In July 2026, we opened the select shop koto in Shogoin, Kyoto. As this is our first blog post, I'd like to try to explain in our own words what kind of store koto aims to be. The name "koto" carries multiple meanings: "Koto" as in Kyoto, the "koto" (things) behind the items, and the "kotoba" (words) passed from person to person. We want to cherish not only the clothes themselves but also the background and ideas behind their creation, and even the conversations with those who pick them up. This is the sentiment behind our name. The environment surrounding fashion today is moving very fast. New products and information emerge daily, and you can instantly buy anything that catches your eye. While this is convenient and enjoyable, I sometimes feel it can be a bit too consumeristic. Of course, I don't think buying new clothes is bad. We ourselves have always enjoyed discovering, choosing, and wearing clothes. However, in an era with so many choices, I believe it might be worthwhile to take a little more time to carefully consider what we wear. Who made these clothes, and with what ideas? Why was I drawn to these clothes? How do I want to wear them in my daily life? I believe that a piece of clothing chosen with such considerations becomes something closer to your life, rather than just something consumed. One of the core concepts koto values is "ma-haku" (blank space/room for interpretation). When you hear "ma-haku," you might imagine an empty space or intentionally leaving something out rather than adding to it. We believe that how this "ma-haku" is utilized is just as important as leaving it. Even with the same clothing, what is expressed changes depending on who wears it and how. Age, occupation, place of residence, rhythm of life, hobbies, and preferences. Style is created through the time one has spent and their usual demeanor. Style is not something that is completed by clothing alone. That's why at koto, instead of simply applying prescribed ways of wearing or complete images, we want to have conversations and collaboratively think about ways of wearing that suit each person's life and sensibilities. Rather than making someone discard what they have to match the clothes, we want to add a new sensation through the clothes while preserving their individuality. We believe that the emergence of a person's unique style is one way to utilize "ma-haku." By wearing carefully chosen clothes, one might feel like going somewhere a little different than usual, wanting to meet someone, or spending a day with a different feeling. I don't think clothes change everything in life. Nevertheless, I believe that a self-chosen outfit can subtly change how you view your daily life or provide a catalyst to start something new. koto is not a store that was shaped by a single person's idea. Centered around the koto direction team, many people were involved in the process of creating the store. By talking with each person, exchanging ideas, and incorporating perspectives and sensibilities that we wouldn't have noticed on our own, the current form of koto gradually took shape. Instead of deciding everything with one idea, we embraced different sensibilities and utilized what emerged in between. Looking back, it seems that the process of creating the store itself embodied the "ma-haku" that koto values. We are once again grateful to everyone who was involved. Since we are just starting, not all the answers are fixed within us. I believe that koto's philosophy and the store's form will gradually grow through conversations with those who visit the store and those who will become involved in the future. In this blog, we will write about the clothes and brands we carry, the ideas behind them, and what we've felt within the store, all at our own pace.
koto 20 Rengezo-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 12:00–19:00 / Closed Wednesdays