ALLIANCE

Chichibu city, Saitama Prefecture (Sericulture)

According to legend, around 97~30BC, Chichibu Hikonomikoto came to Chichibu and taught sericulture and weaving.
In the mountainous region centered around Mt. Bukō, rice cultivation was not possible, so mulberry trees were planted and sericulture spread.
In spite of this long history of sericulture, there remains only one sericulturist, in Chichibu today: Kagemori Silkworm Farm. In Japan, the number of silkworm farmers is in a steady decline (about 160 farms in 2023), and currently pure Japanese silk made with cocoons produced in Japan is about 0.02%.
Due to problems arising in manufacture, working exclusively with Japanese sericulture and silk thread is extremely difficult.
At MORI WO ORU, we aim to practice cradle-to-cradle manufacture
within one region (Japan), and so increasing the amount of Japanese sericulture and silk thread production is one of our major challenges.

埼玉県秩父市(養蚕)

紀元前97～30年に知々夫彦命（ちちぶひこのみこと）が秩父に来任し、養蚕・機織りを教授したと言い伝えられる、養蚕の古い歴史を持つ秩父。武甲山を中心とする山岳地帯で米を生産出来ず、桑を植え養蚕が広まったとされていますが、現在も残っているのは影森養蚕所1件のみ。日本の養蚕農家は減少の一途をたどり(2023年時点で160件ほど)、現在、国産繭を原料とする純日本製絹は約0.02％です。
構造上の課題により養蚕と製糸を国産にすることは非常に難易度が高く、一つの地域(日本)での連環を目指すMORI WO ORUにとって、国産養蚕と製糸の生産を増やしていくことは重要なチャレンジの一つです。

Okaya city, Nagano Prefecture (Thread)

Located on the shores of Lake Suwa and blessed with abundant clean water, Okaya City is a renowned silk production area known worldwide as 'SILK OKAYA'.
They have even developed their own unique thread production technology, the ‘Suwa-style spinning machine.’ In the early Showa period, the heyday of silk thread spinning, there were 3,300 thread manufacturing factories countrywide, but only four remain today. Of those, Miyasaka Silk Reeling in Okaya is the only one where they still reel silk by hand. Silk products reeled in Okaya with domestically produced cocoons are given he Mulberry Green certification, which signifies that the quantity of Japanese cocoons is 50% or more, that all the thread is produced in Okaya and the resulting products are also made in Japan.

長野県岡谷市(製糸)

諏訪湖のほとりにあり綺麗な水が潤沢な岡谷市は世界から”SILK OKAYA”と呼ばれるほど有名なシルクの産地で、諏訪式糸繰機という独自の製糸技術も生み出しました。製糸業全盛の昭和初期、国内に製糸工場は3,300軒ありましたが、現在は全国に4軒しか残っていません。
その中でいまも手作業で糸繰りをしているのは岡谷の宮坂製糸所のみとなりました。岡谷で製糸した国産繭50%以上の生糸を使用し、国内で縫製したシルク製品は、「岡谷シルク」のMULBERRY GREENの認証製品となります。

Yosano, Tango City, Kyoto Prefecture (Silk textiles)

The Tango region has a 1300-year history as one of the major silk weaving centers in Japan. It is blessed with abundant and high-quality water. The climate is humid all year around, protecting the sensitive silk fabrics from dryness and damage.
Tango accounts for as much as 70% of the domestic market for silk fabrics in Japan, and they are also highly regarded overseas. The soft water in the Tango region produces a supple texture, and the techniques developed through trial and error have brought a wide variety of textures to the world.
Products that have passed strict inspections are stamped with the brand mark that guarantees their high quality as "Tango Chirimen".

