Due to popular demand in the comments of this video, I made a Patreon for anyone who wants to support me: patreon.com/mikanmandarin No one is obligated to join and your support via likes and comments is more than appreciated, but thank you to anyone who joins! 💖 It really would help if I had another way outside of TH-cam to support my brand as it's consistently more and more financially taxing on me
Is there a possibility of using "buy me a coffee?" kind of thing? Some of us will like to help with a onetime donation :) TH-cam takes 30% with the Super thanks whereas Buy me a coffee only 5%. Don't use Paypal for donations xD
The clothing are clearly well made and beautiful and I really want to support and feel like I should pay an entrance fee for this emotional movie you served. Go, Vina (brand and person)! And get yourself some well deserved cake after this journey.
As a black person who is a fan of your channel I really appreciate you making tights for people with darker skin. Like it’s crazy to me that it hasn’t been done already. Hopefully you will generate a lot of sales from it.
I love how you're so inclusive and concerned about ethical manufacturing and your designs are really pretty and unique! I think the prices are absolutely justified and actually on the lower end for the kind of work and quality you deliver. Also, I'm really looking forward to the long adult cute dress that was kind of teased in the beginning. Super excited for you and your brand!
Honestly, I think her decision to keep the brand ethical may pay back well in the future. There's probably many potential customers to lolita type of brands who don't buy because they think the ethicality of it. Just keep this value and I'm sure it's gonna be huge benefit one day because people do care but there's just no options (others than sewing yourself).
@@Kotifilosofi Agree! I think some of her designs also work well for people who just want to have some cute elements in their outfits, who don't dress full-on lolita. I think the brand has the potential to be a well-known Japanese pop-culture fashion brand. For example I don't wear lolita but I like some cute, feminine elements. I would just pair the tops from her last collection with plain jeans and a light jacket. Absolutely wearable!
@@julianeuschwander8381 that's a good point! There's a lot of potential, either to go "full lolita" or just use the pieces as nice spice for your everyday outfits :)
It sucks how hard everything went and is going for you because these designs are so fucking good. It would be such a shame to have to end it, because I rarely see such genuinely amazing well thought out clothes being sold, 'clothes' being an understatement, and art being a better fitting word. I just love your brand so much and i hope everything gets better 🤍
I am so proud of you to making this video. People really don’t realize how much of work, stress and money you need to spend for starting and running small business. Btw, I love your brand so much!
as a small business owner I’m glad to see someone put out a video that contains all the struggles (esp financial) so people realize that fast consumer prices are just not ethical also gave me good insights as a business owner so thank you!
Keep it up! I'm so excited to see how your brand grows. And don't forget to create a proper hype around the products. Make people realize that this is the beginning of your brand, and what they can buy now they may not be able to buy later, and thus it may rise in value... make them see your clothes are like art collectibles rather than mass-productions ;) Good luck!
Vina, I can tell you right now that the pink overcoat with the skirt at 1:06:09 will be a hit. You know how I can tell? Because I don't care about fashion (I just like your channel and your content about Japan), but when I saw that item I said "omg it looks REALLY good!". This is literally coming from someone who doesn't care about fashion. Like I'm literally a person who would walk in a store and have no expectations, but if I saw a woman wearing that in the store I would think they look really cute. The skirt length looks fine, although I dont think I would be a fan of the white lining growing form the collar you stated you want to put closer to the edge so it comes out more. My reason is because the more you make the white lining come out, the more people interested in your designs might think that the clothing can only be worn in a "non-professional" environment. Don't limit where people can wear the clothing. If you make it so they can wear it in a professional enviroment as well as just out and about to get tea with friends while looking classy, then I think the thing at 1:06:09 will be a huge hit. :)
I don't usually comment, but I have to say that watching you be so independent and not settling on the core values of what you want for your business is really cool. It's apparent that even with the added stress you're built for this! Take care of yourself and wishing that only good people find their way into your inner circle from now on~
Please don"t worry about having to cut down on different sizes/colours and adjusting the return policy...it is more than understandable, that you can not continue to go in dept...hopefully, your business will grow the way you want it to grow and with higher capacities you can then offer more sizes/colours and just have set the purchase and return terms according to your ethics and wishes!
Mikan!!!! I don't know you personally but I'm so proud of the progress you've made over the time I've been watching you. From fumbling through fashion college to having your own brand, thats the dream!!!
I'm really like that you don't hide the fact that creating your own business is hard and it's not just butterfly. Sending good vibes ☺️❤️ you're awesome and I really like your content
This is actually so admirable. I had NO IDEA how difficult this process was and the sacrifices you've made for this. I can see this difficult beginning blossoming into a truly great brand. You're doing amazing!
Just finished watching and I’m actually so glad you left all the „negative“ parts in. As a consumer it’s always very hard to imagine what actually happens behind the scenes and to me personally it’s very refreshing to have someone speak about finances and how real the struggle around money can be for Brands starting out. Thank you for being so open and vulnerable with us💖
Wow, the drama! I studied fashion design, and we used to cry and have breakdowns all the time, lol. And that was just uni, so I can imagine the EXTREME anxiety that you are going through. It's good that you showed the downside of running your brand so that people can see how financially taxing manufacturing is. People are so used to fast fashion, with its low prices, low quality and horrible ethics, that they need help understanding the actual cost of a garment. I am looking forward to your next dev/production vlog.
Wow, watching this really opened my eyes. I knew that small businesses struggled but I didn’t realize the ways they struggled and how stressful it truly can be. Hang in there even when it’s hard, you’re doing the best you can!
Wait omg, I'm so proud of you??? Like, okay, I've been watching you for a few years now and I've see how you've grown and the amount of pride I have for you rn is insane lmaooo. I wish you the best and I'm so excited to buy from your brand 🥰
Hi Vina. First of all: I feel like a proud sis, really! 2. Thank you for keeping all the personal bits, the finance related "mishaps" (you now know better and you will do better next time! ) and the vulnerable moments! And above all, thank you for putting in so much work into this video aside of already all consuming brand and business work!
Mikan, I'm not even a subscriber but I'm so glad I TH-cam suggested this video for me. And although I don't wear the style of clothing you design, I followed your brand on instagram and subscribed to your channel, just to maybe in a small way support you (I'm also looking forward to your jewelry collection because I think I'll be more open to try that). But anyways, I just wanted to tell you that you've inspired me SO SO MUCH. It's SO DIFFICULT to start a brand and seeing you go through it, through the ups and downs really fueled something in me. For years, I wanted to write a cooking book and I've always ended up giving up before even starting because of how hard it is. But seeing how hard it was to you yet you kept pushing through even after losing money is so inspiring. I mean, life is an adventure isn't it? Why do I fear failing so much? even if I end up with no profit or even losing money, I know it's something I want to at least try. Thank you Mikan, all the luck to you.
Mikan, I know you had some reservations about leaving some parts in the video, but I'm really glad you did. All the drama and hardships you had to go through has really made me trust your brand even more. Seeing the entire process of what you went through and seeing what you've sacrificed to make these clothes is very admirable. This video was super interesting to watch because nobody really talks about the business and behind the scenes of planning and creating clothes. I definitely want to buy the winter dress/jacket/beret combo !!
