John Melvin

Male

Edinburgh

United Kingdom

Profile Information:

Profession / role:
Operations Director
Company / organisation:
Sakura Scotland
Website (if you have one):
www.sakurascotland.com
My primary role in relation to fashion is:
Manufacturer
I am looking to discover or buy
New contacts
About me / About business or organisation:
Hello! My name is John and I am from Edinburgh in Scotland. After an extended journey which has taken me through Aberdeen and Tokyo, I am back living in Edinburgh, with my wife, Shizue.

We met whilst I was working in Japan and it is a testament to my negotiating skills (and the appeal of new shopping experiences, I should add) that she gave up Tokyo for Scotland. Sharing the Japanese fondness for tartan, she got on well with a good family friend, David McGill, who also happens to be a tartan designer. Together, they have created the 'Four Seasons' tartan range, and together we have created a company called 'Sakura Scotland'.

We identify closely with an Edinburgh-based charity with strong Asian connections, Scottish Love in Action, and support their amazing work in India through a share of our profits. David has been using his connections from his 'Tartans for Africa' and 'International Tartans' projects to source suppliers in Africa - he will tell you all about this on his profile!
Career history / Company history:
2009 - present
Operations Director at Real History Talks, a family company that brings the dead back to life... via a downloadable audio tour of Edinburgh's city centre. Other tours and languages coming soon
2009 - present
Operations Director at Sakura Scotland, a tartan design company that has created a range targeting the Japanese market
2007 - present
Operations Director at Galink, a company providing bespoke tours to Chinese visitors to the UK
2006 - 07 Did Masters in Tourism Marketing at Edinburgh Napier University (felt like work!)
2004-06 English teacher at the British Council, Tokyo

Comment Wall:

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  • hazel lethaby

    Hello!
    Ive managed to get most of my projects done actually, time management is one of my best skills, thanks for the good wishes though!
    I cant wait to see some pics from tht night, couldnt see much from backstage, it was supposed to be featured in the Evening News, but unfortunately with it being an edinburgh paper and event they only featured the ECA designs.

    I really love that illustration you have as your profile pic, did you see on mine I have some pics from a professional shoot I did of my coat?
    Hope to see you all soon!
    Hazel

    Nov 23, 2009

  • Honey Malaolu

    it's going very well i'm finding myself in this year and i feel free to experiment in what i am do. i am enjoying it i'm just opening my self to the world of fashion outside uni because you can get too comfortable sometimes which is not good.

    Dec 21, 2009

  • Fashioning an Ethical Industry

    Hi John,

    We thought you might be interested in joining our new group on the Scottish Ethical Fashion Education Network!

    From September 2010 Fashioning an Ethical Industry will be working with Scottish universities and colleges to establish a network interested in teaching, learning and sharing about ethics in the fashion industry. With the support from FEI the Network will host events, develop resources and share best practice related to corporate social responsibility in the fashion industry. Please do join the group to input into the development of the network and keep informed of news and events.
    Click here to join!

    FEI

    Sep 2, 2010