Mikan
This is the story of a French designer, passionate about upcycling, who fell in love with the beauty of Japanese kimono.
Since 2016, designer and founder Clémentine Sandner has been collecting pre-loved textiles from different regions of Japan and giving them a new life. She sources, designs, and transforms antique kimono and obi to create unique and functional bags.
Mikan - Japanese for Clémentine - was born from the desire to share this passion for both upcycling and Japanese textiles.
With a degree in fashion design and experience as a Fashion design instructor at ESMOD Japon, Mikan offers various ways of enjoying her creation, including sewing workshops, DIY craft kits and custom orders.
Mikan’s missions
Unique bags and limited series
A collection of various designs, from casual bumbags to sophisticated purses, available in the online store. Each piece is either unique or made in very limited series, depending on the amount of fabric available.
Custom orders
Take a peek into Mikan’s obi collection and discover a large selection of antique textiles collected for their exceptional quality. Learn about their stories and symbols, and if one of them seduces you, Mikan will transform it into the design of your choice.
DIY & workshops
Upcycling and stainability are the very essences of Mikan’s concept.
Offering the chance to jump into the creative process and to make your own bag, Mikan allows people to live the whole experience that exists beyond the product.
Vintage treasures
When hunting for the most special kimono and obi, Mikan encounters gorgeous vintage objects and accessories. Sadly left on the shelves of local thrift stores without anyone to apprciate them, Mikan believes there must be a second life for these pre-loved treasures!
Interview
If you want to hear more from Mikan’s founder Clementine and her working process, watch this 12 minutes interview by Youtuber Q2Japan, who followed Mikan around during her last event in Kyoto.