Watabun
There is a Nishijin brocade company called Watabun in Kyoto.
The history of the Watabun company
Bunshiti Watanabe (渡邉文七) was born in Kyoto in 1882.He devoted himself to the work of making Obi, the sash of a kimono, and established the Watanabe Bunshiti weaving company (渡邉文七機業店) in 1906. It became a weaving company of middle-standing in 1936.
He contributed to the industry development as the vice chief president of Nishijin brocade association. The company made new designs of Obi and won many prizes at exhibitions.
Watabun’s main items
Meibutsugire 名物裂
Youbinishiki 用美錦
Sharezomekouketsu 洒落染纐纈
Kouketsu ST 纐纈ST
Mawatatsumugi真綿紬
Namigoromo 波衣
Watabun -Yasaka plant
Watabun is the one of the top ranking companies now, and they have three factories in Japan. One of those factories has been in Yasaka Cho, Hamada City since 1978. There are about 30 manually powered looms in this factory that make beautiful Obi.
In the Yasaka plant
After many days of working, an employee just finished making a three-meter Obi during the day of our visit.
Weaving “Watabun (渡文)”
After the last check, the Obi will be sent to Kyoto and be sold to customers.
Kaori Y
