Masato

What Masato does

Masato (legally Masato Limited, trading as Masato Jones) is a Leeds-based, founder-owned fashion and lifestyle brand founded in 2011 by Japanese-born designer Masato Jones, a Central St Martins Womenswear graduate who previously trained as a pattern cutter with Giles Deacon. The company's core business is bespoke made-to-measure menswear and womenswear, produced at a combined retail shop and atelier located at 5 Thornton's Arcade, Leeds, with global direct-to-consumer e-commerce via a Shopify storefront (masato.co.uk) and a print-on-demand presence on Redbubble. The product offering spans bespoke garments (yukata, shirts, trousers, dresses priced £90-£389), sustainable casual wear made from 100% organic cotton or recycled blends and screen-printed in-house (£22-£45), and a curated assortment of Japanese lifestyle goods, art prints, greeting cards, stationery, accessories, bags (often upcycled from bespoke fabric offcuts), home decor, and customizable hampers, including third-party artisan brands such as Ezen Trade, Rosie Rose Parker, The English Soap Company, Niaski, and licensed Peanuts merchandise.

The underlying operating model combines traditional craft (in-house pattern cutting, screen printing, Japanese calligraphy framing) with a small-scale retail and bespoke services operation. Revenue is generated through one-off garment sales, quote-based bespoke commissions, unit-priced curated goods, gift card sales (£10-£100), and growing educational offerings including pattern cutting classes and 1-to-1 tutoring with the founder. Distribution is omnichannel but small in scale: a single physical retail-atelier, a Shopify storefront shipping internationally, a Redbubble marketplace channel, and a wholesale enquiry pipeline routed through a personal email. The company employs 1-10 staff and has not raised institutional capital; it is exploring Patreon as a community funding mechanism.

The customer base is fragmented across individual DTC buyers spanning fashion-conscious consumers seeking unique bespoke garments, Japanese culture enthusiasts, sustainable fashion buyers, and gift shoppers, supplemented by a high-visibility endorsement from entertainer Beverley Knight. Marketing relies on organic social (Twitter, Instagram), a blog ("Masato's Place"), video content, email newsletters with discount incentives, and selective fashion event appearances. The brand's stated geographic reach spans the UK, USA, Europe, and China through shipped orders, though operational and physical presence remains concentrated in Leeds.

Name

Masato

Legal name

Masato Limited

Website

https://masato.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Masato Jones is a Leeds-based, founder-owned fashion and lifestyle brand founded in 2011, offering bespoke Japanese-inspired menswear and womenswear, sustainable screen-printed casual wear, and curated artisan home goods and art prints via a Shopify storefront and a single Leeds atelier-retail shop.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bespoke Fashion & Lifestyle Retail

NAICS

Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (3152), Apparel Manufacturing (315), Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers (458110)

SIC

Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130)

akta.pro primary industry

Luxury & Couture / Small-Batch Cut & Sew (IMAOAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dresses, Skirts & Tailored Apparel Cut & Sew (Suits/Formalwear) (IMAOAEAF), Men’s Apparel Retail (CRAAABAC), Fashion/Costume Jewelry Manufacturing (CRAKAIAB)

Keywords

• Bespoke fashion design
• Made-to-measure clothing
• Japanese-inspired apparel
• Sustainable casual wear
• Curated lifestyle products

Headquarters

HQ city

Leeds

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ready-to-Wear Fashion Sales: Sale of pre-designed menswear, womenswear, and casual wear through their e-commerce platform and physical store. Includes Japanese-inspired garments, accessories, and lifestyle products.
2. Bespoke/Tailoring Services: Custom-made garments for balls, weddings, events, and anniversaries. Pricing varies based on garment complexity and materials. Fittings available at Leeds studio or customer locations.
3. Print-on-Demand Art: Original artworks available as prints (A3, A4, A5) and original Japanese calligraphy framed with Japanese cotton borders. Sold through Redbubble platform.
4. Curated Third-Party Products: Commissions from curated independent artisan products including greeting cards, art prints, soaps, and gift items from other UK-based makers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Masato Jones is a Leeds-based, Japanese-born designer label offering bespoke made-to-measure womenswear and menswear individually crafted at the Leeds atelier, complemented by sustainable casual wear (organic cotton, screen-printed in-house), Japanese-inspired lifestyle products, original art prints, greeting cards, accessories, bags, home decor, seasonal collections, and curated third-party artisan goods. The brand also offers pattern cutting classes and 1-to-1 tutoring with the designer.