Wow that was a ride and thank you so much for sharing this experience!! First time watching from start to finish a TH-cam video this long!! As an independent artist, I totally relate to this situation of taking on new challenges but this can be stressful!! I really hope this release and your next one work well! You have all my support!!
Jesus Mikan, the stress sounds unbelievable! You are so strong to do all of this. Your designs are adorable so you should be proud of yourself. I like how you included the bad and the good in this video, it made for a very interesting watch, and it also helps us to understand what small businesses go through and why they charge what they do. Good luck with business, I really hope it works out for you!
i follow you for such a long time and even tough i am normally a quiet follower i have to say i am sooo proud of you!! for following your dreams and being true to yourself and your values slayyyy
Your dedication to the aesthetic and design of your garments is really impressive. The attention to detail is *chefs kiss* Its clear that you care so much about people. Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing your process. I love your brand and channel 🥰
Vina, I TOTALLY FEEL YOU. I started a small business in January and holy crap there’s so much you have to pay for. I’m sorry things have been so stressful for you and I completely have been there many times. I really appreciate you being so open about the struggles of learning how to run a business because so few people are open about that!
I found the behind the scenes so interesting. You dont really think about what goes into each item. What an exciting time for you but also stressful. I hope things go well for you but you seem realistic about the world situation and I admire that you are sticking to your core principles. I really liked your dress and jacket set. If I was 30 years younger I would have bought it! I wish you all the best and Good Luck Vina!
never in my life have i watched vlogs before i found you. i just can't stay focused for such a long time, but you have a talent of drawing the viewer in so i don't even notice that 1.5hrs have passed. you just make everything so interesting, and your honesty and values are really a rare asset these days. i wanna support you, will definitely buy from your shop. stay strong and keep pursuing your passions, mikan. we all wanna see you succeed. raise prices if you need to, but don't stress yourself out to the point of getting sick again
As a silent viewer, this was such an insightful video to watch about the entire process! I've been following you on twitter for a while and knew there were paypal issues but i didn't know it was this bad...I'm glad things are looking better for you! TBH I can't really afford your pieces right now but I really am working towards getting something from you! I love your style and i'm so happy you're committed to making the bigger sizes just as wearable as the standard sizes. Keep up the great work and i'll continue to support you through what you decide!
I just did the preorder for the apron dress and after watching this whole video I am absolutely going to be saving up to buy the jacket and dress set after seeing you put your whole heart into everything I'm so excited. Please stay strong and don't feel bad for making proper decisions and knowing the worth of not just the customers but for yourself~!
So I don't want this channel that much anymore but wow. Mikan you are such an inspiration. I mean, 24 years old and running a business, that's something to be SO proud of. Also just in general. Moving by yourself to a new country at a young age, realising your passions. I admire you a lot. Please don't apologise for being stressed, that is indeed part of the process and just figuring everything out. Thank you for sharing this story. If I get some extra money to spend sometime soon I'll definitely be shopping there. :-)
Idk why it put thanks on it like that it sounds condescending😭 please keep up with this though genuinely it’s got to be insanely hard but what you are making is truly so cute and amazing
I usually don’t comment but I will here; hoping it will boost the video. I’ve been following you for 5 years and you can be so proud of yourself and everything you achieved, even with so many things going wrong. It’s been fun to watch your journey and this video specifically was so interesting and didn’t feel long at all! I lovee the black and white and the pink set and I’m looking forward to the longer, more “adult” dress, since that might be something I’d wear. The way you are so concerned for ethical manufacturing and inclusiveness despite just having started the business is really admirable as well. I know it’s a bummer the sales are worse this time compared to last time but I hope you don’t beat yourself up too much about it since there are so many factors. Instagram lowering your reach, the economy being bad everywhere in the world. Also while the red dress is adorable af, I think it’s more niche especially with the anime girl in the middle. The two sets that will be released next are something I’m sure a lot of people would like and wear to be honest. I really really hope the business will thrive after you learned so many things and that the sales will be better in the future. I know what it means to worry about money and it’s the worst feeling. So I just wish you all the best. Because we can see how passionate you are and how creative and making clothes is something you should be doing. You deserve the success and I want to see 100+ more releases from you 🤍
Omg I have the same thought I like the red dress but I know I can’t wear it every day I’m looking forward to the more adult one and the pink and black set ❤!
I can't agree more with you! I definitely see myself wearing the set multiple times, for work or lessiure, and creating different outfits with it, but I feel the red apron it's not something I'll wear only a few times and on weekends. Also I love to see she's making the set with detachable elements, like the laced rims, so it can be more versatile.
This release is amazing! Thank you for sharing the process with us😊 I look forward to the next release! You're a huge inspiration for me when it comes to fashion and I'm so happy that many people are supporting you on your business venture❤ I hope you receive a lot of love for your current release and future releases and that your hard work pays off!
Oh my god Vina!! I’m so so proud of you 💖💖😩 Your designs are beautiful!! Maybe try to alternate the releases between accessories and clothing to give it a breathing space? I don’t know… the fleece stockings need to be done!!!! Maybe a crowd funding could help launch it! Anyway, take good care of yourself! You are amazing! Such hard working person! I love you from the bottom of my heart 💖✨
I hope this comes across sincere/ constructive and not annoying, your vision and brand are so rare to come across, I desperately want to see it thrive! If Instagram's reach is so bad can you promote on TH-cam more? Show sneak peaks here too, create the hype! I feel a lot of the process/ general launch/ the exciting stuff that's been shared on Instagram hasn't been on TH-cam (could very well be wrong, sorry if so!) Also the fleece tights sound like an awesome idea, I will buy multiple!!! I'm tall and it's a nightmare to find good tights, especially fleece, but from the few brands that do do various sizes the bigger sizes usually relate to the height and weight differences, ie a taller person of less weight will have the same size of a shorter person with more weight because of the stretch. I assume you wouldn't need 3 different sizes as a "standard" tall size and a "standard" plus size could be the same? I don't know if this makes sense, but that's something I've noticed with regards to tights as a tall person who has been plus size and then slimmer So glad things are going better though, unfortunately if you want something done right you have to do it yourself! I really hope this all works out and flourishes!!!
I feel like it would be good if you posted tiktoks with the process of building your brand. Instagram sucks but i have seen a lot of people successing bc of tiktok
TH-cam seems to really be promoting stories, some brands just cross-post Instagram stories onto TH-cam shorts! Even if it’s just a few key posts I think it would really help. I love watching your TH-cam videos but I knew almost nothing about the new releases before today!
