It is well known that Kojima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, is the birthplace of Japanese jeans, and these jeans are made of denim.
Okayama denim boasts a quality that has attracted global attention. It is no exaggeration to say that Okayama's dyeing and weaving are among the finest examples of Japanese craftsmanship.
"Silk Denim" is the culmination of this advanced technology.
The silk denim we handle is manufactured by SHOWA Co., Ltd.
While integrated textile manufacturers have become very rare, SHOWA has made a name for itself as the only company in Kojima with such production facilities.
SHOWA's fabrics are highly praised for their soft and excellent texture, with a quality that completely changes the perception of denim as merely workwear.
In 2009 (H21), at the first PV Awards of the prestigious "Premiere Vision," often called the "Paris Collection for fabrics," they achieved the remarkable feat of winning the "Handle Award" for their 100% wool denim.
It is a company that continues to create fabrics that designers around the world want to get their hands on.
It was this dedication that led to the birth of silk denim.
As you all know, fabric is made of warp and weft threads. But what kind of effort do you think it takes to weave threads with different properties together?
This is probably much more difficult than you can imagine.
The warp is vegetable fiber = cotton.
The weft is animal fiber = silk.
Other manufacturers probably wouldn't attempt to produce such a labor-intensive fabric.
At a time when denim production was primarily focused on men's clothing, SHOWA, with foresight, recognized the need for textiles for women's brands and children's wear, and independently planned and manufactured materials.
"Making women beautiful"
"Protecting children's soft skin"
They also produced many other fabrics that reflect such thoughtfulness.
I heard that creating silk denim required a significant amount of research time and effort.
Thanks to this, the resulting denim boasts a luster and smooth texture that exudes the dignity of a king, unrivaled by any other denim.
Why did we create our traditional garment, the "kimono," with this silk denim?
Recently, it seems that more people are enjoying sightseeing in kimonos or original Japanese-style fashion.
Unlike Western clothes, which are functional and easy to wear, kimonos require extra effort both in putting them on and in carrying oneself.
However, I believe it is precisely because of this effort, and the sense of long history and culture embedded within it, that we inherently respect kimonos and aspire to wear them.
And that is only possible because our ancestors preserved the kimono for us until today.
However, anything that is used will eventually wear out and disappear.
Our ancestors made their clothes from the fabrics available in their time.
Therefore, I believe we also need to create and pass on our traditional clothing to future generations using the fabrics readily available to us now.
Moreover, in recent years, extreme heatwaves and heavy rains have become increasingly common. In such conditions, kimonos made of silk require extensive cleaning and maintenance.
In that case, it is our responsibility to create and pass on "kimonos" made from readily available fabrics that require less cleaning and maintenance.
For this purpose, "denim," loved not only in Japan but worldwide, seemed like the optimal choice.
However, not just any denim will do.
Traditional attire represents our country and ourselves as Japanese people. It must possess a sense of elegance.
Silk denim is, in this day and age,
the finest fabric of dignity and quality,
suitable for inheriting our traditional clothing.
It has an elegant luster, a pleasant feel, and is comfortable to wear. Moreover, despite containing silk, it can be hand-washed.
This is because it is made with extremely fine warp threads, a level of detail unimaginable for regular denim, resulting in a tightly woven fabric. This means there is no room for the silk to shrink.
Tradition is not merely preserving what already exists, but rather utilizing what has been created in each era and passing it on through continuous innovation.
I firmly believe that the silk denim kimono will serve as a testament to Japan's advanced techniques, the spirit of Kojima, and the beauty of all those who wear it for generations to come.
