Shiga prefecture ｜ Hama Chirimen
We believe that traditional handicrafts are the beauty of Japan and should not be lost, and HANAO SHOSE JAPAN is a project that brings the traditions of textiles and dyeing to the attention of many people and provides an opportunity for each viewer to develop an interest in the local handicrafts associated with them. Here we present textiles and dyed goods from each of Japan's 47 prefectures.
Shiga prefecture (Kinki area) ｜ Hama Chirimen (crepe made in Naga'hama') ―Bright White Made from Spring Water―
About 280 years ago, Hama Chirimen was introduced from Tango in Kyoto to Nagahama in Shiga Prefecture and brought prosperity to the town of Nagahama. The quality of Hama chirimen was so high that the people of Kyoto feared it would compete with chirimen made in Nishijin, and even started an anti-chirimen movement.
The beautiful, bright, pure white color of the fabric comes from the spring water of Lake Biwa. Water is used extensively in the production process and is one of the most important ingredients that enhances the fabric itself. All the water pumped into each cell comes from the underground water that flows into Lake Biwa.
The raw material used in this weave is silk, which is made up of fibroin, a protein, and sericin, a protein that coats the fibroin. The sericin is what makes the weave strong, and in the end, cooking in hot water at 120° causes the sericin to dissolve, resulting in a soft and light fabric. It has good air permeability and was used for kimonos, furoshiki (wrapping cloth) and fukusa (small silk wrapper).
The most distinctive feature of Hama chirimen is the strong "shibo" on the surface of the fabric. The surface of the fabric is uneven, and different patterns can be created from the different shibo. The shibo also creates a smooth texture that does not cling to the skin, and combined with the smoothness of silk, makes the naves comfortable to wear even in summer.
Patterns created by the shibo include "Shinonome," which looks like clouds, and "Ancient Chirimen," the oldest weave from ancient China. In addition, each studio researches and develops a new type of shibo every year, and the number of shibo continues to grow.
Click here to read an interview with Nankyu Chirimen Co., Ltd., the maker of Hama Chirimen.
