Enshu Textiles

Famous for Its High-quality Cotton Fabric

Enshu is the area around Hamamatsu City in the western part of present-day Shizuoka Prefecture. The area is famous as one of the three major cotton textile production areas in Japan along with the Senshu region (Osaka Prefecture) and the Mikawa region (Aichi Prefecture). With the Tenryu River flowing from Nagano Prefecture as a water source, and the area exposed to the dry winds of the Enshu region, it is very suitable for cotton production. The abundant sunshine, water resources, and mild climate produce high-quality cotton, which attracted companies that produced yarn for fabrics. Enshu became a major cotton textile production center through friendly competition among Enshu weavers using high-quality yarn.

The Daily Wear for the Common People

In Hamamatsu City, the center of the Enshu region, people have been growing cotton in their own fields and making their own kimonos since the Edo period (1603-1867). There is a history that Enshu's cotton products have grown not as clothing for the upper-class, but as products worn by the common people. That is why these cotton fabrics are now being reevaluated as clothing for everyday wear, with a wide variety of types to match the season or preference of the wearer.

The Founder of Toyota Established Westernized-Textile Production

In the Edo period (1603-1867), farmers who cultivated cotton began to market cotton fabrics made by hand on handlooms, creating a self-sufficient industry, and these cotton fabrics gained a high reputation as "Enshu cotton". Later, a Western-style spinning mill was established in the area in the Meiji period, and with the invention of the small power loom by Sakichi Toyoda (founder of the Toyota Group) in 1894 in Enshu, the production of cotton fabrics increased dramatically. Thus, the textile industry in Enshu was established as one of the leading production centers in Japan.

Recognized by Brands with a Global Presence

Fabrics produced in traditional factories in the Enshu region are now being used by famous European brands. Although most people aren’t aware of this, many of these fabrics are actually showcased at the world's most prestigious fashion shows such as the Paris Collection and Milan Collection. Enshu-ori is revered by many famous brands worldwide, who are extremely particular about the quality of their fabrics.

Pursuit of Quality, Not Efficiency

The Enshu region produces a wide variety of fabrics, from small to wide-woven fabrics. Enshu has one of the largest amounts of shuttle looms in Japan. Although productivity is lower than that of the latest looms, the manufacturers in the Enshu region can achieve a quality that cannot be matched by machines that seek greater efficiency. Even today, the Enshu textile techniques are still being passed down to the next generation as a production center for high-quality cotton fabrics using traditional and advanced techniques.