the sales are worse this time compared to last time but I hope you don’t beat yourself up too much about it since there are so many factors. Instagram lowering your reach, the economy being bad everywhere in the world. Also while the red dress is adorable af, I think it’s more niche especially with the anime girl in the middle. The two sets that will be released next are something I’m sure a lot of people would like and wear to be honest. I really really hope the business will thrive after you learned so many things and that the sales will be better in the future. I know what it means to worry about money and it’s the worst feeling. So I just wish you all the best. Because we can see how passionate you are and how creative and making clothes is something you should be doing. You deserve the success and I want to see 100+ more releases from you 🤍
Omg I have the same thought I like the red dress but I know I can’t wear it every day I’m looking forward to the more adult one and the pink and black set ❤!
I can't agree more with you! I definitely see myself wearing the set multiple times, for work or lessiure, and creating different outfits with it, but I feel the red apron it's not something I'll wear only a few times and on weekends. Also I love to see she's making the set with detachable elements, like the laced rims, so it can be more versatile.
As a silent viewer, this was such an insightful video to watch about the entire process! I've been following you on twitter for a while and knew there were paypal issues but i didn't know it was this bad...I'm glad things are looking better for you! TBH I can't really afford your pieces right now but I really am working towards getting something from you! I love your style and i'm so happy you're committed to making the bigger sizes just as wearable as the standard sizes. Keep up the great work and i'll continue to support you through what you decide!
Your dedication to the aesthetic and design of your garments is really impressive. The attention to detail is *chefs kiss* Its clear that you care so much about people. Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing your process. I love your brand and channel 🥰
Vina, I TOTALLY FEEL YOU. I started a small business in January and holy crap there’s so much you have to pay for. I’m sorry things have been so stressful for you and I completely have been there many times.
I really appreciate you being so open about the struggles of learning how to run a business because so few people are open about that!
Jesus Mikan, the stress sounds unbelievable! You are so strong to do all of this. Your designs are adorable so you should be proud of yourself. I like how you included the bad and the good in this video, it made for a very interesting watch, and it also helps us to understand what small businesses go through and why they charge what they do. Good luck with business, I really hope it works out for you!
Oh my god Vina!! I’m so so proud of you 💖💖😩 Your designs are beautiful!! Maybe try to alternate the releases between accessories and clothing to give it a breathing space? I don’t know… the fleece stockings need to be done!!!! Maybe a crowd funding could help launch it! Anyway, take good care of yourself! You are amazing! Such hard working person! I love you from the bottom of my heart 💖✨
never in my life have i watched vlogs before i found you. i just can't stay focused for such a long time, but you have a talent of drawing the viewer in so i don't even notice that 1.5hrs have passed. you just make everything so interesting, and your honesty and values are really a rare asset these days. i wanna support you, will definitely buy from your shop.
stay strong and keep pursuing your passions, mikan. we all wanna see you succeed. raise prices if you need to, but don't stress yourself out to the point of getting sick again
I found the behind the scenes so interesting. You dont really think about what goes into each item. What an exciting time for you but also stressful. I hope things go well for you but you seem realistic about the world situation and I admire that you are sticking to your core principles. I really liked your dress and jacket set. If I was 30 years younger I would have bought it! I wish you all the best and Good Luck Vina!
i follow you for such a long time and even tough i am normally a quiet follower i have to say i am sooo proud of you!! for following your dreams and being true to yourself and your values slayyyy
I just did the preorder for the apron dress and after watching this whole video I am absolutely going to be saving up to buy the jacket and dress set after seeing you put your whole heart into everything I'm so excited. Please stay strong and don't feel bad for making proper decisions and knowing the worth of not just the customers but for yourself~!
you are an angel for trying to make those fleece tights for darker skin!! i have found maybe one pair for darker brown skin tones but none for a more medium brown tone like me. so if you ever get the safe chance to go through with them, i can guarantee my purchase! hoping you get the chance to catch your breath soon
yayy i’ve been waiting for this video! it’s so interesting watching how your business works! it’s really inspiring to watch you figure out how to overcome challenges that come your way, and it’s definitely a huge role model for young adults who are a little lost with their passions and don’t know what to do with themselves but really want to start a business💖
edit: finances!!! they may be really uncomfortable to talk about but at the end of the day it is what makes or breaks a business if they aren’t managed properly. it’s the one thing that applies to every single business owner no matter the industry and (especially for me lmao) i find it a really tedious thing to learn and invest energy into because i fucking SUCK at maths and just find it boring lol.
