Interview with Matt Miller, VP at Original Stitch

By Justin D Williams

I had the pleasure of chatting with Matt Miller Vice President of Original Stitch. Original Stitch was present at New York Comic Con 2022 to give attendees a look at their One Piece collection. Original Stitch allows customers to order and customize their own casual shirt with so far two anime themes Pokemon and One Piece.

Otakus and Geeks: Can you tell us a little bit of how Original Stitch came about?

 Matt Miller VP: Original Stitch we started with dress shirts originally just making good quality dress shirts in San Francisco was where we started. We would host, network, invite our friends and various  companies and host a little wine party and then measure people. The shirts were then made in Japan is what is you might call our secret sauce. I love it because their craftsmanship is very high attention to detail. I go to Japan often and visit the facilities. I've met the people there and they are very dedicated people working on each aspect of the shirt order.

Otakus and Geeks: The shirts are custom made can you tell us a little bit about that process?

Matt Miller VP:  The customer picks their design and base fabric, and you pick the type of color. I think there's about 16 different types of collars and various buttons as well. You can select different fabrics for the inside of the collar or the outside of the collar. Also, the button piece that goes straight down the middle or the outside of the pack, or a different pocket, pocket or no pocket, and different fabrics for the pocket as well. There are all kinds of aspects towards measurements to make sure your shirt fits.

Otakus and Geeks: How did Original Stitch manage to get Pokémon to be added to their collection?

Matt Miller VP:  The Original Stitch and CEO of Pokémon met and discuss the idea Original Stitch had. We were saying maybe we can do this with Pokémon, with these unique designs and have our fans go in and the different characters, patterns associated with the character like with Pokémon, our first launch was 151 fabrics. It was the original 151 characters, and it started back in history. Then over the years  we added the different regions, we've added more fabrics. Pokémon makes all the patterns, all the designs. They have a team very, very passionate about that.

Otakus and Geeks: How are you approaching the One Piece brand?

Matt Miller VP: One Piece we are following the same concept as Pokémon with character-based shirts. In addition, we’re also featuring the new One Piece movie One Piece Red.

Otakus and Geeks: For the shirts, is this something you take to the cleaners or is this something someone can put in the wash?

Matt Miller VP: You could do both putting them in the wash is fine. However, I recommend going to the cleaners. I wash mine on delicate.

Otakus and Geeks: One thing I like is that the shirts are casual attire but something I can wear to work. I can represent anime and still keep my 9 to 5 attire code of conduct.

Matt Miller VP:  It's like you said, Justin  people come up to me and they look at the shirt, and then they kind of, what is going on there? Then they look closer and they're like, Oh, that is so cool. Where'd you get that? You know? Cause then they, they're kind of go oh it’s Pokémon or One Piece.

Otakus and Geeks: Is there any preview that you're allowed to say that, uh, that's coming? Let's just say if there's anything in the future that you're allowed to talk about?

Matt Miller VP: The long term goal is to have just about every product you can pick up in the store, everything from socks to underwear, pajamas, you know, t-shirt, shorts. Our long term goal is to clothe people in a very sustainable way so that they have the artistic ability to design whatever they love to wear, and they feel good about it. That's our goal.

Check out all the Original Stitch Goodness at www.OriginalStitch.com