Our fabric is knitted at a long-established factory in Wakayama, which trades with many famous brands. The characteristic feature is that it is slowly made using a retro knitting machine called a "tsuri-ami machine" (hanging knitting machine). The texture and durability are so impressive that you'll be moved once you feel it. Last November, we visited this factory and saw the tsuri-ami knitting in action. We'll write about that experience on our blog.
The roots of Yoshikuni's soft and warm fabric.
Yoshikuni's fabric is knitted on an old-fashioned "tsuri-ami machine." The characteristic of this machine, which has been imported from Switzerland and other countries since around 1900, is its slow production speed, knitting only about one meter per hour. This slowness is due to the fact that it knits by relying on the weight of the yarn, without pulling it with excessive force. While it cannot knit at high speeds, because the yarn is not forcibly stretched, the resulting fabric is lofty and soft, conforming to the body the more it is worn.
The long-established factory in Wakayama with which we do business is committed to using tsuri-ami machines, even in this age where mass production is the norm. While it cannot knit at high speeds, because the yarn is not forcibly stretched, the resulting fabric is lofty and soft, conforming to the body the more it is worn.
Due to our agreement with the factory, we cannot publish its name. However, we have posted photos of the tsuri-ami machines actually operating at this factory on our e-commerce site.
Last November, we actually visited this factory. We will tell you about the atmosphere of this factory, where time flows slowly, in our next post.
>>>Wakayama Travels: Exploring the Roots of Soft Fabric Part 2