Three Variations of Towels Are Now Complete

Towels are a constant presence in our lives. From morning face washing to outings and evening baths, we interact with them daily, making them an integral part of our living.
Currently, approximately 80% of the towel market consists of products from overseas, such as China. However, Japan still has long-standing towel production regions, including Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture, where manufacturers possess deep knowledge of materials and employ advanced techniques to create high-quality towels.

For this project, we partnered with Fujitaka Co., Ltd., known for its technical expertise, and Watanabe Pile Textile Co., Ltd., which prioritizes material and texture. This collaboration with Riko-san marked the beginning of our towel development.

Customers' primary concern regarding towels is their texture, or feel. While ensuring this, we also pursued designs that would capture their attention.

Maintaining the towel's fundamental function of "absorbency," we developed three distinct towel types. These include towels made from extra-soft, combed yarn with minimal lint, and those using gentle, ozone-bleached yarn, incorporating various weaving techniques to offer a rich variety.
The pile jacquard towels, featuring Riko-san's signature circles and straight lines, boast a beautiful finish on both sides, appearing equally exquisite front and back. Additionally, we created towels with distinct expressions on each side, utilizing gauze jacquard on the front and pile jacquard on the back. Despite technical limitations, we achieved a wonderfully playful design.

The third towel is a plush creation made from extra-soft, ozone-bleached yarn derived from Turpan cotton. Riko-san's concept was to express the pattern through texture rather than color, allowing users to fully enjoy the tactile experience. Although a novel challenge for the manufacturer, the towel was successfully produced, with Riko-san's elegant patterns seamlessly integrated without compromising the towel's texture.

Towels Featuring Riko-san's Circle and Line Designs, Maximizing Color Variations

Maya Maki

—What are your impressions of Riko Takahashi's work?

For this project, Riko-san visited the manufacturers on-site to participate in product development. I was deeply impressed by her approach to manufacturing, which involved a thorough understanding of each company's techniques and production constraints.

We created towels that fully leverage Riko-san's designs of circles and straight lines, along with a wide range of colors. I am truly impressed by how she translated such a diverse palette, from gentle whites to modern tones and vivid hues, into meticulously crafted designs. I eagerly anticipate their release.

—Regarding this "ISETAN LIVING × HIROCOLEDGE" project

While we have commissioned designs from various artists for our towels in the past, this is the first time we have collaborated with a single designer on such a diverse range of living items. I believe the shared vision and design aesthetic have resulted in exceptionally valuable products.
We hope to continue this initiative with subsequent releases, building upon customer feedback for future projects.

Towels with Buyer Maya Maki (Riko Takahashi)

When I first met Buyer Maki, she spoke passionately about towels. I was surprised by the sheer variety in towel materials and weaving methods.
I wondered how much of my own expression I could incorporate into towels, where material quality is paramount to their function. After discussing various perspectives with Buyer Maki while reviewing the designs, the collaboration with two companies, renowned for their advanced techniques and strong commitment to material and texture, was decided.

My initial proposal was met with a "we've never made anything like that" from the manufacturers. However, through exploring all possibilities and mutual compromise, we were able to bring it to fruition.
We hope you'll discover a new appeal of towels: beyond simply drying your body, they can be used as lap blankets or shawls, with the raised pile threads trapping air to provide warmth.