The founder of Neko-jin Designs graduated from the Maine College of Art in 2001 with an impressively misleading degree in ceramics. Anyone who's ever met an artist knows the truth of it-creative people are into everything . Making them choose just one is about as conceivable as eating a single potato chip.

Thus, Neko-jin Designs was born. In the harsh winter of 2002, our little fledgling company was established out of financial necessity in our tiny little apartment in Portland, Maine. It was invigorating to know that local people really dug our stuff, but the global market was virtually unattainable. Still working for others, NJD was a hobby business, something we got to when we weren't exhausted running circles for our respective employers.

Needless to say, the five years that followed were very interesting. Balancing both our love and our work was strenuous and only occasionally rewarding. Too stubborn to quit, we persevered with growing success. Always avid fans of Japanese culture, we naturally made our way from local festivals into the anime convention circuit as attending artists.

Wow.

The response we received from customers was overwhelming and encouraging. The people had spoken. In the fall of 2007, when we simultaneously agreed that enough was enough and working for others was the opposite of productive to our true artistic passion, the two founding members of NJD quit their jobs and Incorporated their business.

Thus, Neko-jin Designs was born again. Legally.

Over 75% of our merchandise is still handmade in our slightly-larger-than-the-first-apartment apartment. The surface formerly known as the kitchen table acts as our sophisticated HQ, though we managed to move our operations from downtown Portland to the more scenic West End. Our cute and quirky designs are based around original illustrations from our wonderful ceramicist. We believe heavily in recycling and saving the planet; thus, many of our products are composed of recycled components, revitalized and given a new life in the form of handbags, jewelry, and apparel.

If you want unique, individual, funky, hip, rad, bizarre, custom made merchandise, you've come to the right place.

The second member of NJD, yours truly, got suckered in when she married the founder. Consequently, I'm currently in school for Japanese language and Asian studies. I only hope I can graduate and expand the business before the studio eats my apartment!

Which brings me to the remaining 25% of our products-authentic Japanese imports. Focusing mainly on new and vintage clothing, we strive to bring you, the customer, the very best quality at affordable prices. It's a big, hairy world out there, and sometimes it's hard to know when you're getting scammed. With us, we give you our absolute pledge that the prices we charge are only as high as they have to be and never needlessly inflated.

I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit more about our little company! Here's to five more fun-filled years at NJD!

With affection,
-Kit
February, 2008