Meet The Maker: MIOCARO, Osaka City

MIOCARO produce a mixture of ready to wear and made to measure garments using Linton Tweed fabrics - discover more about how this eccentric boutique in Osaka City, Japan, is reframing perceptions of tweed.

Meet The Maker: Tailor Made Tweed Creations With MIOCARO

One of our favourite things is being able to see how the fabrics we produce in our Carlisle mill are used all across the globe, by different makers - from high end fashion houses, to self-taught boutique crafters. To show you some real-life examples of this, we are launching a new ‘Meet The Maker’ series, where we interview those who use our tweed fabrics - exploring everything from cultural significance to how these makers first discovered Linton Tweed.

For our first installment, we’re taking you across the world to Osaka City, an unbelievably vibrant retail location - but in between the mega malls and flagship stores, you’ll find MIOCARO, a luxury boutique that is experimenting with convention by creating contemporary men’s and womenswear. Garments created here are a mixture of ready to wear and made to measure, with the latter giving customers something that is truly bespoke. We caught up with MIOCARO, delving into their usage of tweed, their emphasis on bespoke garments, and their take on the differences and similarities between Japanese and British tailoring. Read on to find out more:

Q: Can you tell us the story behind MIOCARO and how the boutique first began?

A: “My passion for tailoring led me to open MIOCARO in September 2016. While we are essentially a custom suit tailor, we deliberately call ourselves a boutique to push forward a free form of tailoring that respects traditional techniques, yet consciously breaks their rules and blurs their boundaries.”

Q: In your opinion, what are the benefits of choosing to invest in made-to-measure garments?

A: “You gain a level of fit you simply can't experience with ready-to-wear clothing, and it also means you have a garment that is unique to your style - reflecting your personal preferences perfectly.”

Q: How do you balance traditional tailoring with modern style?

A: “The contemporary style we offer is one that functions purely as fashion. It refers to practical garments that are neither business nor formal wear, but rather clothing that reflects the wearer's individuality and lifestyle, built upon traditional tailoring.”

Q: What do you think customers value most when investing in bespoke tailoring?

A: “:I believe it all comes down to trust - how well they share their image of the garment they’d like us to create, and how capable they believe we are of bringing their vision to life. Without tailors or fitters working closely with the customer, we simply cannot create something truly satisfying.”

Q: How did you first discover Linton Tweed?

A: “I believe it was Chanel's tweed suit. I was astonished to learn such a sophisticated piece had been introduced as early as 1923. It made me completely rethink my original perception of tweed.”

Q: What makes Linton Tweed fabrics unique from your perspective?

A: “Fabrics from Linton have what I can only describe as a luxury akin to diamonds, and I feel that the fabrics are unlike any other textiles. Even in plain, undecorated tweed, the soft texture of the fine weave conveys a sense of refinement that cannot be replicated by other materials.”

Q: Are there particular textures or colours that resonate with your customers?

A: “From a purely practical viewpoint, I believe monochrome or solid-coloured tweeds are most likely to resonate, rather than vibrant tweeds using many decorative threads. This likely relates to the tendency for Japanese people to prefer more conservative colours compared to Westerners. Furthermore, I think another reason is that overly bold designs inevitably lead to monotonous styling - it’s much easier to style a neutral or monochrome piece in various ways, than to style a bold piece where you only have fewer styling combinations.”

Q: What inspired you to host your ‘Linton Made to Measure’ exhibitions?

A: “While it stems from my personal passion, the main reason was to create an opportunity for customers to see the fabric samples in person, helping them to have clearer ideas about what we could create. I hope to hold our Linton Made to Measure events on a more regular basis in the future, sharing the appeal of Linton fabrics - while also demonstrating how they can be transformed into actual items and styled for everyday wear.”

Q: Do you see any similarities between Japanese and British approaches to craftsmanship?

A: “Despite differences in history and culture, I believe there is something shared in the exceptionally high artistic level and passion of makers in both countries. However, the ‘inflexibility’ that comes with many artisan mindsets can sometimes become a setback.”

Q: How would you like customers to feel when they wear a MIOCARO garment?

A: “Custom-made clothing is not merely garments tailored to fit; it is an exclusive piece that reflects a person’s lifestyle and worldview. Whether it's to be more attractive, advance in one's career, or simply for personal satisfaction - each customer has their own mission. We hope our creations can help add colour to their lives.”

Get inspired by bespoke Japanese tailoring

To take a look at some of the ways that MIOCARO has turned our tweed into beautiful, striking garments, head over to their Instagram page - if you see something that triggers a new tweed project, be sure to share the final outcome with our online community.