The fabric for Yoshikuni is knitted at a long-established factory in Wakayama, founded over 100 years ago. Here, old-fashioned "tsuriami-ki" (hanging knitting machines) are lined up side by side, and countless needles embedded in each machine slowly knit the fabric.
On a clear day last November, we visited this factory for the first time. We had finally managed to meet in person after delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The factory owners warmly welcomed us and showed us around the facility.
In the small factory, countless hanging knitting machines were lined up, knitting fabric with a "shhh" sound. It was like a wooden school building I attended as a child. I truly felt that this atmosphere had been passed down continuously since before the war. They say it's called a "hanging knitting machine" because the machine is suspended from wooden beams. Unlike mass-production machines, a hanging knitting machine can only knit about one meter per hour. However, because it doesn't put excessive tension on the yarn, the fabric is thick, soft, and has a fluffy texture.
In a corner of the factory, there was a small room with a small guitar. When I asked the owner about it, he said, "Oh, the craftsmen who like it play it here." I could imagine the people who carefully knit the fabric while cherishing their own lives.
We sincerely hope that you will experience our fabric.
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