I don’t think fleece tights are as stretchy as regular tights so they’re more made to the exact shape so plus size doesn’t translate to tall. I may be wrong though.
yayy i’ve been waiting for this video! it’s so interesting watching how your business works! it’s really inspiring to watch you figure out how to overcome challenges that come your way, and it’s definitely a huge role model for young adults who are a little lost with their passions and don’t know what to do with themselves but really want to start a business💖 edit: finances!!! they may be really uncomfortable to talk about but at the end of the day it is what makes or breaks a business if they aren’t managed properly. it’s the one thing that applies to every single business owner no matter the industry and (especially for me lmao) i find it a really tedious thing to learn and invest energy into because i fucking SUCK at maths and just find it boring lol.
watching this video is like watching bricks get hurled at you😭I can't belive how hard you worked Mikan even through the obstacles, in the end what you've achieved is sp impressive and we can only wish you the best of luck and hope your buissness grows xx
It's crazy the amount of work youve put into your brand like holy shit I can't believe it!! As a fellow person with ADHD, it's mindblowing to see what you've acheieved, despite the stress! You've done so well, please give yourself a bit more rest time!
The set looks SOOOOOOOO cute, I’m madly in love with your designs Mikan!!! I also just love how thoughtful you are when it comes to things like adding adjustable buttons, different ribbon colors, and changing the button on the sleeves into those snapping ones! Really just shows how much of an amazing smart person and designer you are!!
you are an angel for trying to make those fleece tights for darker skin!! i have found maybe one pair for darker brown skin tones but none for a more medium brown tone like me. so if you ever get the safe chance to go through with them, i can guarantee my purchase! hoping you get the chance to catch your breath soon
oml i could feel your stress through the screen this both seems very stressful but very rewarding. (when stuff goes well) . You're so incredible for this omg
So proud of you for sharing and being so honest about the whole process. 💖When you did the survey on your Instagram I actually thought 1:30h was gonna be too long but it was such an enjoyable video. I hope you keep filming the process for the next collection because it was really interesting. Also the PayPal situation was stressing me... I have no idea how you coped with that, I would have had 30 meltdowns and a heart attack at some point for sure. I hope all the lessons learned and the changes will allow you to rest more. I will be supporting as best as I can. Sending love 💖
Vina!!! This was so wonderful to watch, I hated seeing you stressed and sad. I'm so sorry this "partner" took advantage of you, but it's amazing to see how much effort and care goes into everything you create. You are such a lovely and kind hearted person, you truly want to create the best things for everyone and I hope this release goes well for you ❤️
i just finished the video, and i want to thank you for taking us on this journey. i have watched you for years and i feel as though i know you so much better because of this. sharing your mistakes and moments of vulnerability is a scary concept, but i do think you might have saved someone from making the same mistakes (like PayPal usage LOL). i also incredibly admire you for fighting for your brand image in the face of all these challenges. best of luck to you, can’t wait for those accessories to drop and for the black and white set!! 💞 you have our love!!
This was honestly so interesting and delightful to watch! I loved how you got into your design decision-making and production process. Even the parts where you’re documenting stressful times were informative and compelling! I’ve seen some “Shane Dawson who?” jokes but to be perfectly honest this is basically everything he’s ever promised and never delivered on in his “documentary” videos about the makeup production world: vulnerable, honest, full of tea-spilling that mixes behind the scenes setbacks and drama with actually interesting information about the process of designing, making, and shipping a product, with a likeable human being who has a totally normal and heartwarming relationship with their cats at the centre of it.
Mikan, this video is seriously awesome! I've been subscribed for 3 yrs and I'm just so proud of you😭you've really taken your failures and sucesses in strides and with grace. I just find you really inspiring🙈
literally can't imagine the amount of stress you've been through in this entire process. I hope that you're proud (i'm proud!!) of all that you've done even if it isn't going entirely to plan - your dedication through everything to make sure it's ethical and inclusive is very admirable. take care
I really hope your brand succeeds, what you're doing is amazing and all the designs are so cute. I hope you'll be able to get a break from all the stress soon.
I took my time today to watch your video and watched in sections. The inside you gave us through your progreess is really fun to watch. You can be really proud of yourself! I know how hard it is as a daughter from immagrant parents so its really relatable to see you go through this situation with your own rescources and your willpower!! you are amazing mikan! i wish you the best
I love how much information you shared about what goes on behind the scenes, really gives us a better appreciation for all the hard work you’ve been putting in to your brand!!!❤️
Hearing you talking about being unable to do anything while having too many things to do is SO painfully relatable as someone with ADHD. Analysis paralysis (and paralysis in general) is SUCH a huge problem for me. I will fully just lay in bed and cry about all the stuff I have to do and be PHYSICALLY INCAPABLE of doing it all. You're doing seriously amazing though and as a stan since the beginning (pre japan mikan days) I'm really proud, even as grossly parasocial as that sounds.
This is honestly just so impressive! How you're building this up by yourself, but also your ethics and how much integrity your work has! I wish you all the luck in the world for the future of your brand.
I've been following you for a while and I just have to say that you're such an inspiration and I hope only good things come your way. You work so hard, it's impressive!
Thank you so much for being so open and transparent about the hardships of launching a brand! I had no idea of all the hurdles you had to go through and it’s amazing what you’ve built. It was really interesting to see the real ins and outs and creating a small clothing brand.
Hi Mikan! As someone who just started my own small business (I just opened a tattoo studio) I can totally relate to the financial and mental stress that it takes to open your own business and continue running it. We really appreciate how open and honest you are with your journey, I think it helps for people who are going through anything similar. I can't wait for your new releases and we know you're doing the best you can! You're doing great and sending you love! 💖
Hello Mikan! I have been following your business process for some time now. So far, I’ve been amazed at everything you have put out! You are an absolute inspiration! Throughout the video, you apologized for complaining/whining too much but I think you have every right to do so. I think it’s great that you had your complaints because it shows how dedicated you are to your business. I don’t think you should be ashamed or feel a sense of regret for showing us the downside of running a business. I’m glad you didn’t cut out certain parts of the video because it allows us as the viewer to see how hard it is to run a business, especially a small one. Please continue to do your best! I wish you the best of luck with your business!
I love seeing the behind the scenes of clothing production. It’s always interesting to see. I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with so many bumps in the road while getting started but I hope everything works out! Your designs are really cute and I hope you’ll be able to keep creating!
i think its 100% ok to do the standard, like 2-3 sizes and adjusting shipping, and then change it when u are more financially stable and making profit. its wonderful how much u care for ur customers and the fact that u connect with us thru youtube as well helps show who you are!! if it werent for this video id honestly never understood small business like i do now. i hope u can relieve urself of all this stress soon :[
I am about half way through the video and I really like that you give transparancy about what is going on in a small business. Not many people know and a lot are complaining when there is some trouble. I really hope your video gives a better insight on how stressful and complicated things can get. I truely admire you for taking this step and I love your ideas for the shop so much🥰 you are so thoughtful with every item you design❤
I'm SO happy you're going to release a long dress! I love your store, but all the clothes weren't modest enough for me. Thank you so much for taking the feedback! I wish you all the luck on your store Mikan! 💖
I cannot stand how much i've loved this video and how much i love watching videos when you decide to let go and be yourself! Love your personality, love your strength and love all the hard work you're putting in this project!! I'll always support you, so proud 🤍
As a plus size girlie, bless your heart mikan! Putting your foot down making sure that your launch included size inclusivity AND making it priced equally even though the financial aspect was difficult is so sweet. If I had the money I would buy every piece from your brand. I'm sorry to hear you had a lot problems with your launch. I sincerely hope from now on it gets better and smoother for you and you continue to succeed! I hope to support you soon!