京都府京丹後市、与謝野町(絹織物)

丹後地域は1300年の歴史を持つ日本における絹織物の一大産地です。豊富で良質な水に恵まれ、年間を通じて湿度が高い気候により、乾燥に弱い絹は痛みから守られるという、絹織物に適した環境を持っています。
国内のシェアは70%にも上がり、海外でも高い評価を得ています。丹後地方の軟水によって生み出される、しなやかな風合いとあらゆる試行錯誤によって編み出された技法により、多様な質感を世界へ届けています。
厳しい検査を経た製品にはブランドマークを押印し、高品質な「丹後ちりめん」として保証しています。

The Tango region has a 1300-year history as one of the major silk weaving centers in Japan. It is blessed with abundant and high-quality water. The climate is humid all year around, protecting the sensitive silk fabrics from dryness and damage.
Tango accounts for as much as 70% of the domestic market for silk fabrics in Japan, and they are also highly regarded overseas. The soft water in the Tango region produces a supple texture, and the techniques developed through trial and error have brought a wide variety of textures to the world.
Products that have passed strict inspections are stamped with the brand mark that guarantees their high quality as Tango Chirimen.

Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture (Kusaki-zome)

Kyoto, known for its famous Nishijin weaving, is a land blessed with water from rivers like the Katsura and Kamo, and has a rich culture of dyeing.
Although Kusaki-zome (natural dyeing using plants, shells and insects) had been practiced since the Jomon period (710-794), advanced dyeing techniques were later introduced from overseas, and Japanese dyeing industry developed rapidly.
In the Heian period (794-1185), the names of colors unique to Japan were defined and dyeing techniques were established.
Many techniques for kusaki-zome still remain in Kyoto, which was the capital of Japan in the Heian period.

京都府京都市(草木染め)

西陣織が有名な京都は、桂川や鴨川など水に恵まれた土地で、染色の文化が盛んです。草木染めは縄文時代から行われていましたが、その後海外から染色の高度な技術が渡来し、日本の染色は急速に発展しました。
平安時代に入ると、日本独特の色彩名が定められ、染色技術も確立したとされます。
平安時代の首都があった京都には、今でも草木染めの技術が沢山残っています。

Sericulture/Kagemori Sericultural Farm (Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture)

A fifth-generation sericulturist based in Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture. Chichibu, has a long history of sericulture, but today Kagemori Sericultural Farm is the only farm in operation. Using only pesticide-free mulberries from their farm as feed, and raising silkworms from larvae, they cultivate cocoons using traditional methods that have been followed for generations.
Their sericulture fits into a regional cycle of production where their cocoon are used in a range of local products such as raw silk, insect foods, cosmetics, Chichibu meisen, and Chichibu futori textiles.

養蚕/影森養蚕所(埼玉県秩父市)

5代目養蚕農家。養蚕の産地の歴史を持つ秩父で現存している唯一の養蚕農家でもあります。自社農園の無農薬の桑のみを餌に使用し、稚蚕から育てるなど、代々守られてきた昔ながらの養蚕で繭を作っています。
生糸や昆虫食、化粧品、秩父銘仙、秩父太織など「誰かに必要とされる養蚕」を目指し、地域循環型養蚕を実践しています。

WEBSITE

Silk thread/Miyasaka Silk Reeling (Okaya City, Nagano Prefecture)

Founded in 1928, traditional techniques still live on at this silk mill. Miyasaka Silk Reeling is the only mill still in operation in Okaya City, Nagano Prefecture, which until 100 years ago was the world's largest producer of raw silk for export.
There are only four silk mills left in Japan, and the Miyasaka Silk Reeling in Okaya is the only one that still carries out yarn reeling by hand.

製糸/宮坂製糸所(長野県岡谷市)

1928年設立、伝統の技が今も息づく製糸工場。100年前までは世界一の輸出生糸生産量を誇った糸の都、長野県岡谷市で唯一現在も稼働している製糸工場。製糸工場は全国に4件しか残っていませんが、手作業で糸繰りをしているのは岡谷の宮坂製糸所のみとなりました。

WEBSITE

Zenjo-ji Temple (Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture)

A temple of the Rinzai Zen sect, Tenryū-ji lineage. It is a designated cultural asset of the Japan Heritage site “The Tango Chirimen Corridor: 300 Years of Silk Weaving.”

