Around the time of the end of the war in August 1945, Atsuko Sakano, who would later become one of the company's founders, was evacuated to Okayama Prefecture and spent her days in anxiety, fearing for the whereabouts of her husband, Michio Sakano, with her young daughter in her arms.
Although she was able to secure her immediate living expenses, she was at a loss as to what to do about the property taxes that would be levied as a result of postwar bank freezes and inflationary policies. She sought advice from her father, Yasohachi Sasaki (later the founder of Renown), and her childhood friend, Kiyoshi Onoe (later the chairman of Renown), about her future life.

There, Atsuko is told something unexpected by Onoe Kiyoshi.
"Things are different now. You can't be the young ladies you used to be. From now on, you have to work with your own hands and live by your own efforts. Become a worker."
Surprised by Mr. Onoe's strong words, Sakano Atsuko's eyes widened for a moment.

He kindly gave me some advice: "If you feel like working, come on out. I'll find you a job selling fabrics."
Her father also gave her an unexpected response of support: "Times have changed. As you say, Kiyoshi, as long as we change our mindset and take care of our health, I think it's a good thing for everyone to work." Atsuko then decided to start working.

On the train back to the evacuation site, I felt nervous about deciding to work, but at the same time, I prayed that my husband, whose life or death was uncertain, would return home alive and quickly.

It seemed her prayers were answered, as Sakano Atsuko was overjoyed to receive the good news from her husband's workplace that he would be returning home soon on the Sumire Maru, as well as a short postcard from her husband, Sakano Michio, with no address to send it to, saying, "Looks like I'll be able to return home just as the violets are blooming."

Shortly after, Sakano Michio returned to Japan safely, and in May 1946, they moved from their evacuation site into a rented house owned by Sakano Michio's brother. Having evacuated immediately after the air raids, Sakano Atsuko and her family did not have a single household item, and with their limited monthly allowance of 500 yen, they were unable to purchase even the most basic necessities such as brooms, buckets, pots, and dishes, so they began their life in great inconvenience.

As summer approached, Sakano Atsuko decided that she needed to get some kind of job to earn an income, so she chose dressmaking, a job she could do while raising her children at home, and began working by sewing children's clothes for neighbors. However, she didn't have the courage to ask for cash for the tailoring fees, so she always gave them gifts as thanks.

Around September, her father, Yasohachi Sasaki, asked her to collect the belongings from the burned-out villa in Karuizawa, and she began sorting through the belongings she had left behind. Among the only items remaining were French embroidery thread, British wool, embroidery fabrics and clothing materials that Atsuko Sakano had collected since she was a young girl, and half a dozen pairs of high heels that she had never worn. Starting in 1947, Atsuko Sakano began teaching embroidery and knitting to Miyoko Murai, her niece, and neighbors at home once a week, drawing on the needlework she had learned in her youth.

This later became the catalyst for the creation of a company that saw four female founders.