This retro belt-type power loom from the Showa era operates with 20 looms connected to a single motor.The weaving mill was founded in 1948 and has continued to produce Kurume Kasuri ever since.Kurume Kasuri is one of Japan's representative traditional yarn-dyed textiles.It is known for its soft texture that closely resembles hand weaving.Because many of the processes are done manually, production requires more than 30 steps and takes 2 to 4 months.After weaving, all fabrics are washed in hot water and air-dried, shrinking about 10% to achieve their final finish.This textile is ideal for those who wish to create a unique piece using traditional Japanese fabric.A large-scale stripe pattern repeated once across the fabric width. An original design by Shimogawa Orimono."Shima" (stripes) originally referred to vertically striped cotton fabrics brought into Japan through Nanban trade.They were called"shimamono," meaning"items brought from the islands," which eventually became"shima" during the Edo period.Tate-ito (warp): 40/2Yoko-ito (weft): 10/1 slubFabric thickness: slightly thickChemical dye: 100%Washed in hot water and sun-dried (shrinks about 10%, so it can be cut and sewn immediately after purchase)