One of the founders of "Tango chirimen", Saheiji Kinuya, prayed here for the mastery of Nishijin weaving techniques from Kyoto. The temple houses "chijimi-nuno" (textured silk cloth), believed to be the very first piece of chirimen woven by Saheiji, which was offered in dedication to the temple.

禅定寺 (京都府京丹後市)

臨済宗天龍寺派。
日本遺産「300年を紡ぐ絹が織り成す丹後ちりめん回廊」の構成文化財。丹後ちりめんの創業者の一人、絹屋佐平治が京都の西陣の技術習得を祈願し、佐平治が最初に織ったちりめんとされる「縮み布」が奉納されています。

Kōri Shrine (Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture)

A shrine dedicated to the deity of weaving, located within the grounds of Amino Shrine. It is a constituent cultural asset of the Japan Heritage site “The Tango Chirimen Corridor: 300 Years of Silk Weaving.”

At the annual Kōri Shrine Prayer Festival held every March, a weaving house chosen by the deity weaves one full bolt of silk textile as an offering. This sacred textile is later transformed into a special fortune slip (omikuji) and is available at Amino Shrine.

蠶織神社 (京都府京丹後市)

網野神社の境内にある織物の神様を祀る蠶織神社。
日本遺産「300年を紡ぐ絹が織り成す丹後ちりめん回廊」の構成文化財。
毎年3月に行われる蠶織神社祈願祭では、神様に選ばれた織元が絹織物を1反織り、奉納します。
その織物は特別なおみくじとなり、網野神社で販売中。

Weaving/Tango Chirimen Textile Manufacturer Tayu (Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture)

Founded in 1931 and located in Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture, "Tango Chirimen" Textile Manufacturer Tayu has a long history in weaving. The company manufactures and sells high-grade silk fabrics, focusing on high quality silk.
They are involved in the entire process of product manufacturing, from the wet-twisted hatcho weft yarn, which is a characteristic of "Tango Chirimen", to warping, weaving, and dyeing. Not limited to the world of kimono, they also seek out and introduce the possibilities of chirimen to a wide range of contexts such as Western-style clothing and interior decorating.

織り/丹後ちりめん織元たゆう(京都府京丹後市)

1931年創業の老舗丹後ちりめん織元。丹後ちりめんの特徴である緯糸（よこいと）の「水撚り八丁撚糸」から、整経、織り、染めまで一貫した商品づくりを行う、良質の絹にこだわった高級絹織物の製造・販売会社。　
和装の世界だけにとどまらず、洋装・インテリア等幅広くちりめんの可能性を模索し発信し、受注生産を基本に、オーダーに応じた生地作りに対応しています。

WEBSITE

Weaving/Tanikatsu Textile Factory(Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture)　

Established in 1919, Tanikatsu Textile Factory is located in Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture. They weave only plain silk kimono fabrics. As the fabric is soft and simple, it demands a high level of skill as even the slightest blemish is obvious.
The factory uses the precious water-twisted hatcho yarn which has become a rarity in Tango in recent years. It is a 300-year history of integrated production of traditional "Tango Chirimen".

織り/谷勝織物工場(京都府京丹後市)

1919年創業、谷勝織物工場。丹後ちりめんの無地着物生地のみを織っています。柔らかでシンプルな生地だからこそ、わずかな傷さえごまかせない高い技術が要求されます。
丹後でも近年では数少なく貴重になった「水撚りの八丁撚糸」を使い、300年の歴史を持つ伝統的な丹後ちりめんを自社で一貫製造しています。

INTRODUCTION PAGE

Weaving/Marusen Corporation (Yosano Town, Kyoto Prefecture)

Marusen is a 150 year-old manufacturer of "Tango Chirimen" that supports the textile culture of Kyoto from Iwataki, Yosano Town, Tango. Even today, the company’s craftspeople continue to preserve the tradition. Using the exquisite water-twisted hatcho
thread machines, all the processes from single raw threads to textile weaving are done in-house.
The company mainly manufactures furoshiki textiles, but they are developing various products that take advantage of the characteristics of silk in order to make chirimen more accessible to more people.

