This Kurume Kasuri fabric is woven on a retro Showa-era belt-driven power loom, where twenty looms operate simultaneously from a single motor.Founded in 1948, the mill is a long-established producer of Kurume Kasuri, one of Japan's representative traditional yarn-dyed textiles.The fabric is known for its soft texture that closely resembles handwoven cloth.Because many steps are done by hand, it takes more than 30 processes and 2 to 4 months to complete one roll.After weaving, all fabrics are washed in hot water and naturally air-dried, shrinking by about 10%.It is an ideal textile for those who wish to create a special piece rooted in traditional Japanese craftsmanship.The word shima (stripe) originates from vertically striped cotton textiles brought from overseas during the Nanban trade period. These fabrics were called shimamono - meaning"goods brought from the islands" - and the term later evolved into shima during the Edo period.Warp yarn: 30/2Weft yarn: 20/1Fabric thickness: Standard + softChemical dyes: 100%Finished with hot-water washing and sun-drying (shrinks about 10%, allowing you to cut and sew immediately after purchase).Color pattern: Black (7 stripes) x Bleached White (1 stripe) x Black
