Collection: ISE-COTTON

About ‘Ise-momen (Ise Cotton)’

Ise-momen is a textile sold as a famed souvenir in the city streets of Tsu for travelers making their way to pay respects at the Ise Shrine, while it was also widely used as an everyday garment in the days of the Edo period leading up to World War II. In those days, Ise-momen served as the economic cornerstone for Ise’s craftsmen. Following the end of the war, demand for Ise-momen rapidly diminished due to the development of synthetic fibers and the rise of wide-width cloth, resulting a downsizing in production; now, Ise-momen production has minimized and is now handled exclusively by one firm—Usui Orifu. Ise-momen utilizes a single yarn variant developed by KURABO INDUSTRIES, LTD. in the Meiji Period known as ‘mitsu-uma.’ Through slowly and gradually weaving these easy-to-cut yarn threads, the overall textile comes to take on a soft, air-filled composition. Additionally, this form of textile is known for how the threads gradually return to their original, cotton-like state, leading to the garment itself progressively growing softer over time and use. One can most easily feel this sensation for themselves in using Ise-momen as a fabric (known as ‘Bun’) for use in making hand towels. As opposed to conventional hand-towels, which tend to harden as you repeat the washing process, ‘bun’-made hand-towels grow softer as you wash, and have a gauze-like texture.

Where It’s Made

Usui Shokufu Co., Ltd.
First established in year 24 of the Showa era (1949). Originally beginning as a dyer in the Edo period, Usui Shokufu also expanded into the textile industry starting from the Meiji era. The first president of the firm bought a Toyota Shokki loom in the Meiji era’s 20th year. Its 9th generation president, who leads the company in present day, has inherited the techniques of previous generations and continues to engage in the day-to-day application of Toyota Shokki looms.

Recommended Uses

Ise-momen is a fabric that gradually gets softer as you wash it—as such, the feel of this fabric best makes itself known when utilized in the processes of product dying and product washing.