So I don't want this channel that much anymore but wow. Mikan you are such an inspiration. I mean, 24 years old and running a business, that's something to be SO proud of. Also just in general. Moving by yourself to a new country at a young age, realising your passions. I admire you a lot. Please don't apologise for being stressed, that is indeed part of the process and just figuring everything out. Thank you for sharing this story. If I get some extra money to spend sometime soon I'll definitely be shopping there. :-)
i think its 100% ok to do the standard, like 2-3 sizes and adjusting shipping, and then change it when u are more financially stable and making profit. its wonderful how much u care for ur customers and the fact that u connect with us thru youtube as well helps show who you are!! if it werent for this video id honestly never understood small business like i do now. i hope u can relieve urself of all this stress soon :[
Love the long vlogs Mikan!! Watched 3 times now because I play it in the background while I work on my own craft business.
Omg 3 times 😭💖 thank you and good luck with your craft business!!
Literally the people complaining about price need to get over it… she’s running an ethical brand in which the people responsible for making the clothes are paid a living wage… so no unfortunately you can’t have cheap clothes, that are made to order and ethical. You can’t have it all. If you can’t support her brand then save up idk…. But honestly her prices are really reasonable imo.
And on top of all that she literally ate the shipping cost and made the shipping uber cheap
What a journey! We are all so proud of you ❤
Thank you Katie 🥺💖
This release is amazing! Thank you for sharing the process with us😊 I look forward to the next release! You're a huge inspiration for me when it comes to fashion and I'm so happy that many people are supporting you on your business venture❤ I hope you receive a lot of love for your current release and future releases and that your hard work pays off!
watching this video is like watching bricks get hurled at you😭I can't belive how hard you worked Mikan even through the obstacles, in the end what you've achieved is sp impressive and we can only wish you the best of luck and hope your buissness grows xx
Thank you for sharing the process! I really appreciate you as a content creator and CEO. You inspire me to pursue the things I want. Love it! 💕
It's crazy the amount of work youve put into your brand like holy shit I can't believe it!! As a fellow person with ADHD, it's mindblowing to see what you've acheieved, despite the stress! You've done so well, please give yourself a bit more rest time!
The set looks SOOOOOOOO cute, I’m madly in love with your designs Mikan!!! I also just love how thoughtful you are when it comes to things like adding adjustable buttons, different ribbon colors, and changing the button on the sleeves into those snapping ones! Really just shows how much of an amazing smart person and designer you are!!
I love how much information you shared about what goes on behind the scenes, really gives us a better appreciation for all the hard work you’ve been putting in to your brand!!!❤️
I'm SO happy you're going to release a long dress! I love your store, but all the clothes weren't modest enough for me. Thank you so much for taking the feedback! I wish you all the luck on your store Mikan! 💖
Oh my goodness I absolutely love when you post long videos like this ❤ also congrats on your brand I can’t wait to support!
I am about half way through the video and I really like that you give transparancy about what is going on in a small business. Not many people know and a lot are complaining when there is some trouble. I really hope your video gives a better insight on how stressful and complicated things can get. I truely admire you for taking this step and I love your ideas for the shop so much🥰 you are so thoughtful with every item you design❤
Hearing you talking about being unable to do anything while having too many things to do is SO painfully relatable as someone with ADHD. Analysis paralysis (and paralysis in general) is SUCH a huge problem for me. I will fully just lay in bed and cry about all the stuff I have to do and be PHYSICALLY INCAPABLE of doing it all. You're doing seriously amazing though and as a stan since the beginning (pre japan mikan days) I'm really proud, even as grossly parasocial as that sounds.
