Hello,
I’m Mr. Linen.
It’s been about a year since I started this blog, Mr. Linen.
I’ve written around 200 articles in Japanese so far. (I have writen only several articles in English, but I am planning to make more and more articles in English. )
Only recently have I begun receiving comments, and I’m finally starting to feel that I’m not just shouting into the void—that there are actually people out there reading what I write.
Now that it’s been a year, I’d like to take this opportunity to properly introduce myself.
What I Do Usually
I was born in 1994, and as of 2025, I’m 31 years old.
I currently work as an interpreter for a European language, which isn’t English.
When people hear “interpreter,” they often imagine a freelance professional who gets called in for specific assignments. But in my case, I’m employed full-time by an organization—I’m a salaried interpreter.
I work a typical Monday to Friday, 9-to-5 schedule.
Back in junior high and high school, I was really into English. When it came time for university, I decided to pursue a degree in foreign languages.
While studying English further seemed like a good option, I also wanted to take on something more unique—something others weren’t doing—so I chose to major in a lesser-known language.
I ended up really enjoying that language, studied abroad in the corresponding country, and have continued along that path to this day.
But the truth is, I love clothes at least a hundred times more than I love languages.
Apart from when I’m hungry, clothes are pretty much the only thing on my mind.
When I was a university student, I worked part-time at a multi-brand boutique, often skipped lunch to save money, and went to second hand shops every day.
I also love vintage watches. But simply collecting them as a hobby wasn’t enough, so now I work part-time on weekends at a shop in Tokyo Shibuya that specializes in vintage timepieces.
Just being surrounded by vintage watches makes me happy. I also love interacting with people, so I genuinely enjoy working in retail. Since many of our customers are from other countries, it feels like an ideal job for me.
Alongside vintage watches, I’m equally passionate about classic menswear.
There are many styles in the fashion world, but to me, nothing is as stylish as classic clothing.
So I started working part-time at a tailor in Tokyo.
That said, I’m no expert when it comes to suits, so I don’t participate in the actual making of garments. Instead, I help with tasks that are within my capabilities.
For me, just being able to observe the work at a tailor I’ve long admired feels like a privilege.
I’ll keep the names of the vintage watch shop and the tailor private.
That’s because I don’t want my association with them to potentially harm their brand in any way, and I want to maintain a degree of objectivity when writing review-style posts as a customer.
If, by any chance, you’d like to know which shops I work at, feel free to contact me via the form below and I’ll let you know.
My Dream
My dream is to turn my love for clothing—whether it’s suits, watches, or shoes—into my full-time profession.
I know opinions differ on the idea of turning your passion into your job.
But in my case, I’m confident that working in clothing is the right path for me, and here’s why:
In my mid-20s, I was driven by a strong desire to become someone important, to make money, and to succeed. I tried starting a small business in the field of foreign language education.
I kept at it for about a year, but the business didn’t generate any revenue, and I eventually hit my emotional limit and gave up.
Had it gone well, maybe I would have enjoyed it. But I realized I simply can’t push myself for something I don’t truly love, just for the sake of money.
As for my current job as an interpreter, I don’t dislike it—but I don’t particularly love it either.
It’s rewarding to apply the skills I honed during my student years, but the job itself doesn’t ignite any passion in me.
In contrast, the part-time jobs I’ve done—at the select shop during university, and now at the vintage watch shop and tailor—are things I find genuinely enjoyable.
I love clothes. I love talking with people.
When it comes to what I’d like to do in the future, the answer is simple: anything related to clothing.
As long as I can work in the world of fashion and earn enough to support my family, that would be enough.
At the moment, I can’t live on my part-time income alone, so I continue working as an interpreter.
But if I’m being honest, I don’t want just any fashion-related job—I want to work with the kind of clothing I personally love.
There are brands and shops I admire, but even at places I respect, I’d likely still be caught up in chasing trends, which isn’t quite aligned with my love for timeless, classic style.
Ideally, I’d like to work at a tailor.
That said, I don’t see myself ever taking on core tailoring tasks like measurements, pattern-making, cutting, or sewing.
Even at the tailor I work at, I stay away from those areas entirely.
If I were a customer, I wouldn’t want a novice like myself doing my fittings.
Instead, I hope to contribute to the tailor in other ways—ways that suit my abilities.
I have no intention of opening my own shop.
If I were a customer, I wouldn’t trust myself to make a suit. So starting a tailor shop of my own is out of the question.
Even if I had the technical skills to make suits, my previous experience with entrepreneurship has shown me how emotionally taxing independence can be. No amount of money could convince me to go through that again.
Being an employee does come with certain limitations, but it allows me to maintain my mental well-being. If I love what I do and can make a living doing it, that’s more than enough for me.
Why I Started This Blog
I started this blog because I hoped that somehow, it might help me turn clothing into a career and live the kind of life I dream of.
If I only wanted to work in fashion, all I’d need to do is find the right company and get hired.
But no matter how perfect the job might be, I could always be let go someday.
If I continue this blog and build some kind of personal credibility, then maybe—just maybe—it will come in handy if I ever want to (or have to) work in fashion again.
If I can build a reputation of my own, perhaps someone out there would take a chance on me, even if I lose a job.
I honestly have no idea how this blog might support my fashion-related career in the future.
Still, nothing will come from doing nothing—so I’m continuing to write, for the sake of what lies ahead.
Thank you for reading this long self-introduction from someone who, at present, is still very much a work in progress.
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