Props to you Vina! You're doing an incredibly difficult thing. I hope you are able to prioritize your health alongside running your business. I also highly recommend joining some entrepreneur support groups which are a great place to share struggles, wins, and loses with your peers and makes you feel a little less alone in this crazy journey you're on.
Thank you for this video! I never knew how overwhelming starting a small business is. You have so many wonderful ideas for the brand too!!! I look forward to seeing your releases.
It's impressive that you managed to do so much by yourself in Japan of all places. Well done for perservering and learning so much. I hope the new drop does really well for you.
Good instinct, keeping in the parts of this video that you did! ☺️ I really appreciate you showing the ups AND the downs & how you honestly documented & shared the perspective & realities of starting a small biz like this! 💞 It's refreshing, inspiring, encouraging & SUPER helpful (esp for us who deal with stress/anxiety/neurodivergence/etc & who want to pursue their dreams but don't come from money!!) 🥰 You have respectfully shared your experience of having others work with or for you! Congrats on ALL you've accomplished & all the best going forward! LOVE the b&w checked dress n jacket set!! 😻
You got this!!! ♥ I love that you're transparent with your audience and showing all aspects of what it means to be a designer and business owner. The amount of time, effort, money, etc. that goes into producing a brand is not easy and not really shown so being able to witness it through your vid is an eye-opener, and I'm sure for many. I think you're making strides with your business and I can't wait to see how it grows! ✨ I remember you mentioned Square and I def recommend looking into it! They offer loans, checking account with a debit card, etc. it would also be useful down the line if you ever considered being a vendor, doing pop up shops, or opening a boutique 👀 they have card readers, etc. They also have some marketing tools and it's just very useful based on my personal experience with it! I think you can totally benefit from their services✨ Running a small business is not easy at ALL (I work with a small business so I have a bit of an idea of what you're experiencing). You're doing amazing despite the trial and errors but, things can only get better! ♥😍 Thanks for sharing your experience with us!
I said this before when you told us how you moved to Japan, but you're such an inspiration!! Your willpower, and dedication Is so inspirational. I also have immigrant parents and have 0 backup so you are living proof that we can achieve our dreams. I wish you nothing but success 💕💕💕
Thank you so much for sharing Mikan! I find it so commendable to see that you are sticking to your vision and not taking any shortcuts, for any part of the process. It was so interesting to see the steps that are taken just for one piece of clothing, I had no idea how much went into every aspect. I love all the designs that you showcased in the video and I definitely plan on purchasing in the near future! ❤I have been subscribed to you for almost four and a half years and I am so proud of how far you have come! 😊
I've been watching your channel for a few years and seeing how far you've come makes me so proud and impressed. Congratulations! I hope all your hard work pays off
I’m late but I’ve been watching your content for a while and I find your videos cute and comforting, I’m very happy for you and I hope you have an amazing day
I absolutely love your designs and that you try to cater to everyone and be inclusive even if it can be very hard as a small business brand and I’m sure everyone will understand about the return policy and such. I’m so sorry you’ve had to deal with soo much stress and issues in the beginning which were out of your control. I’m glad you are working with new people and I feel like that alone with help with running things more smoothly. I think peoples finances might be an issue for not getting as many preorders as I absolutely adore the red checker apron dress but do not have the money available at this time same with the last release. But I’m already putting back money for your jacket and dress release because I love all your designs and I’ve really wanted to show my support. I’m hoping more people are also the same and now they know a new design is on the way, they will also be saving to buy it. I’m so incredibly proud of you for all of your hard work and being so vulnerable and real with everyone. I knew when you enrolled in fashion college that you would design amazing clothes in the future and I’m so happy you are challenging yourself to do that. 💗
I don't really comment much, but I want to help boost your engagement, and I was so excited about this video honestly. And you didn't disappoint. I am in awe of how hardworking you are, and I love your vision for the brand and all the details you think about for each outfit. Also, even though most of the dresses and sets aren't really my style, I love the blouse (still considering buying tho because it is expensive for me, even though I completely get the price), and the tights and cardigan are too a brilliant idea. So excited for future releases (especially for the black skirt if you make it), and best of luck to you and your brand going forward.
Just starting work at a company I feel like I can learn from your perspective 😃 I'm so proud to see you stand up for your core values in such a homogeneous society, all the while pouring such love and thought into your designs!!
For the two heart designs at 40:00, I prefer the colour scheme of the first one as I think it compliments the red of the skirt more but I really like the strawberry design of the second one so maybe the two designs can be combined in some way? Like the design of the second one but a bit less pink on the girl's dress and bow? Also with the size of the heart I think your idea of the red ribbon would be really nice but you could also reduce the size of the heart a bit so that 1-2cm of the edge of the plaid heart can still be seen which could also frame the heart nicely(I hope I'm making sense, haha). Anyways that's just my opinion :) I'm really enjoying the video btw. I never knew how much work goes into managing a small business but you're doing amazing!!
Due to popular demand in the comments of this video, I made a Patreon for anyone who wants to support me: patreon.com/mikanmandarin
No one is obligated to join and your support via likes and comments is more than appreciated, but thank you to anyone who joins! 💖 It really would help if I had another way outside of TH-cam to support my brand as it's consistently more and more financially taxing on me
Is there a possibility of using "buy me a coffee?" kind of thing? Some of us will like to help with a onetime donation :) TH-cam takes 30% with the Super thanks whereas Buy me a coffee only 5%. Don't use Paypal for donations xD
@@violetasdev omg don’t mind how old it is but I do have a ko-fi from a while back! ko-fi.com/mikanmandarin
@@mikanmandarin Even better!!! :D Just update it and link it everywhere!
Good Luck
Also maybe a kickstarter is a good idea
The clothing are clearly well made and beautiful and I really want to support and feel like I should pay an entrance fee for this emotional movie you served. Go, Vina (brand and person)!
And get yourself some well deserved cake after this journey.
Ahh thank you that’s really generous of you ❤
I would have NEVER EVER realised how much work, dedication and thought goes into a sustainable fashion brand if not for this video
As a black person who is a fan of your channel I really appreciate you making tights for people with darker skin. Like it’s crazy to me that it hasn’t been done already. Hopefully you will generate a lot of sales from it.
We should support by buying from her ❤
@@Desiludildo she’s in Japan I don’t think she ships world wide yet
@@Mimikyu560 I went to her site and it shipped to where I live and it's not Japan so she does. She definitely ships Europe
can you paste the link ? i can't seem to find it on the site
@@VolumePerfection I don’t live in europe
I love how you're so inclusive and concerned about ethical manufacturing and your designs are really pretty and unique! I think the prices are absolutely justified and actually on the lower end for the kind of work and quality you deliver. Also, I'm really looking forward to the long adult cute dress that was kind of teased in the beginning. Super excited for you and your brand!
