About Kathryn

Kathryn Hensley Matsuura grew up in a family that did Japanese sewing. She developed an interest in sewing as a young child. When in the 8th grade she took sewing in school. Her interest continued and when she lived in Honolulu, she took a fashion design class. Unfortunately she never considered this as a possible career.

When Kathryn moved to San Francisco in 2002, she decided to start designing products using a selection of very good quality Japanese fabrics. Originally she began by making clothes. An excellent example is the exquisite vest showcased in the home page logo. She eventually rented a studio in Oakland and began designing products.

Her desire for perfection was a wonderful thing for friends as Kathryn considered her designs as her training and would give most of them away to friends. The feedback she got from her friends was invaluable and helped her perfect her skills. There is a proverb in Japanese that focuses on patience and perseverance as a way to achieve one’s goals: Ishi no ue nimo san nen (“sitting patiently on a rock for three years”).

In 2007 she had the confidence to launch her business and founded her design company, Exclusively Yours. She moved her studio to a new location in Redwood City.

Kathryn’s custom hand-crafted designs for her purses, scarves and accessories demonstrate her exceptional skill and passionate commitment to detail. She selects only the finest Japanese fabrics and techniques and tools.

Kathryn regularly visits Kyoto, the center of kimono-making in Japan for centuries, to search for the best fabrics, accessories and tools.