These days I tried something new !!
It’s my first experience because of the coronavirus pandemic !! I tried to experience an online factory tour !!
When I was surfing the net, I found the “Online Textile Factory Tour in Kyoto by the sea, Yosano-cho”, and I was very interested in the title, so I immediately applied for the tour.
Since this tour has three parts, so first I will talk about the first factory.This time, the factory tour I joined was “Usui Textile”.
“Usui Textile” was founded by Mr. Teruo Usui when he was 23 years old.
It started by selling the silk cloth woven at Tango’s home to each customer in Kyoto by bicycle. Nowadays, as one of the few “Synthetic fibers Tango Chirimen Orimoto” that twists and weaves all products in-house in the Tango production area where the division of labor has progressed, they are keeping to make original products that utilize the technology and experience accumulated in the development of more than 3,000 kinds of textiles.
Tango Chirimen is a general term for piece-dyed textiles that are woven by using hard-twisted thread for its weft in Tango area of Kyoto, and it has roughness called “shibo” on the surface through the refining process there.
This time I talked to Mr. Hayato Usui in the online factory tour.
The introduction of a machine that can weave wide-width Chirimen brought not only kimono’s textiles but also textiles for clothes and interior to Usui Textile.
I was surprised that recycled polyester was used.
I thought that Tango Chirimen =silk, so I had the image of a luxury item and luxury brand in Kyoto because silk is used.To be honest, I felt complicated because recycled polyester was also used.I was a little disappointed but I was listening to the story with complicated and mixed feelings because I thought it might be a reasonable price and easier to get it at the same time.
Recycled polyester is relatively inexpensive because it is made from plastic bottles.
On the other hand, it is also good to be able to produce an atmosphere with a sense of luxury. It seems that it is possible to give it a silky luster.Although it is not as smooth to the touch as silk, it can be said to be a useful material when you want to make low-cost, high-class items and clothes.
“Recycled polyester” is a sustainable material , so it may be a good match for this era.
Adapting to the times will also be SDGs and sustainable as a traditional craft.