07/11/2024
I've never really introduced myself here and since there's almost 10,000 of you, I figured I would put a name to the face of the brand. Hi! My name is Emi and I started Sukeban in 2021. I began Sukeban before I even knew I wanted to create a brand. I was cutting stickers with scissors just because the name "sukeban" stood out to me so much.
I often get asked "what does sukeban mean?". There's a few different interpretations of it, but to put it simply, in the 1980s the Yakuza didn't allow women to join so women created their own gang, called sukeban which directly translates to "delinquent girl". Although they were a criminal gang, there's a lot they fought against, like gender stereotypes and sexualisation. They were just as capable as the Yakuza! I found this so interesting as a girl that grew up with four older brothers, I often felt like I wasn't as capable or as cool as them. I began designing my own stickers and accessories for myself and my own car that I felt really hit home for me, things that I wanted, and more and more women and men reached out asking where I got them from, leading me to create a brand that stemmed from something bigger!
Sukeban as a whole holds a very special place in my heart. I found out I was pregnant with my first baby a week into the brand launch. It was rough and it's been a slow growth, but it somehow made it all the more special to be raising my kid alongside the brand, I grew a lot as a person because of it and did things I never thought I'd be able to do! I didn't start sukeban with the intention of bulk buying products from AliExpress and selling them to make quick $, every design I have, I have designed myself or I've worked with another artist to create and bring my ideas to life. This has led me to create beautiful friendships, meet new people and have my art shown all around the world, from the USA, UK to Japan and NZ, and it's incredibly surreal!
I guess the point of introducing myself here was so y'all know a little bit more about me, and since this brand is so special to me, I want you all to know me better, and learn about the love I have for Sukeban. I'm forever grateful for you all. π«Άπ©· -Emi.