Nishijin weaving

 

This is the general term for textiles produced in the Nishijin region, located in the northwest of central Kyoto City. Nishijin is one of Japan's leading producers of silk textiles, with origins dating back to before the Heian period. The name Nishijin-ori comes from the fact that artisans gathered at the site where the Western Army's headquarters was located during the Onin War and weaved textiles after the rebellion, and it is said that since then, anything woven in the area has come to be called Nishijin-ori. In the Meiji period, they introduced a machine called a jacquard and were one of the first to mechanize pattern weaving, and while they continue to innovate technologically, they also maintain the tradition of weaving on hand looms from long ago.

The fabrics made in Nishijin include Tsuzure, Karaori, Ramie, Nishiki, Donsu, Shuchin, Kinran, Gossamer, Itoori, and Tsumugi, and range from obi to kimono fabrics and priest's robes. However, Nishijin is particularly famous for its obi, such as Fukuro-obi and Nagoya-obi, and a wide variety of woven kimono fabrics are used, including Gossamer, Sha, and Ro.

 

 

Yumihama Kasuri

 

This is an indigo-dyed Nishiki fabric woven in Yonago City and Sakaiminato City's Yumigahama Peninsula in Tottori Prefecture. It is characterized by the use of weft ikat patterns, and is characterized by a wide variety of warm ikat patterns, from flowers, birds, landscapes, cranes and turtles to landscapes. Among the various types of ikat patterns in the San'in region, this fabric is highly regarded for its delicate and simple taste, but current production is very limited.