[K-iwami brand development story] -Why a Shimane kimono shop jumped into a new world- (Part 2)

At a factory in Izumo, home to Izumo Taisha Shrine, famous for matchmaking, I came across "Kaminoito®," "a thread made from paper using cutting-edge technology."

This cutting-edge technology involves grinding organically grown hemp into paper, cutting it into tapes, and then spinning it into yarn.

By blending this thread with cotton thread, we succeeded in creating a lightweight, smooth textured, abrasion-resistant, and durable fabric. Then, by having this fabric dyed by Ryuichi Nakajo, a recipient of the Yellow Ribbon Medal and a Certified Traditional Craftsman, who has the dyeing technique of "Edo Komon®", the pinnacle of kimono dyeing craftsmanship, we were able to create new ladies' bags, shoulder pochettes, cosmetic pouches, and other items that go well with Western clothing, which had never been seen before.

"The wonderful sensibility that only Japanese people have, which Japanese people have almost forgotten, and the delicate techniques that are supported by it" are techniques that we can be proud of and that foreigners can never imitate. And now, Japanese traditional craft techniques are being rediscovered and highly valued by people overseas, more than by Japanese people.

Through this K-iwami project, we hope to spread the traditional craft techniques that we want to pass on to the world, as well as the skills of skilled Japanese artisans, and in that way spread Japanese manufacturing and traditional craft techniques not only in Japan, but also around the world.