Omg me too, can't wait for the longer stuff!!
@@Shannehh1337 Sammmmeeee! I just want more of her stuffff even though I can't buy it atm.
Honestly, I think her decision to keep the brand ethical may pay back well in the future. There's probably many potential customers to lolita type of brands who don't buy because they think the ethicality of it. Just keep this value and I'm sure it's gonna be huge benefit one day because people do care but there's just no options (others than sewing yourself).
@@Kotifilosofi Agree! I think some of her designs also work well for people who just want to have some cute elements in their outfits, who don't dress full-on lolita. I think the brand has the potential to be a well-known Japanese pop-culture fashion brand. For example I don't wear lolita but I like some cute, feminine elements. I would just pair the tops from her last collection with plain jeans and a light jacket. Absolutely wearable!
@@julianeuschwander8381 that's a good point! There's a lot of potential, either to go "full lolita" or just use the pieces as nice spice for your everyday outfits :)
It’s so admirable that you didn’t sacrifice your ethics and integrity over making the finances work ❤
exactly!
It sucks how hard everything went and is going for you because these designs are so fucking good. It would be such a shame to have to end it, because I rarely see such genuinely amazing well thought out clothes being sold, 'clothes' being an understatement, and art being a better fitting word. I just love your brand so much and i hope everything gets better 🤍
What a lovely thing to say, thank you 🥺💖
@@mikanmandarin You're welcome ❣️ It's just the facts!
We’re all proud of your achievements, Mikan. May God bless you all the way.
I am so proud of you to making this video. People really don’t realize how much of work, stress and money you need to spend for starting and running small business. Btw, I love your brand so much!
as a small business owner I’m glad to see someone put out a video that contains all the struggles (esp financial) so people realize that fast consumer prices are just not ethical
also gave me good insights as a business owner so thank you!
Keep it up! I'm so excited to see how your brand grows. And don't forget to create a proper hype around the products. Make people realize that this is the beginning of your brand, and what they can buy now they may not be able to buy later, and thus it may rise in value... make them see your clothes are like art collectibles rather than mass-productions ;) Good luck!
Over one hour of Mikan??!! Now I have something to watch now while finishing my art project for tommorrow :DD Thank youuu
Makes me miss the homework streams.
Same! I love when she makes longer videos ❤
Vina, I can tell you right now that the pink overcoat with the skirt at 1:06:09 will be a hit. You know how I can tell? Because I don't care about fashion (I just like your channel and your content about Japan), but when I saw that item I said "omg it looks REALLY good!". This is literally coming from someone who doesn't care about fashion. Like I'm literally a person who would walk in a store and have no expectations, but if I saw a woman wearing that in the store I would think they look really cute. The skirt length looks fine, although I dont think I would be a fan of the white lining growing form the collar you stated you want to put closer to the edge so it comes out more. My reason is because the more you make the white lining come out, the more people interested in your designs might think that the clothing can only be worn in a "non-professional" environment. Don't limit where people can wear the clothing. If you make it so they can wear it in a professional enviroment as well as just out and about to get tea with friends while looking classy, then I think the thing at 1:06:09 will be a huge hit. :)
The lace around the collar is detachable she said latter ig
I don't usually comment, but I have to say that watching you be so independent and not settling on the core values of what you want for your business is really cool. It's apparent that even with the added stress you're built for this! Take care of yourself and wishing that only good people find their way into your inner circle from now on~
Please don"t worry about having to cut down on different sizes/colours and adjusting the return policy...it is more than understandable, that you can not continue to go in dept...hopefully, your business will grow the way you want it to grow and with higher capacities you can then offer more sizes/colours and just have set the purchase and return terms according to your ethics and wishes!
❤
Mikan!!!! I don't know you personally but I'm so proud of the progress you've made over the time I've been watching you. From fumbling through fashion college to having your own brand, thats the dream!!!
Also not fumbling from lack of skill, it's just very hard😭
I'm really like that you don't hide the fact that creating your own business is hard and it's not just butterfly. Sending good vibes ☺️❤️ you're awesome and I really like your content
This is actually so admirable. I had NO IDEA how difficult this process was and the sacrifices you've made for this. I can see this difficult beginning blossoming into a truly great brand. You're doing amazing!
Just finished watching and I’m actually so glad you left all the „negative“ parts in. As a consumer it’s always very hard to imagine what actually happens behind the scenes and to me personally it’s very refreshing to have someone speak about finances and how real the struggle around money can be for Brands starting out.
Thank you for being so open and vulnerable with us💖
Wow, the drama! I studied fashion design, and we used to cry and have breakdowns all the time, lol. And that was just uni, so I can imagine the EXTREME anxiety that you are going through. It's good that you showed the downside of running your brand so that people can see how financially taxing manufacturing is. People are so used to fast fashion, with its low prices, low quality and horrible ethics, that they need help understanding the actual cost of a garment.
I am looking forward to your next dev/production vlog.
Wow, watching this really opened my eyes. I knew that small businesses struggled but I didn’t realize the ways they struggled and how stressful it truly can be. Hang in there even when it’s hard, you’re doing the best you can!
Wait omg, I'm so proud of you??? Like, okay, I've been watching you for a few years now and I've see how you've grown and the amount of pride I have for you rn is insane lmaooo. I wish you the best and I'm so excited to buy from your brand 🥰
Hi Vina. First of all: I feel like a proud sis, really! 2. Thank you for keeping all the personal bits, the finance related "mishaps" (you now know better and you will do better next time! ) and the vulnerable moments! And above all, thank you for putting in so much work into this video aside of already all consuming brand and business work!
🌼
Mikan, I'm not even a subscriber but I'm so glad I TH-cam suggested this video for me. And although I don't wear the style of clothing you design, I followed your brand on instagram and subscribed to your channel, just to maybe in a small way support you (I'm also looking forward to your jewelry collection because I think I'll be more open to try that).
But anyways, I just wanted to tell you that you've inspired me SO SO MUCH. It's SO DIFFICULT to start a brand and seeing you go through it, through the ups and downs really fueled something in me. For years, I wanted to write a cooking book and I've always ended up giving up before even starting because of how hard it is. But seeing how hard it was to you yet you kept pushing through even after losing money is so inspiring. I mean, life is an adventure isn't it? Why do I fear failing so much? even if I end up with no profit or even losing money, I know it's something I want to at least try.
Thank you Mikan, all the luck to you.
Mikan, I know you had some reservations about leaving some parts in the video, but I'm really glad you did. All the drama and hardships you had to go through has really made me trust your brand even more. Seeing the entire process of what you went through and seeing what you've sacrificed to make these clothes is very admirable. This video was super interesting to watch because nobody really talks about the business and behind the scenes of planning and creating clothes. I definitely want to buy the winter dress/jacket/beret combo !!
Wow that was a ride and thank you so much for sharing this experience!! First time watching from start to finish a TH-cam video this long!! As an independent artist, I totally relate to this situation of taking on new challenges but this can be stressful!! I really hope this release and your next one work well! You have all my support!!
