About ME (a.k.a Imouto)
What does ‘imouto’ mean?
A good question! ‘Imouto’ (ee-mo-oo-toh)means ‘little sister’ in Japanese.
In hiragana it is いもうと and in kanji 妹 . The name was inspired by the simple fact I am a little sister and like all things cute!
*bonus points to you if you know what anime my cape is from!!
Just a small handful of my plushes! :3
What’s the story of Imouto?
It all started with Pokemon when I was a kid! I loved all things Japanese and the exciting characters I saw in anime and manga. Fast forward 14 years (!) and I was teaching English in Japan and enjoying every moment of it! Everyday I came into contact with so many fun and cute items and characters that brightened up my day. I thought surely other people would love to have these items but I found them so hard to find when I came back to the UK. Thus I set out to create Imouto, so you could buy and enjoy the same characters and products I do.
It was delayed for a few years after my return, but I’m so happy to say it’s finally here!
Being good to the environment
I want to make sure Imouto’s impact on the planet is as minimal as possible and a key part of this as an online shop is the packaging. All the materials used are either biodegradable or recyclable so you can be happy with not just your items, but with the fact that the packaging isn’t going to contribute to the plastic issue we’re now facing.
Plastic postal bag - biodegradable (can be recycled alongside plastic carrier bags)
Cardboard protective layer - recyclable (not as messy as the popcorn option!)
Tissue paper - recyclable and biodegradable (no acids or toxins in the paper)
Sticker (paper) - biodegradable (low adhesive glue)
Unfortunately I do have to pack items in their ‘original’ plastic packaging so if you do need to return an item it is easy for you and helps make sure they are in perfect condition. These are often plastic bags that may or may not be recyclable (check for symbols). If in doubt take it along with any carrier bags to your nearest recycling point and fingers crossed it can be used again!
Many of our items also aim to help with the issues we’re currently facing with a focus on eco-bags for shopping, thermos mugs for take-away coffee and reusable water bottles!