Product overview

Masato Jones is a Leeds-based Japanese designer offering bespoke womenswear and menswear fashion alongside a curated lifestyle brand. The core offering includes made-to-measure garments crafted individually at the Leeds atelier (5 Thornton's Arcade), with custom one-off fabrics and details. Supporting the fashion lines are complementary product collections: sustainable casual wear (organic cotton t-shirts screen-printed in-house), Japanese lifestyle imports (Daruma dolls, incense, EZEN cards), art prints from UK artists, greeting cards, stationery, accessories, bags, home decor, seasonal collections (Christmas, Halloween, Pride), and food hampers. The company also curates third-party brands including Rosie Rose Parker jewellery, English Soap Company products, and Homeless Made cards. Educational services include pattern cutting classes and 1-to-1 tutoring with Masato. As a small independent brand, the business is exploring Patreon funding for expansion while maintaining its bespoke tailoring focus.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bespoke Womenswear Made-to-measure womenswear garments individually designed and crafted for each customer at the Leeds atelier, offering unique designs with one-off fabrics and custom details. Includes cotton croptops (£90–£110), cotton trousers (£195), dresses (£188–£389), and linen croptops (£98). Pricing varies by complexity and materials.
• Bespoke Menswear Made-to-measure menswear garments including yukata, shirts, and trousers, individually designed and crafted for each customer with custom fabric and detail options. Includes yukata (£220–£235), cotton shorts (£149), lapel shirts (£198–£215), and Japanese cotton joggers (£195). Pricing varies by complexity and materials.
• Casual Wear Collection Sustainable unisex casual wear made from 100% organic cotton or recycled blends, screen-printed in the UK with some items now printed in-house. Includes t-shirts (£35), bespoke patch T-shirts (£40–£45), and denim caps (£22). Patchwork pieces are handmade in the Leeds atelier.
• Japanese Lifestyle Products Curated selection of Japanese-imported items including Daruma dolls, incense, chopsticks, and EZEN DESIGN Japanese greeting cards and art prints featuring traditional Japanese artwork.
• Art Prints Art prints from independent UK artists including Niaski's cat-themed works, Northern Line, Magpie, Ezen Trade, and licensed Peanuts/Snoopy prints, available in various sizes. A4 prints priced at £17.
• Masato Original Art & Prints Original artworks by Masato Jones available as A3, A4, and A5 prints, including Japanese calligraphy pieces framed with 100% Japanese cotton borders. Also available as print-on-demand products on Redbubble.
• Greeting Cards Selection of greeting cards for various occasions created by independent UK artists, featuring zodiac-themed cards with gold foil designs. Priced at £4 each with a 'buy 6 cards get 1 free' promotion.
• Stationery Stationery products including journals, notebooks, and boxed notecard sets featuring various art styles including Japanese Decorative Designs, Hokusai, Hiroshige, and Yoshida Hiroshi collections.
• Accessories Colourful accessories including decorative fans in various designs such as Art Deco, Script, and floral patterns.
• Bags, Wallets & Purses Bags made from leftover fabric from bespoke garments to minimise waste, including tote bags, satchels, and crossbody bags, plus wallets and purses.
• Home Decor Home decor items including Japanese ceramic cat sauce dishes, artisan ceramic dipping dishes, trinket trays, and handmade felt flower bouquets.
• Pins Enamel pins sourced from small independent artists across the UK, featuring various designs including Peanuts characters and seasonal themes.
• English Soap Company Products (Curated) Luxury soap bars and toiletries from The English Soap Company, made in Sussex with over 20 years of soap-making experience, including Kew Gardens botanical collection. Curated and sold by Masato Jones.
• Rosie Rose Parker Jewellery (Curated) Handmade jewellery brand established in 2019 by Michelle Finnerty featuring art deco and vintage-inspired illustrated designs printed on certified woods, including statement earrings and brooches. Curated and sold by Masato Jones.
• Homeless Made Greeting Cards (Curated) Social enterprise greeting cards created by artists who have experienced homelessness, supporting Barons Court Project in West London. Curated and sold by Masato Jones.
• Gift Cards Digital gift cards available in denominations of £10, £25, £50, and £100 for purchase on the Masato Jones online store.
• Pattern Cutting & Garment Making Classes Educational workshops offered at the Leeds atelier on pattern cutting and garment making techniques, taught by designer Masato Jones.
• 1-to-1 Tutoring with Masato Personalised one-on-one tutoring sessions with designer Masato Jones at the Leeds atelier, covering pattern cutting and garment making.
• Create Your Own Hamper Customisable gift hampers featuring independently sourced treats including Vivani Bio Organic Chocolate, Dorset Chocolate fudge, and artisanal chocolate bars.
• Christmas Collection Curated Christmas cards, decorations, and gifts sourced from fair trade suppliers, independent designers, and artisans.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sustainable production using 100% organic cotton or recycled blends with in-house screen printing eliminating waste