Jesus Mikan, the stress sounds unbelievable! You are so strong to do all of this. Your designs are adorable so you should be proud of yourself. I like how you included the bad and the good in this video, it made for a very interesting watch, and it also helps us to understand what small businesses go through and why they charge what they do. Good luck with business, I really hope it works out for you!
i follow you for such a long time and even tough i am normally a quiet follower i have to say i am sooo proud of you!! for following your dreams and being true to yourself and your values slayyyy
What a journey! We are all so proud of you ❤
Thank you Katie 🥺💖
Oh my goodness I absolutely love when you post long videos like this ❤ also congrats on your brand I can’t wait to support!
Your dedication to the aesthetic and design of your garments is really impressive. The attention to detail is *chefs kiss* Its clear that you care so much about people. Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing your process. I love your brand and channel 🥰
Vina, I TOTALLY FEEL YOU. I started a small business in January and holy crap there’s so much you have to pay for. I’m sorry things have been so stressful for you and I completely have been there many times.
I really appreciate you being so open about the struggles of learning how to run a business because so few people are open about that!
I found the behind the scenes so interesting. You dont really think about what goes into each item. What an exciting time for you but also stressful. I hope things go well for you but you seem realistic about the world situation and I admire that you are sticking to your core principles. I really liked your dress and jacket set. If I was 30 years younger I would have bought it! I wish you all the best and Good Luck Vina!
never in my life have i watched vlogs before i found you. i just can't stay focused for such a long time, but you have a talent of drawing the viewer in so i don't even notice that 1.5hrs have passed. you just make everything so interesting, and your honesty and values are really a rare asset these days. i wanna support you, will definitely buy from your shop.
stay strong and keep pursuing your passions, mikan. we all wanna see you succeed. raise prices if you need to, but don't stress yourself out to the point of getting sick again
As a silent viewer, this was such an insightful video to watch about the entire process! I've been following you on twitter for a while and knew there were paypal issues but i didn't know it was this bad...I'm glad things are looking better for you! TBH I can't really afford your pieces right now but I really am working towards getting something from you! I love your style and i'm so happy you're committed to making the bigger sizes just as wearable as the standard sizes. Keep up the great work and i'll continue to support you through what you decide!
Thank you for sharing the process! I really appreciate you as a content creator and CEO. You inspire me to pursue the things I want. Love it! 💕
it's so fun seeing how your hair changes as the months go by
I felt the same way while I was editing 😂
I just did the preorder for the apron dress and after watching this whole video I am absolutely going to be saving up to buy the jacket and dress set after seeing you put your whole heart into everything I'm so excited. Please stay strong and don't feel bad for making proper decisions and knowing the worth of not just the customers but for yourself~!
So I don't want this channel that much anymore but wow. Mikan you are such an inspiration. I mean, 24 years old and running a business, that's something to be SO proud of. Also just in general. Moving by yourself to a new country at a young age, realising your passions. I admire you a lot. Please don't apologise for being stressed, that is indeed part of the process and just figuring everything out. Thank you for sharing this story. If I get some extra money to spend sometime soon I'll definitely be shopping there. :-)
Thanks!
Idk why it put thanks on it like that it sounds condescending😭 please keep up with this though genuinely it’s got to be insanely hard but what you are making is truly so cute and amazing
I usually don’t comment but I will here; hoping it will boost the video. I’ve been following you for 5 years and you can be so proud of yourself and everything you achieved, even with so many things going wrong. It’s been fun to watch your journey and this video specifically was so interesting and didn’t feel long at all! I lovee the black and white and the pink set and I’m looking forward to the longer, more “adult” dress, since that might be something I’d wear. The way you are so concerned for ethical manufacturing and inclusiveness despite just having started the business is really admirable as well. I know it’s a bummer the sales are worse this time compared to last time but I hope you don’t beat yourself up too much about it since there are so many factors. Instagram lowering your reach, the economy being bad everywhere in the world. Also while the red dress is adorable af, I think it’s more niche especially with the anime girl in the middle. The two sets that will be released next are something I’m sure a lot of people would like and wear to be honest. I really really hope the business will thrive after you learned so many things and that the sales will be better in the future. I know what it means to worry about money and it’s the worst feeling. So I just wish you all the best. Because we can see how passionate you are and how creative and making clothes is something you should be doing. You deserve the success and I want to see 100+ more releases from you 🤍
Omg I have the same thought I like the red dress but I know I can’t wear it every day I’m looking forward to the more adult one and the pink and black set ❤!
I can't agree more with you! I definitely see myself wearing the set multiple times, for work or lessiure, and creating different outfits with it, but I feel the red apron it's not something I'll wear only a few times and on weekends. Also I love to see she's making the set with detachable elements, like the laced rims, so it can be more versatile.
This release is amazing! Thank you for sharing the process with us😊 I look forward to the next release! You're a huge inspiration for me when it comes to fashion and I'm so happy that many people are supporting you on your business venture❤ I hope you receive a lot of love for your current release and future releases and that your hard work pays off!
Oh my god Vina!! I’m so so proud of you 💖💖😩 Your designs are beautiful!! Maybe try to alternate the releases between accessories and clothing to give it a breathing space? I don’t know… the fleece stockings need to be done!!!! Maybe a crowd funding could help launch it! Anyway, take good care of yourself! You are amazing! Such hard working person! I love you from the bottom of my heart 💖✨
I hope this comes across sincere/ constructive and not annoying, your vision and brand are so rare to come across, I desperately want to see it thrive!
If Instagram's reach is so bad can you promote on TH-cam more? Show sneak peaks here too, create the hype! I feel a lot of the process/ general launch/ the exciting stuff that's been shared on Instagram hasn't been on TH-cam (could very well be wrong, sorry if so!)
Also the fleece tights sound like an awesome idea, I will buy multiple!!! I'm tall and it's a nightmare to find good tights, especially fleece, but from the few brands that do do various sizes the bigger sizes usually relate to the height and weight differences, ie a taller person of less weight will have the same size of a shorter person with more weight because of the stretch. I assume you wouldn't need 3 different sizes as a "standard" tall size and a "standard" plus size could be the same? I don't know if this makes sense, but that's something I've noticed with regards to tights as a tall person who has been plus size and then slimmer
So glad things are going better though, unfortunately if you want something done right you have to do it yourself! I really hope this all works out and flourishes!!!
I feel like it would be good if you posted tiktoks with the process of building your brand. Instagram sucks but i have seen a lot of people successing bc of tiktok
TH-cam seems to really be promoting stories, some brands just cross-post Instagram stories onto TH-cam shorts! Even if it’s just a few key posts I think it would really help. I love watching your TH-cam videos but I knew almost nothing about the new releases before today!
I don’t think fleece tights are as stretchy as regular tights so they’re more made to the exact shape so plus size doesn’t translate to tall. I may be wrong though.