Good instinct, keeping in the parts of this video that you did! ☺️ I really appreciate you showing the ups AND the downs & how you honestly documented & shared the perspective & realities of starting a small biz like this! 💞 It's refreshing, inspiring, encouraging & SUPER helpful (esp for us who deal with stress/anxiety/neurodivergence/etc & who want to pursue their dreams but don't come from money!!) 🥰 You have respectfully shared your experience of having others work with or for you! Congrats on ALL you've accomplished & all the best going forward! LOVE the b&w checked dress n jacket set!! 😻
i just finished the video, and i want to thank you for taking us on this journey. i have watched you for years and i feel as though i know you so much better because of this. sharing your mistakes and moments of vulnerability is a scary concept, but i do think you might have saved someone from making the same mistakes (like PayPal usage LOL). i also incredibly admire you for fighting for your brand image in the face of all these challenges. best of luck to you, can’t wait for those accessories to drop and for the black and white set!! 💞 you have our love!!
Thank you so much for sharing Mikan! I find it so commendable to see that you are sticking to your vision and not taking any shortcuts, for any part of the process. It was so interesting to see the steps that are taken just for one piece of clothing, I had no idea how much went into every aspect. I love all the designs that you showcased in the video and I definitely plan on purchasing in the near future! ❤I have been subscribed to you for almost four and a half years and I am so proud of how far you have come! 😊
I really hope your brand succeeds, what you're doing is amazing and all the designs are so cute. I hope you'll be able to get a break from all the stress soon.
oml i could feel your stress through the screen this both seems very stressful but very rewarding. (when stuff goes well) . You're so incredible for this omg
I don't know if anyone already mentioned this but it's normal for a business to make a loss in the first year or so. It will pick up in time, it's a juggling game between making a profit and not pricing yourself out of the market. People complaining are the ones used to buying "fast fashion" which isn't ethically produced. If people want ethical fashion with nobody being shafted, it costs. Lots of people are simply not realising this. There is definitely a market for people wanting ethical fashion, willing to own less clothing but produced better. Don't get disheartened just because so many are selfishly concerned only about the price they pay and not about the earnings and welfare of the person making it. Keep being true to yourself, you will be a success I'm sure. Business has to grow slowly you can't do everything at once, so don't feel guilty about those difficult decisions on sizes
I cannot stand how much i've loved this video and how much i love watching videos when you decide to let go and be yourself! Love your personality, love your strength and love all the hard work you're putting in this project!! I'll always support you, so proud 🤍
I took my time today to watch your video and watched in sections. The inside you gave us through your progreess is really fun to watch. You can be really proud of yourself! I know how hard it is as a daughter from immagrant parents so its really relatable to see you go through this situation with your own rescources and your willpower!! you are amazing mikan! i wish you the best
So proud of you for sharing and being so honest about the whole process. 💖When you did the survey on your Instagram I actually thought 1:30h was gonna be too long but it was such an enjoyable video. I hope you keep filming the process for the next collection because it was really interesting.
Also the PayPal situation was stressing me... I have no idea how you coped with that, I would have had 30 meltdowns and a heart attack at some point for sure.
I hope all the lessons learned and the changes will allow you to rest more.
I will be supporting as best as I can. Sending love 💖
From someone who’s been watching you, since you first moved to Japan. I am so incredibly proud of you!!!!! Everything you’ve done is absolutely incredible, you can see all the effort, all the blood sweat and tears. I cant wait for the cardigan, long dress and the two piece set!!!
With shipping/returns, as an australian i’m used to having to pay for shipping, and i just accept it.
You got this!!! ♥
I love that you're transparent with your audience and showing all aspects of what it means to be a designer and business owner. The amount of time, effort, money, etc. that goes into producing a brand is not easy and not really shown so being able to witness it through your vid is an eye-opener, and I'm sure for many. I think you're making strides with your business and I can't wait to see how it grows! ✨
I remember you mentioned Square and I def recommend looking into it! They offer loans, checking account with a debit card, etc. it would also be useful down the line if you ever considered being a vendor, doing pop up shops, or opening a boutique 👀 they have card readers, etc. They also have some marketing tools and it's just very useful based on my personal experience with it! I think you can totally benefit from their services✨ Running a small business is not easy at ALL (I work with a small business so I have a bit of an idea of what you're experiencing). You're doing amazing despite the trial and errors but, things can only get better! ♥😍 Thanks for sharing your experience with us!
I am genuinely so proud of you that you were able to do this ..big props to you mikan ...i really hope your buisness takes off
I've been following you for a while and I just have to say that you're such an inspiration and I hope only good things come your way. You work so hard, it's impressive!
