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January 28, 2015
roar × Iwakawa Haten | Luxurious Tote Bag Dyed with Traditional 'Tairyo-bata' Fabric
roar × Iwakawa Hata Ten
Collaboration with a Dyeing House Over 100 Years Old
Release of "Katazome" Collaboration Tote Bag
"roar," known for its "cross-gun" trademark, has championed Japanese craftsmanship both domestically and internationally through fashion. They are set to release a tote bag, a collaboration with "Iwakawa Hata Ten," a dyeing house in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, with over a century of history, in early June.
Text by IWANAGA Morito (OPENERS)
Luxurious Katazome on "Tairyo-bata" Fabric
Iwakawa Hata Ten is a dyeing house in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, founded in the Meiji era, boasting over a century of history. Hagi City, facing the Sea of Japan and known for its thriving fishing industry, traditionally saw numerous "tairyo-bata" (big catch flags) fluttering in its harbors. For generations, Iwakawa Hata Ten has continued to produce dyed goods for various purposes, including tairyo-bata, shrine banners, shop curtains, and school flags. However, due to rapid societal changes and technological advancements over the past two decades, the demand for traditional techniques has gradually declined.
Amidst this, driven by a desire to preserve the dyeing traditions of Iwakawa Hata Ten, they embarked on a journey of trial and error, ultimately creating small items like plush toys and bags featuring tairyo-bata designs using their originally dyed fabrics. By leveraging the unique colors and patterns that only Iwakawa Hata Ten can produce, tradition has been passed down in a new form.
Tairyo-bata often depict sea bream, but their shapes vary depending on the artisan's skill and the region. The sea bream depicted in the logo of the newly produced tote bag is also unique, cultivated by Iwakawa Hata Ten through its long tradition.
Furthermore, this bag is reversible, with the bold cross-gun icon prominently displayed on the other side. Each piece is crafted using brush dyeing for the base color and "katazome" (stencil dyeing) for the patterned areas. Three types of canvas (No. 11 and No. 8) and Tenjiku cotton are used, chosen based on their dye absorption, feel, and durability.
Additionally, a collaboration T-shirt is planned for release, made from Tenjiku fabric meticulously woven from Giza cotton, a super-long staple fiber, using a loopwheel machine. The T-shirt features a tairyo-bata graphic in a single color, printed on a garment-washed body.
"roar × Iwakawa Hata Ten" Tote Bag
Price | ¥17,850
Release Date | Early June
Reversible Design
Design Side A / roar Cross-Gun Tairyo-bata Design
Design Side B / Iwakawa Hata Ten Original Fabric Designs "Sea Bream," "Karakusa," "Medetashi Medetashi"
Size | H36×W52×D10cm / Handle 48cm
Available at | Iwakawa Hata Ten, roar Daikanyama
Iwakawa Hata Ten
40 Koshi-machi, Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture
Tel. 0838-22-0273
http://www.wh4.ocn.ne.jp/~iwakawa
roar
Tel. 03-3461-6969
http://www.roarguns.com