@@rachelcookie321 ahh you're probably right. I've never actually had any fleece that fit so I don't really know haha
@@eliontheinternet3298 my point exactly!
yayy i’ve been waiting for this video! it’s so interesting watching how your business works! it’s really inspiring to watch you figure out how to overcome challenges that come your way, and it’s definitely a huge role model for young adults who are a little lost with their passions and don’t know what to do with themselves but really want to start a business💖
edit: finances!!! they may be really uncomfortable to talk about but at the end of the day it is what makes or breaks a business if they aren’t managed properly. it’s the one thing that applies to every single business owner no matter the industry and (especially for me lmao) i find it a really tedious thing to learn and invest energy into because i fucking SUCK at maths and just find it boring lol.
watching this video is like watching bricks get hurled at you😭I can't belive how hard you worked Mikan even through the obstacles, in the end what you've achieved is sp impressive and we can only wish you the best of luck and hope your buissness grows xx
Love the long vlogs Mikan!! Watched 3 times now because I play it in the background while I work on my own craft business.
Omg 3 times 😭💖 thank you and good luck with your craft business!!
It's crazy the amount of work youve put into your brand like holy shit I can't believe it!! As a fellow person with ADHD, it's mindblowing to see what you've acheieved, despite the stress! You've done so well, please give yourself a bit more rest time!
The set looks SOOOOOOOO cute, I’m madly in love with your designs Mikan!!! I also just love how thoughtful you are when it comes to things like adding adjustable buttons, different ribbon colors, and changing the button on the sleeves into those snapping ones! Really just shows how much of an amazing smart person and designer you are!!
you are an angel for trying to make those fleece tights for darker skin!! i have found maybe one pair for darker brown skin tones but none for a more medium brown tone like me. so if you ever get the safe chance to go through with them, i can guarantee my purchase! hoping you get the chance to catch your breath soon
oml i could feel your stress through the screen this both seems very stressful but very rewarding. (when stuff goes well) . You're so incredible for this omg
Aww seeing how passionate you are and stressed out xxx you are amazing
So proud of you for sharing and being so honest about the whole process. 💖When you did the survey on your Instagram I actually thought 1:30h was gonna be too long but it was such an enjoyable video. I hope you keep filming the process for the next collection because it was really interesting.
Also the PayPal situation was stressing me... I have no idea how you coped with that, I would have had 30 meltdowns and a heart attack at some point for sure.
I hope all the lessons learned and the changes will allow you to rest more.
I will be supporting as best as I can. Sending love 💖
Vina!!! This was so wonderful to watch, I hated seeing you stressed and sad. I'm so sorry this "partner" took advantage of you, but it's amazing to see how much effort and care goes into everything you create. You are such a lovely and kind hearted person, you truly want to create the best things for everyone and I hope this release goes well for you ❤️
I am genuinely so proud of you that you were able to do this ..big props to you mikan ...i really hope your buisness takes off
i just finished the video, and i want to thank you for taking us on this journey. i have watched you for years and i feel as though i know you so much better because of this. sharing your mistakes and moments of vulnerability is a scary concept, but i do think you might have saved someone from making the same mistakes (like PayPal usage LOL). i also incredibly admire you for fighting for your brand image in the face of all these challenges. best of luck to you, can’t wait for those accessories to drop and for the black and white set!! 💞 you have our love!!
This was honestly so interesting and delightful to watch! I loved how you got into your design decision-making and production process. Even the parts where you’re documenting stressful times were informative and compelling! I’ve seen some “Shane Dawson who?” jokes but to be perfectly honest this is basically everything he’s ever promised and never delivered on in his “documentary” videos about the makeup production world: vulnerable, honest, full of tea-spilling that mixes behind the scenes setbacks and drama with actually interesting information about the process of designing, making, and shipping a product, with a likeable human being who has a totally normal and heartwarming relationship with their cats at the centre of it.
Mikan, this video is seriously awesome! I've been subscribed for 3 yrs and I'm just so proud of you😭you've really taken your failures and sucesses in strides and with grace. I just find you really inspiring🙈
literally can't imagine the amount of stress you've been through in this entire process. I hope that you're proud (i'm proud!!) of all that you've done even if it isn't going entirely to plan - your dedication through everything to make sure it's ethical and inclusive is very admirable. take care
I really hope your brand succeeds, what you're doing is amazing and all the designs are so cute. I hope you'll be able to get a break from all the stress soon.
I took my time today to watch your video and watched in sections. The inside you gave us through your progreess is really fun to watch. You can be really proud of yourself! I know how hard it is as a daughter from immagrant parents so its really relatable to see you go through this situation with your own rescources and your willpower!! you are amazing mikan! i wish you the best
I love how much information you shared about what goes on behind the scenes, really gives us a better appreciation for all the hard work you’ve been putting in to your brand!!!❤️
Hearing you talking about being unable to do anything while having too many things to do is SO painfully relatable as someone with ADHD. Analysis paralysis (and paralysis in general) is SUCH a huge problem for me. I will fully just lay in bed and cry about all the stuff I have to do and be PHYSICALLY INCAPABLE of doing it all. You're doing seriously amazing though and as a stan since the beginning (pre japan mikan days) I'm really proud, even as grossly parasocial as that sounds.
This is honestly just so impressive! How you're building this up by yourself, but also your ethics and how much integrity your work has! I wish you all the luck in the world for the future of your brand.
I've been following you for a while and I just have to say that you're such an inspiration and I hope only good things come your way. You work so hard, it's impressive!
Thank you so much for being so open and transparent about the hardships of launching a brand! I had no idea of all the hurdles you had to go through and it’s amazing what you’ve built. It was really interesting to see the real ins and outs and creating a small clothing brand.
Hi Mikan! As someone who just started my own small business (I just opened a tattoo studio) I can totally relate to the financial and mental stress that it takes to open your own business and continue running it. We really appreciate how open and honest you are with your journey, I think it helps for people who are going through anything similar. I can't wait for your new releases and we know you're doing the best you can! You're doing great and sending you love! 💖
So proud of you going through all of this stress for creating what others love, I truly love all your designs and thank you for creating them for us!
Hello Mikan! I have been following your business process for some time now. So far, I’ve been amazed at everything you have put out! You are an absolute inspiration!
Throughout the video, you apologized for complaining/whining too much but I think you have every right to do so. I think it’s great that you had your complaints because it shows how dedicated you are to your business. I don’t think you should be ashamed or feel a sense of regret for showing us the downside of running a business. I’m glad you didn’t cut out certain parts of the video because it allows us as the viewer to see how hard it is to run a business, especially a small one.
Please continue to do your best! I wish you the best of luck with your business!
your literally the most hard-working person I've seen in my whole life. and the designs of the dresses are gorgeous and stunning
I love seeing the behind the scenes of clothing production. It’s always interesting to see. I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with so many bumps in the road while getting started but I hope everything works out! Your designs are really cute and I hope you’ll be able to keep creating!
i think its 100% ok to do the standard, like 2-3 sizes and adjusting shipping, and then change it when u are more financially stable and making profit. its wonderful how much u care for ur customers and the fact that u connect with us thru youtube as well helps show who you are!! if it werent for this video id honestly never understood small business like i do now. i hope u can relieve urself of all this stress soon :[
We are very proud of you Mikan!