The power of a good cry is so underrated
Thank you so much for being so open and transparent about the hardships of launching a brand! I had no idea of all the hurdles you had to go through and it’s amazing what you’ve built. It was really interesting to see the real ins and outs and creating a small clothing brand.
I love the dress and jacket set 😍 So excited for it!
Hi Mikan! As someone who just started my own small business (I just opened a tattoo studio) I can totally relate to the financial and mental stress that it takes to open your own business and continue running it. We really appreciate how open and honest you are with your journey, I think it helps for people who are going through anything similar. I can't wait for your new releases and we know you're doing the best you can! You're doing great and sending you love! 💖
Mikan, this video is seriously awesome! I've been subscribed for 3 yrs and I'm just so proud of you😭you've really taken your failures and sucesses in strides and with grace. I just find you really inspiring🙈
This is honestly just so impressive! How you're building this up by yourself, but also your ethics and how much integrity your work has! I wish you all the luck in the world for the future of your brand.
literally can't imagine the amount of stress you've been through in this entire process. I hope that you're proud (i'm proud!!) of all that you've done even if it isn't going entirely to plan - your dedication through everything to make sure it's ethical and inclusive is very admirable. take care
I love seeing the behind the scenes of clothing production. It’s always interesting to see. I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with so many bumps in the road while getting started but I hope everything works out! Your designs are really cute and I hope you’ll be able to keep creating!
This video is so helpful for consumers and for people who run small business or are interested in starting. I am rooting for you! All your hard work and passion is so evident here and I really hope you not only survive but truly THRIVE!
I feel sick today and my head hurts. I hope watching your video will help me. I love your work.
Hello Mikan! I have been following your business process for some time now. So far, I’ve been amazed at everything you have put out! You are an absolute inspiration!
Throughout the video, you apologized for complaining/whining too much but I think you have every right to do so. I think it’s great that you had your complaints because it shows how dedicated you are to your business. I don’t think you should be ashamed or feel a sense of regret for showing us the downside of running a business. I’m glad you didn’t cut out certain parts of the video because it allows us as the viewer to see how hard it is to run a business, especially a small one.
Please continue to do your best! I wish you the best of luck with your business!
I absolutely love your designs and that you try to cater to everyone and be inclusive even if it can be very hard as a small business brand and I’m sure everyone will understand about the return policy and such. I’m so sorry you’ve had to deal with soo much stress and issues in the beginning which were out of your control. I’m glad you are working with new people and I feel like that alone with help with running things more smoothly. I think peoples finances might be an issue for not getting as many preorders as I absolutely adore the red checker apron dress but do not have the money available at this time same with the last release. But I’m already putting back money for your jacket and dress release because I love all your designs and I’ve really wanted to show my support. I’m hoping more people are also the same and now they know a new design is on the way, they will also be saving to buy it. I’m so incredibly proud of you for all of your hard work and being so vulnerable and real with everyone. I knew when you enrolled in fashion college that you would design amazing clothes in the future and I’m so happy you are challenging yourself to do that. 💗
Hi, just quickly from a business perspective. I see how well you are doing and keeping your strong ethics up during the start-up of your company. Of course, this is your USP but it is still quite hard to do all the good sustainable things at once in the beginning. I have been following you forever and I have 2 start-ups myself. I see that a lot of people in the comment here preach about you and your hard work, and this is one of your main strengths; customer loyalty/fan base. But I imagine that you would want to see that appreciation in actual strong sales numbers. The clothing you sell is very niche, and I would be curious to see your market research on this specific Harajuku style of clothing. Personally, this is something I would never wear, but I am a loyal fan of yours since I love the ''cute Japanese aesthetic'' lifestyle. I understand you want to keep your own style in your range of clothing but basically, if I were you, I would consider making more accessible casual-styled clothing. Such as T-shirts/ sweaters/skirts with cute designs. You might think that this is already being done a lot by different companies, and this is the case, but you are one of the few that does it sustainably and has a strong fan base. If you would happen to sell these types of clothing, I would buy something from you just so I can support you and support your sense of style, I wouldn't even mind the price. But your current type of clothing is not very accessible to many many people, especially people outside of Japan. I hope you don't take this as any criticism. I truly believe in expressing yourself and not following the mainstream, but I also see several strengths and weaknesses in your company and I believe the size of your market is one of them. If you adjust this, by making more accessible types of clothes whilst still expressing your personality through them, I believe this would result in a much larger number of sales WHICH gives you more space and flexibility, in the end, to go more Harajuku niche again. If you are considering this but you are afraid of changing this and damaging your current type of customers, I wouldn't worry. It is extremely normal for a company to change its course and it is usually a good thing since this can result in faster growth. In the best way, that specific niche fan base might even love this new type of accessible clothing too! Hope you think about it, I will deff be your first customer than for this type of clothing :)
So proud of you going through all of this stress for creating what others love, I truly love all your designs and thank you for creating them for us!
