The Superior Labor Workshops

Five years ago we visited The Superior Labor in Okayama, which was a completely surreal experience. We flew into Tokyo and then out into the mountains to visit and tour their factory and shop and to understand more of their brand and their philosophy and how they build and craft things and to spend time with their family and team. We were voyageurs out in the world and being welcomed into TSL’s nap village was an honour and a real adventure—and I can’t wait to do it again.

In the meantime, though, I couldn’t be more excited to share with you some big news: The Superior Labor will be coming to visit us, here in Toronto, this August and hosting several workshops. It has been five years since we last saw Makoto-san and Yoshimi-san and their two girls.

See the workshops and sign up here.

The first set of workshops listed are custom pouch painting. Just for these upcoming workshops, the TSL team has created a set of pouches in three sizes, with a leather pocket in the front. The workshop includes the pen pouch and the A5, and all painting supplies will be provided. You can also add on the A4-sized pouch and paint it during the workshop as well. There are a limited number of add-on A4 pouches.

There is going to be one kids’ session, which will include the pen pouch. We are recommending ages 6-13, and because of space limitations, this is not a workshop designed for parents to participate with their children—however, please let us know if you have special circumstances. Of course we’d love to make it work for everyone who wants to join in.

A5 pouch:

We are still figuring out the finer details, and there are more things to come. Good things! Things I am so excited about. Please stay tuned as the dust settles and as we have more things to show and launch. Here’s a little sneak peek below.

***

It continues to be surreal, this voyage into the world of stationery and small business life—life in general, I suppose. How did we encounter TSL now almost ten years ago, us this dinky little random shop on Dundas West, selling Safaris and Rhodia and convincing Makoto-san and Yoshimi-San that we were the real deal? It started with the pen roll, and now here we are.

Grateful for the relationship and friendship that has grown over this decade, and can’t wait for more good things to come.