I am about half way through the video and I really like that you give transparancy about what is going on in a small business. Not many people know and a lot are complaining when there is some trouble. I really hope your video gives a better insight on how stressful and complicated things can get. I truely admire you for taking this step and I love your ideas for the shop so much🥰 you are so thoughtful with every item you design❤
I'm SO happy you're going to release a long dress! I love your store, but all the clothes weren't modest enough for me. Thank you so much for taking the feedback! I wish you all the luck on your store Mikan! 💖
so proud of you for putting this video out there!! i think its important for people to see the processes behind actually owning a small business
I love the dress and jacket set 😍 So excited for it!
I cannot stand how much i've loved this video and how much i love watching videos when you decide to let go and be yourself! Love your personality, love your strength and love all the hard work you're putting in this project!! I'll always support you, so proud 🤍
As a plus size girlie, bless your heart mikan! Putting your foot down making sure that your launch included size inclusivity AND making it priced equally even though the financial aspect was difficult is so sweet. If I had the money I would buy every piece from your brand. I'm sorry to hear you had a lot problems with your launch. I sincerely hope from now on it gets better and smoother for you and you continue to succeed! I hope to support you soon!
i love that you're so open and honest it really helps people
WOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the thumbnail and title help 🥺💖
@@mikanmandarin NO PROBLEM QUEEN
stay strong mikan, it'll all work out, ur designs are beauuuutiful. we'll be cheering for u! 🫡
Props to you Vina!
You're doing an incredibly difficult thing. I hope you are able to prioritize your health alongside running your business. I also highly recommend joining some entrepreneur support groups which are a great place to share struggles, wins, and loses with your peers and makes you feel a little less alone in this crazy journey you're on.
Thank you for this video! I never knew how overwhelming starting a small business is. You have so many wonderful ideas for the brand too!!! I look forward to seeing your releases.
It's impressive that you managed to do so much by yourself in Japan of all places. Well done for perservering and learning so much. I hope the new drop does really well for you.
42:48 i need that jacket omg it looks so cute!!! i'm actually amazed by the work you are doing Mika! It was a bumpy ride, but from now on, you go up!
Good instinct, keeping in the parts of this video that you did! ☺️ I really appreciate you showing the ups AND the downs & how you honestly documented & shared the perspective & realities of starting a small biz like this! 💞 It's refreshing, inspiring, encouraging & SUPER helpful (esp for us who deal with stress/anxiety/neurodivergence/etc & who want to pursue their dreams but don't come from money!!) 🥰 You have respectfully shared your experience of having others work with or for you! Congrats on ALL you've accomplished & all the best going forward! LOVE the b&w checked dress n jacket set!! 😻
You got this!!! ♥
I love that you're transparent with your audience and showing all aspects of what it means to be a designer and business owner. The amount of time, effort, money, etc. that goes into producing a brand is not easy and not really shown so being able to witness it through your vid is an eye-opener, and I'm sure for many. I think you're making strides with your business and I can't wait to see how it grows! ✨
I remember you mentioned Square and I def recommend looking into it! They offer loans, checking account with a debit card, etc. it would also be useful down the line if you ever considered being a vendor, doing pop up shops, or opening a boutique 👀 they have card readers, etc. They also have some marketing tools and it's just very useful based on my personal experience with it! I think you can totally benefit from their services✨ Running a small business is not easy at ALL (I work with a small business so I have a bit of an idea of what you're experiencing). You're doing amazing despite the trial and errors but, things can only get better! ♥😍 Thanks for sharing your experience with us!
I said this before when you told us how you moved to Japan, but you're such an inspiration!! Your willpower, and dedication Is so inspirational. I also have immigrant parents and have 0 backup so you are living proof that we can achieve our dreams. I wish you nothing but success 💕💕💕
Thank you so much for sharing Mikan! I find it so commendable to see that you are sticking to your vision and not taking any shortcuts, for any part of the process. It was so interesting to see the steps that are taken just for one piece of clothing, I had no idea how much went into every aspect. I love all the designs that you showcased in the video and I definitely plan on purchasing in the near future! ❤I have been subscribed to you for almost four and a half years and I am so proud of how far you have come! 😊
I've been watching your channel for a few years and seeing how far you've come makes me so proud and impressed. Congratulations! I hope all your hard work pays off
I’m late but I’ve been watching your content for a while and I find your videos cute and comforting, I’m very happy for you and I hope you have an amazing day
I absolutely love your designs and that you try to cater to everyone and be inclusive even if it can be very hard as a small business brand and I’m sure everyone will understand about the return policy and such. I’m so sorry you’ve had to deal with soo much stress and issues in the beginning which were out of your control. I’m glad you are working with new people and I feel like that alone with help with running things more smoothly. I think peoples finances might be an issue for not getting as many preorders as I absolutely adore the red checker apron dress but do not have the money available at this time same with the last release. But I’m already putting back money for your jacket and dress release because I love all your designs and I’ve really wanted to show my support. I’m hoping more people are also the same and now they know a new design is on the way, they will also be saving to buy it. I’m so incredibly proud of you for all of your hard work and being so vulnerable and real with everyone. I knew when you enrolled in fashion college that you would design amazing clothes in the future and I’m so happy you are challenging yourself to do that. 💗
Switching on the Mikan documentary while I mark homework is becoming my favourite part of the day
I don't really comment much, but I want to help boost your engagement, and I was so excited about this video honestly. And you didn't disappoint. I am in awe of how hardworking you are, and I love your vision for the brand and all the details you think about for each outfit. Also, even though most of the dresses and sets aren't really my style, I love the blouse (still considering buying tho because it is expensive for me, even though I completely get the price), and the tights and cardigan are too a brilliant idea. So excited for future releases (especially for the black skirt if you make it), and best of luck to you and your brand going forward.
I hope your business in this moment is going well! So well! Everything will turn out good for you Mikan!! Fighting!!
it's so impressive watching the whole process and how much it takes to build up a brand. we're all rooting for you❤❤
Just starting work at a company I feel like I can learn from your perspective 😃 I'm so proud to see you stand up for your core values in such a homogeneous society, all the while pouring such love and thought into your designs!!
For the two heart designs at 40:00, I prefer the colour scheme of the first one as I think it compliments the red of the skirt more but I really like the strawberry design of the second one so maybe the two designs can be combined in some way? Like the design of the second one but a bit less pink on the girl's dress and bow?
Also with the size of the heart I think your idea of the red ribbon would be really nice but you could also reduce the size of the heart a bit so that 1-2cm of the edge of the plaid heart can still be seen which could also frame the heart nicely(I hope I'm making sense, haha).
Anyways that's just my opinion :) I'm really enjoying the video btw. I never knew how much work goes into managing a small business but you're doing amazing!!
Vina, I’m stressed for you. I’m hoping all is going smoothly now and you’re able to continue your business for a very long time!