[Traditional Crafts] Kasuri That Engages the World and Weaves New Connections
Kurume Kasuri Open Factory Program Report｜Shimogawa Orimono

This tour does not begin with an explanation.
Instead, Mr. Shimogawa lets visitors first take in the atmosphere of the workshop as it is.
Soft light enters through north-facing windows, helping keep the perception of color consistent throughout the year. There is careful attention to detail everywhere. For example, they will open or close the windows depending on the season to ensure the best working environment. These small efforts accumulated over time help sustain the quality of the products.
Shimogawa Orimono was founded nearly 80 years ago. Some of the looms have been in use for more than 70 years, and the old belt-driven mechanism that transmits power from ceiling-mounted motors to the looms is still in operation today. It is not simply the age of the equipment that matters; rather, the years spent consistently producing textiles in this time-tested manner is what gives the craftsmanship its authenticity
 

Mr. Shimogawa likes to compare textile designs to musical scores. According to him, once a design is translated into a weaving plan, it begins to resemble sheet music.
A musical score can be read anywhere in the world, yet the sound it produces changes depending on the culture and the person performing it.
The same is true of a weaving plan. When the person who creates it changes, the fabric may carry a hint of Nordic rhythm, or take on the atmosphere of France, for example. Depending on the people involved, the fabric can reveal entirely new expressions.
 

For this very reason, Shimogawa continues producing textiles while imagining a future that has yet to be fully realized.
Through his interactions with international designers, a turning point came when Mr. Shimogawa encountered a scene in which Kurume Kasuri from a hundred years ago was still being carefully worn in a distant country. It was a moment that made him realize that kasuri is more than a product—it is something that connects people across time and distance.
 

At the workshop, people from many walks of life are involved, from veteran artisans to those raising young children.
Some even bring their children with them to work, and kasuri remains closely woven into everyday life in the local community.
In recent years, Mr. Shimogawa’s son has also begun working in the workshop as the next in line to inherit the family business. Seeing craftsmanship supported by three generations of one family offers a reassuring glimpse of the future of this production region.

Collaborations and artist residencies with creators from Japan and abroad are another defining feature of Shimogawa Orimono.
Through textiles, relationships of trust are formed, leading to new projects and new forms of expression.
“Even when languages and cultures differ, we can understand one another through textiles.”
These are the words of Mr. Shimogawa, who believes that building up a track record of exchange can help reduce conflict and contribute to peace.
He says that continuing to weave kasuri will make the world just a little gentler.
There is a weight to these words, which originate from his lived experience.
 

The Open Factory program offers more than a chance to observe the production process; it is also an opportunity to encounter the ideas and philosophy behind the craft.
Witnessing dyeing and weaving in the workshop firsthand, visitors can get a sense of the layers of time embedded in the fabric.
In the shop inside the workshop, remnants of fabric bolts and shorter lengths of cloth are also available for purchase.
Because the patterns on display change from time to time, choosing a piece can feel like a kind of treasure hunt. Many visitors return again and again after their first tour, making Shimogawa Orimono a gateway that connects their everyday lives with kasuri.
 

Kurume Kasuri is not simply a craft of the past, it is a form of expression that continues toward the future.
Encounters with visitors give rise to new forms of value.
A visit to a workshop is more than just an experience.
The encounters had there might just be the spark that could change someone’s life.
Come discover the present and future of Kurume Kasuri.
As a first step on that journey, we invite you to visit Shimogawa Orimono.

    [Traditional Crafts] Open Factory TOP