Our Story – From “Dear Maria” to ABAND

ABAND began with a simple wish:
To help a foreign friend learn how to use chopsticks — properly.
Not like tongs. Not in frustration. But with elegance, precision, and ease.

In the beginning, the project was lovingly named “Dear Maria,”
because it started as a gift for someone truly wanting to learn.
But we soon realized — this wasn’t a one-person problem.
Many adults around the world struggle with chopsticks,
and even here in Korea — a country where nearly every meal involves them —
poor habits are surprisingly common.

Most chopstick trainers on the market are designed for children.
They're colorful, rigid, cartoonish, and force unnatural hand positions.
They restrict movement, limit real practice,
and fail to teach the subtle, fluid motions true chopstick use requires.

So we decided to take a different approach.

We partnered with occupational therapists, product designers, and real users
to develop a solution that feels natural, respectful, and adult-friendly.
After months of prototyping and user testing,
ABAND was born — a soft, seamless training band
that guides the thumb and fingers into proper form
while allowing full range of motion with real chopsticks.

Made in Korea, ABAND is already making an impact.
In its first year alone, we sold over 5,000 units domestically,
helping countless people retrain their habits and gain confidence at the dinner table.
We now operate our own online store and supply distributors in multiple countries.

As Asian cuisine continues to gain global popularity,
more and more people are eager to master chopsticks —
not just to eat, but to participate in the culture with respect and skill.

To those learners, we say: we’re with you.
ABAND is here to support every hand trying something new.

Thank you for visiting us.
From Dear Maria, to the world —
We hope you’ll join the ABAND movement.