織り/丸仙株式会社(京都府与謝野町)

京都の丹後ちりめん文化を丹後、与謝野町岩滝から支える丹後ちりめんの製造会社です。その歴史は１5０年。今でも職人の皆様と伝統を守り続けています。
貴重な「水撚り八丁撚糸機」を使い、生糸1本から織り上がるまでの工程を全て自社で行っています。主に風呂敷用の生地を製造していますが、それだけに止まらず、「ちりめんをもっと身近に」というコンセプトを基に、絹の持つ特性を活かした様々な製品を開発しています。

WEBSITE

Weaving/Ito Asobi (Yosano Town, Kyoto Prefecture)

A factory established in 1935 in Yosano Town, Kyoto Prefecture.
They are working hard to create high value-added fabrics by mixing various yarn types and dyeing techniques with their unique weaving techniques, fabric production, along with characteristic weaving and twisting techniques from Tango.

織り/糸あそび(京都府与謝野町)

1935年創業の工房。当工房の独自性のある織技術、他の産地には出来ない生地作り、そして丹後独特の織り・撚糸の技術に加え、様々な糸種と染をミックスした「丹後であって丹後らしくない生地の創造と企画」を心がけ、付加価値の高い生地作りを日々頑張っています。

WEBSITE

Dyeing/Kyoto Kawabata Shoten (Kyoto city)

Kawabata Shoten has developed Shin Manyo-zome, a dyeing method that uses natural dyes where the dye ingredients are used in their natural state as much as possible.
This is a revolutionary new dyeing technique, born from the combination of inherited wisdom and modern technology by craftsmen living in Kyoto, the ancient capital of yuzen dyeing techniques.
Shin Manyo-zome is a technique that utilizes natural color materials that have been used since ancient times. It is similar to other kusaki-zome techniques in that uses naturally occurring materials such as plants and insects. However, by pulverizing the dye stuff they can reproduce ancient colors with fewer raw materials.
Cloth dyed using the Shin Manyo-zome process is gentle on the skin, rich in texture, and colorful.

染め/京都川端商店(京都府京都市)

素材をできる限りそのまま利用し天然の染料として使用する『新万葉染め』を開発。
古来から友禅の都である京都に生きる職人が、"受け継がれてきた知恵"と"現代の技術"を組み合わせることで生まれた染めの未来をつくる新技法です。
『新万葉染め』は、その昔から使用されてきた天然色材をそのまま利用する技術です。基本的には"草木染め"と呼ばれる天然染料染めと同じ、草木や虫など自然由来の原料を用いた染色技法なのですが、染料を微粉砕することによって、古代の色調をわずかな原料で染め出すことに成功しました。
新万葉染めで染め上げた布は、肌にやさしく、豊かな風合いで、色彩豊かな染め上がりとなっています。

WEBSITE

Design & Dyeing/MORI WO ORU (Kyoto city)

Launched in Kyoto in spring 2024, this fashion project aims to regenerate the relationship between people and nature through Japan’s silk textile culture.

Through projects such as the documentary film “Weaving the Forest.”, Transformative Tourism journeys to silk-producing regions across Japan, and experiential programs like the MORI WO ORU Design Studio, it creates new value through experience and fosters transformation from the individual to the world.

MORI WO ORU(京都府京都市)

2024年春に京都でスタートした
日本の絹織物文化を通して人と自然の生態系を再生するファッションプロジェクト。

日本の絹織物産業を通して生命の美しさを伝えるドキュメンタリー映画『森を織る。』制作の他、絹織物の美しい文化が残る日本各地の産地を巡り、人の心を再生するTransformative Tourism(変容の旅)や、”MORI WO ORU Design Studio”等、体験を通して新しい価値を創造し、個人の変容から世界の再生を促す多数のプロジェクトを企画運営している。

Dyeing instruction/Shintani Kougei

Shintani Kougei in Noto is a workshop that offers dyeing and creative classes. In the dyeing class, we teach the basics and concepts of vegetable dyeing, including indigo dyeing, as well as shibori techniques.

