How One Cat (Accidentally) Started CareForTeaware

I ran a quick poll on broken teaware and my DMs flooded with stories of shattered cups and teapots. The results actually surprised me:

• 69% of breaks happen at our own hands.
• 17% a partner’s doing.
• 14% are thanks to a cat or dog.
• (And I totally forgot to include kids—probably the real chaos agents.)

I still remember the first time I broke a teapot. I had been practicing tea for 10 years, even competing in tea master competitions, and somehow, I had never lost a piece. Then—boom. My cat happened.

It was a beautiful Yixing teapot from the ’80s, something that had already lived for decades before finding its way to me. I placed it on a shelf—strategically chosen to be out of her reach. Or so I thought. One perfectly placed kitty kick later, and it was gone. Decades of history, smashed in my own tea space.

That moment stuck with me. It made me more careful, of course, but also made me think—how do I protect what matters? I started making padded bags for my teaware, first just for myself and a few friends. When people started asking for them, I kept saying, "Oh, just make one! It’s not that hard." But then I realized… it actually is not that easy either.

And that’s how this all began. Not from a business plan. Not from some big idea. Just from one cat, one broken teapot, and the need to keep the next one safe.

That was 12 years ago. Now, I like to think my cat is sleeping on the softest cloud in cat heaven, enjoying all the merit she earned. Because of her, tea lovers all over the world can travel with their teaware safely, sharing tea wherever they go.

Whenever someone picks up one of my bags, they always say, "Wow, there’s so much padding!"

Now you know why.

For me, it’s never just been about bags. It’s about making sure we protect what matters—so tea can be shared anywhere, with ease and grace.