The Pride of Our Artisans
We began creating MERI in 2011. Even before the official launch, our CEO was working closely with traditional zori (Japanese sandals) craftspeople from the Tohoku region, focusing specifically on developing the perfect knitted cord.
In 2011, after years of trial and error, we finally perfected the cord and produced our very first pair. At that time, we didn’t have our own internal team of artisans; we relied entirely on the skilled hands of our partners in Tohoku.
As MERI grew in popularity, demand soon began to outpace production. The Tohoku team gave us a piece of invaluable advice: "We will teach you our techniques—now it's time for you to build your own team." It took us a full year of intensive training to master the craft.
Even after learning the skill, one person can only produce so much. I reached out to two women in Tokyo to form our first local team: one was a friend’s mother, and the other was a relative.
That was the beginning of our true journey. Fifteen years later, those first two women are now in their 80s and are still active, dedicated knitters today.
Today, I would like to introduce one of the artisans who is the heart of our pride.
Introducing Mita Sensei
When we first started, Ms. Mita was knitting at an incredible pace of over 100 pairs a month. At her peak, I believe she reached nearly 140 pairs. To date, she has sent more than 10,000 pairs of zori out into the world.
She has also represented us at countless live demonstrations and workshops across Tokyo’s most prestigious department stores—Isetan, Mitsukoshi, Tobu, Seibu, Sogo, Takashimaya, and Odakyu. If you’ve visited a major department store in the city, chances are you’ve seen her work. Before the pandemic, she was also a long-time fixture at the Itoya store in Haneda Airport’s Terminal 3.
Recently, she has been mentoring aspiring artisans at our MERI store. Sometimes, I overhear the words she shares with them. She always says:
"I have my pride as a zori artisan. I knit every pair with the mindset that I cannot possibly make anything better than this. Even now, I feel I haven't reached absolute perfection, but I have total confidence that what I make is truly good."
To our eyes, her stitching is flawless. Yet, she insists she still has more to learn. She never compromises; once a pair is finished, she meticulously adjusts each stitch until they are as perfectly aligned as the weave of a fine tatami mat.
She recently underwent eye surgery and specifically requested that her vision be adjusted to focus perfectly at the exact distance of the zori in her hands. "With this," she told us, "I can continue my work as an artisan for much longer."
The Soul of the Craft: The Base
Every pair of MERI is entirely handmade. The process is divided into specialists: cord making, base knitting, hanao (strap) making, and final assembly.
The most critical part is the base knitting. Our cords are made of jersey knit, meaning they are composed of countless tiny loops. The challenge isn't just making the cord look nice; it’s knitting the base so that every single one of those tiny stitches remains perfectly aligned.
There is no pattern or mold for knitting a zori. There is only a core. Our artisans knit the cord onto that core using nothing but their sense of touch. It is all about the "salt and seasoning"—the delicate balance of tension in their hands. Like a 3D printer, they create a functional object out of thin air.
In our MERI store, we display photographs of our artisans' hands. They are our pride. We invite you to come and see the hands that create MERI’s one-of-a-kind comfort. Please, try them on and feel the difference for yourself.
Special Announcement: This May, we will be hosting a workshop led by Ms. Mita. This is a rare opportunity to learn from a master.
For inquiries and bookings, please send us a DM on Instagram.