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Rosie Rose ParkerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJewellery brand established in 2019 by Michelle Finnerty. Rosie Rose Parker creates unique art deco and vintage-style jewellery pieces, with each design illustrated in-house and printed on certified woods. All items are handmade in the UK. Masato Jones curates and sells these products in their Leeds shop and online store.
• The English Soap CompanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 20 years of soap-making experience based in Sussex, UK with 60 staff members. Products include luxury soap bars and toiletries made at their Sussex farm site. Royal Botanic Garden KEW partner. All soaps, hand creams, and liquid washes are vegan and eco-conscious. Masato Jones curates and sells their products.
• Homeless Made (Barons Court Project)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial enterprise of Barons Court Project in West London supporting people experiencing homelessness or mental health challenges. Artists including Guan Chow, Dave Martin, John Sheehy, Lui Saatchi, Mary Vallely, and Michael Crosswaite create art together. Masato Jones sells greeting cards from these artists, supporting the creative community initiative.
• Ezen TradecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecializes in exquisite Japanese greeting cards and art prints. Products crafted in London studio on shimmering pearlescent, eco-friendly board. Hand-packaged in biodegradable corn starch packaging. Masato Jones is a primary retailer of their Japanese art cards and prints, featuring extensive collection across multiple product pages.
• Tom Boxx and Oliver JamesonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVideo creators who produced the Masato Jones Mini Documentary. Collaboration partners in content creation for the brand's storytelling and visual marketing materials.
• NiaskiminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArtist/brand creating cat-themed art prints including 'The Splash Cat' inspired by David Hockney, waterlily cat prints, and various feline-inspired artwork. Their works are curated and sold through Masato Jones.
• Peanuts/Peanuts LLCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLicensed Peanuts characters including Snoopy and Woodstock featured on commercial art prints. Masato Jones sells officially licensed Peanuts merchandise including pins and prints.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Caroline Gardner: UK independent designer of greeting cards, stationery, and art-led gift products sold through independent retail and own channels. Directly comparable to Masato's curated greeting card and art print lines.
• Bamford: British sustainable luxury lifestyle brand spanning womenswear, home, and wellbeing products with a strong founder-led design story. Comparable to Masato's sustainable, design-led apparel-plus-lifestyle positioning.
• Couverture & The Garbstore: UK concept store curating independent designers across fashion, childrenswear, homewares, and gifts. Matches Masato's boutique-style curation across apparel and lifestyle categories.
• Wolf & Badger: UK-founded multi-brand marketplace that curates independent designers across fashion, jewelry, and home, with both online and physical boutiques. Highly comparable to Masato's role curating third-party indie brands alongside its own-label products.
• Toast: UK-based curated lifestyle brand offering ready-to-wear, homewares, and gifts with an artisanal, design-led aesthetic across both owned e-commerce and pop-ups. Closely comparable to Masato's hybrid apparel-plus-curated-lifestyle model.
• House of Hackney: British design-led brand selling bold-print apparel, accessories, and homewares with a strong narrative aesthetic. Comparable to Masato's lifestyle brand positioning around distinctive design and curated homeware.
• E. Tautz: British heritage menswear label offering made-to-measure and ready-to-wear under a single designer-led creative direction. Comparable to Masato's bespoke menswear and design-led positioning.
• Not On The High Street: UK curated marketplace aggregating independent makers across gifts, greeting cards, art prints, homewares, and hampers. Directly comparable to Masato's curated artisan offerings and hamper-building service.
• Papersmiths: UK specialty retailer curating stationery, greeting cards, art prints, and design-led gifts with strong independent designer sourcing. Matches Masato's curated Japanese-styled cards, prints, and stationery range.

Broad incumbents

• AllSaints: UK-founded design-led apparel and accessories brand operating global own-brand retail with a similar founder-led heritage story, though at vastly larger scale. Useful as a scale benchmark for Masato's apparel thesis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/masato_jones
• Instagraminstagram.com/masatoleeds
• Facebookfacebook.com/masatoboutique
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/masato-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Masato