染色指導/新谷工芸(石川県穴水町)

能登の「新谷工芸」は、染め物の創作や教室を行っている工房。染め物教室では藍染めをはじめとした草木染めの基礎や基本の考え方、絞りの技法を伝授しています。

BLOG

Patterns/Megumi Harada/Meg.Pattern

After working as a pattern maker for a department store brand for fifteen years, she started Meg.Pattern as a freelance pattern maker in 2016.
From dress patterns and ladies wear, to menswear and kids she has years of experience in perfectly creating the designer’s desired form.

パターン/原田めぐみ Meg.Pattern

百貨店メーカーのパタンナーを15年経験し、2016年よりフリーランスパタンナーとしてMeg.Patternを立ち上げる。
ドレスパターンを始め、レディース、メンズ、キッズなど枠に捉われず、デザイナーの求める形を長年の経験と感性にて表現している。

INTRODUCTION PAGE

Sewing/Masako Kamiya/Meg.Pattern

After graduating from Mode Gakuen, Masako gained experience as a seamstress at a sewing factory. After getting married, she became independent, sewing for a dress maker.
After some time as an artist, she has been working as a seamstress exclusively for Meg.Pattern since 2021.

縫製/神谷雅子 Meg.Pattern

モード学園を卒業後、縫製士として縫製工場で技術を取得。結婚を機に独立し、ドレスメーカーの縫製を担当。作家活動を経て2021年よりMeg.Patternの専属縫製士として活動。

INTRODUCTION PAGE

Sewing/MisakiHashimoto/nicol

Graduated from the Fashion Design Department of International Beauty & Food University.
She gained experience as a patterner seamstress at a sewing factory. She became independent in 2016 and mainly takes orders for samples of a wide range of items and small lots of several dozen garments.

縫製/橋本美咲 nicol

国際ビューティ＆フード大学校のファッションデザイン科を卒業。縫製工場にてパタンナー、カットソー・布帛の縫製を経験。 2016年に独立し、幅広いアイテムのサンプルや数十着の小ロットをメインに受注しています。

Sewing/Yoko Ogata/YK works

After graduating from a fashion college, she was involved in sewing ladies' custom-made clothes at a store in a hotel. In 2007, she started her own business as a freelance seamstress, sewing costumes, products, and custom-made items.
She specializes in sewing by hand and aims to produce durable garments hat can be worn for a long time. She has 20 years of experience as a seamstress.

縫製/緒方陽子 YK works

服飾専門学校を卒業後、ホテル内ショップにてレディースオーダーメードウェアの縫製に携わる。 2007年より独立し、フリーの縫製士として衣装や製品・オーダーメイドなどの縫製に携わる。 手縫いを取り入れた縫製を得意とし、長く着ていただけるしっかりとした縫製を目指し日々縫製に向き合っております。
縫製士歴20年。

Sewing/Hatsuyo Kosaka/Qazari

Hatsuyo studied design and sewing for two years as an apprentice of the director of Bunka Fashion College. After graduating from the graduate course, she worked in a made-to-order clothing store. Later, she gained experience in mending men's and women's clothing.
In addition to her custom-made work, she also taught sewing
as an instructor. After becoming independent, she has been involved in custom-made sewing for many years. Since 2015, she has been working as a chief dressmaker for a dress store.

縫製/ 匂坂初代 Qazari

文化服装学院の院長先生の内弟子として２年間デザインや縫製を学び、研究科を卒業後にオーダーメイドの洋装店に勤務。
その後、紳士服や婦人服のお直しを経験。 オーダーの仕事に加え、講師として縫製を教えるなど、その活動は多岐に渡ります。 独立後、長年にわたりオーダーメイドの縫製に携わり 2015年からドレスショップのチーフドレスメーカーとして活躍しています。