Wool Bear Story

Wool Bear was born in the winter of 2019 from my conscious practice of giving old sweaters and knitwear a new life.

I make Wool Bears from knitwear that is no longer needed. Each piece already has its own history, and I wanted to transform it into something new that could continue to hold love, memories, wishes, and meaning.

At the time, I was already thinking about how my work could become more conscious. I produce my cashmere pieces with manufacturers, hand-knit my own knitwear, and mend my dog Foxy’s stuffed animals. But I began to feel that I wanted to go somewhere deeper—somewhere closer to the emotional side of our lives.

One morning in November, I began making a teddy bear from my own leftover knitwear. As I made it, I realized how beautiful it was to give something that was no longer needed a renewed life.

That was the beginning of Wool Bear.

Wool Bear, holding a heart, allows you to place a personal message inside the heart for someone special.

Make a Wish to the Moon Bear, holding a crescent moon, allows you to place a wish or message inside the moon. The idea came to me one evening when I saw my teddy bear sitting on the dashboard of my car beneath a dark sky and a crescent moon. I imagined the bear carrying our wishes to the moon.

You Became a Star Bear, holding a star, was born during a difficult time with my family in Tokyo. I suddenly had to fly back from Los Angeles as we were saying goodbye to our beloved pup. I made a teddy bear for my family, and we placed a message inside the star, hoping that the bear could carry our words and love to him, who had become a star.

I first introduced Wool Bear at parties at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Los Angeles. Since then, Wool Bear has continued to grow as part of my creative practice.

Starting this fall, some Wool Bear will begin wearing jewelry, adding another layer of beauty, personality, and meaning to each bear.

If you would like your own Wool Bear made for yourself or someone special, you are welcome to send us a piece of knitwear that is no longer needed, together with a small handwritten message.

Wool Bear and I will create a special bear for you and send it back within one to two weeks.

I hope Wool Bear can be a small companion for your love, your wishes, your memories, and your difficult times—and give new life to something that was once loved.

Thank you for supporting my work and my practice.

Tomomi Egawa

New York, NY 2026