Vina!!! This was so wonderful to watch, I hated seeing you stressed and sad. I'm so sorry this "partner" took advantage of you, but it's amazing to see how much effort and care goes into everything you create. You are such a lovely and kind hearted person, you truly want to create the best things for everyone and I hope this release goes well for you ❤️
As a plus size girlie, bless your heart mikan! Putting your foot down making sure that your launch included size inclusivity AND making it priced equally even though the financial aspect was difficult is so sweet. If I had the money I would buy every piece from your brand. I'm sorry to hear you had a lot problems with your launch. I sincerely hope from now on it gets better and smoother for you and you continue to succeed! I hope to support you soon!
I love how much added detail you put in and wanted , like zippers for the skirt and extra buttons. Your so inspiring!
love seeing yasu so supportive and helpful. driving around, being actively involved, helping with the shopping, giving feedback, etc. very good.
This was honestly so interesting and delightful to watch! I loved how you got into your design decision-making and production process. Even the parts where you’re documenting stressful times were informative and compelling! I’ve seen some “Shane Dawson who?” jokes but to be perfectly honest this is basically everything he’s ever promised and never delivered on in his “documentary” videos about the makeup production world: vulnerable, honest, full of tea-spilling that mixes behind the scenes setbacks and drama with actually interesting information about the process of designing, making, and shipping a product, with a likeable human being who has a totally normal and heartwarming relationship with their cats at the centre of it.
I absolutely adore your designs and the way you stick to your principles. I really hope things will get better for you! You deserve it!! Sending love and support to my favourite girlboss💖❤
Switching on the Mikan documentary while I mark homework is becoming my favourite part of the day
Thank you for this video! I never knew how overwhelming starting a small business is. You have so many wonderful ideas for the brand too!!! I look forward to seeing your releases.
Awesome video❤️ Girl, I know it's an added stress but small buisness vlogs are all the rage. People live off their shop and their videos they make about the shop, do it's like a RUclips vid and a promotion in one!! If you get the chance, please make more videos like this🌸🌸🌸
It's impressive that you managed to do so much by yourself in Japan of all places. Well done for perservering and learning so much. I hope the new drop does really well for you.
Thank you so much for this video! It is so interesting to see how complicated and long the process of building your own brand is and what problems come up and have to be solved. I think it’s a great way of showing your customers you care and your intentions because the customers can’t see all that when buying your clothes and not finding their size or something (even though you didn’t do the thighs this time, just an example) but knowing that you’re working on it and fighting for your ideas and ideals is good to know🥺✨♥️
Your are so amazing for how you are fighting for your brand and your customers, I hope you also get good rest and I wish you a successful future, so that your business becomes profitable and everything goes a lot smoother. But for now don’t worry too much, it’s your first business and it’s not easy! You’re doing great!🤧🥰
Your commitment and preserverance is commendable, Mikan. Thank you for taking the time to document and share your journey with us. It is highly inspiring me for me to see you work towards your dreams. I also want to create my own brand. Your content is motivating me to keep going- you are doing amazing! Congrats on your newest release!!
it's so impressive watching the whole process and how much it takes to build up a brand. we're all rooting for you❤❤
Gonna watch every minute of this! So happy with how far you've come :)
I hope your business in this moment is going well! So well! Everything will turn out good for you Mikan!! Fighting!!
Good luck! I LOVE LOVE LOVE that *black and white checker set! It looks so cute and practical!?! Can't wait to see all of your designs come out!
I said this before when you told us how you moved to Japan, but you're such an inspiration!! Your willpower, and dedication Is so inspirational. I also have immigrant parents and have 0 backup so you are living proof that we can achieve our dreams. I wish you nothing but success 💕💕💕