Who are we?
Ikigai was created by two friends, Garry and Anthony , who met while teaching English in South Korea. Garry’s originally from Scotland, and Anthony from Los Angeles — random, huh?
Hi Anthony , welcome to your interview with Teehunter. I hope you’re enjoying your stay here! Let’s talk a little bit about you! Who is the guy behind Ikigai graphic T-shirts Company?
I’m a 25-year-old travel-hungry kid from Los Angeles and a newbie to the T-shirt industry. I always loved the sensation of wearing a t-shirt for the first time and feeling that connection — your blog inspired me to take the leap and start an indie t-shirt company, and I want to thank you for that.
Why Ikigai?
It’s called “Ikigai,” which is the Japanese word for “reason for living”. It symbolizes your enduring passion for something and your personal mission that brings satisfaction and a meaning to existence. I couldn’t be happier with the name — it really encompasses why we launched it. Once we discovered our ikigai, it was easy to choose our name. We hope you find your ikigai too.
How did the two of you meet?
At that time, Garry was a graphics designer and mini-entrepreneur, and I was a college graduate who was scared of spending the rest of my life behind a desk. I always had this crazy dream of making my own graphic t-shirts, but I lacked the confidence and know-how to do so — it wasn’t until I worked with Garry that everything clicked and I created Ikigai.
Where’s Ikigai heading in 2013?
Our core value is to create simple, beautiful clothing of the highest quality.Nothing less. We strive to create graphic t-shirts that are clear, crisp, and original, use only high-quality fabrics, and deliver exceptional service to every customer. Ikigai began with a dream and some faith. The dream to design apparel that offers beauty without being loud, and the faith to invest our time and energy to exceed expectations. We also have a new product coming soon. Stay tuned!
They will be present in our tee gallery soon so keep an eye on it!
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