So Nishijin textile manufacturers are trying various measures, such as training successors from younger generations among themselves. However, the current problem is that they are unable to keep up with the speed at which the scale of their business is shrinking.
To solve these problems, an organization called “N180” was launched to promote a new culture of Nishijin textile.
Sakio Ohba, the president of Kyoto Nishijin Ohba.Mr. Sakio Ohba, the president of Kyoto Nishijin Ohba, the only textile manufacturer in Japan that uses “Tsuzura-yarn,” said the following.
Ohba: In the face of such problems, we started an organization called “N180”. The reason why we chose the word “180” in the name of this group is that it means to turn things upside down so we want to change this current situation under the name. We also have a YouTube channel and are working on letting fans know about the current situation that the kimono production area is facing and the appeal of obis and kimonos from the perspective of their manufacturers.
The feelings behind “Nishijin Textile x Urban Sports”
The actual design of Kendama and Skateboard deckThe activities of N180 were the catalyst for this “Bank of Craft” project. Mr. Imagawa and the members of N180 thought it was about time to create a new product so made a decision like “We have to get on board!”. And he added,
広告の後にも続きます
Imagawa: We simply like interesting and new things (laughs). And we joined this project because it was completely linked to what we have wanted so we had no choice but to get on board.
While such kimonos have a strong top-down cultural element, on the other hand, I think street culture is truly a bottom-up culture so we were very excited to see how Nishijin textiles could be introduced and accepted in a completely different world.
New charm of Nishijin textile is now introduced by new approaches
In everyday production, it is difficult to balance the two elements of “art” and “product” when thinking about its design within the canvas of obi or kimono.
However, “It was stimulating for us to have an offer with this kind of design because it allowed me to challenge myself from a different angle,” said Mr. Kentaro Yasuda, the president of Yasuda Co.
And he also added with his impression of this unique collaboration as follows.
Yasuda: Kendama is originally a Japanese game but recently has become a worldwide sport, and I think it is very interesting that kendama with Nishijin patterns is spreading to the world. On the contrary, skateboarding is a culture that originated in the U.S., and I think it is very cool to see the precise patterns of Nishijin textile on the back of skateboard decks when skaters perform various tricks.
Kentaro Yasuda, the CEO of Yasuda Corporation. Finally, Mr. Ohba shared his impressions of the products and his vision for the future.
Ohba: While we design kimonos and obis, it was a fresh surprise to see the different points of view that the designers in other genres focus on when we turn our design into products. Nishijin textiles have a long history and have produced many designs in the past, but I have a hope that other designers and different points of view will show us new charms so I would like to see more new collaborations in the future!
Since the Nishijin textile production area has various historical backgrounds, this kind of new contemporary initiative will probably bring a new wind to the traditional craft production areas throughout Japan.
We will continue to stay tuned with the development of “Bank of Craft” project and new expressions that come with traditional crafts in the future.
These products can be purchased online from the FINEPLAY EC site so everyone including skaters, kendama players, and collectors in Japan can enjoy this unique collaboration of traditional craft design “Kyoto’s Nishijin-ori” and urban sports. Please check them out.
Product Information
Traditional Craft Designed Skateboard & Kendama Full Package
*Only 10 sets available
This full package includes the collaboration skateboard with “Nishijin textile (Kyoto)” and the skateboarding media “CURRENT”, and the collaboration kendama with “Nishijin textile (Kyoto)” and “430 (Four-Thirty)” known as the leader in Japanese kendama culture.
Price: 35,000 yen (38,500 yen – tax included)
<Traditional craft designed skateboard and Kendama Full Package>
-Traditional craft designed kendama “Wind God and Thunder God”
-Traditional craft designed kendama “Noe Tanzaku”
-Traditional craft designed skateboard “Keijuhakuohbun”
<Special Gift for those who purchase the full package>
An original NFT, a Bank of Craft limited edition not-for-sale T-shirt and an original strap will be given as a special gift to those who purchase the full package!
*The Bank of Craft limited edition T-shirt is only available in size L.
【Bank of Craft×Nishijin textile×430】
Traditional craft designed kendama “Wind God and Thunder God”
This kendama is made in collaboration with Nishijin textile (Kyoto), a traditional Japanese craft design, and “430 (Four-Thirty)”, the leader of Japanese kendama culture. The Sarado is enlarged compared to the regular one so that both beginners and experts can handle it, and the size of the ball hole is also adjusted to larger size specifications. The soft and splendid beech material used for the product allows the users to enjoy how the material ages by the texture and visual appearance. This product is also packaged in a special paulownia box so you can enjoy a luxurious look as an interior accessory by keeping it in the box.
Price: 12,700 yen (13,970 yen – tax included)
※This price is set per item.
【Bank of Craft×Nishijin textile×430】
Traditional craft designed kendama “Noe Tanzaku”
This kendama is made in collaboration with Nishijin textile (Kyoto), a traditional Japanese craft design, and “430 (Four-Thirty)”, the leader of Japanese kendama culture. The Sarado is enlarged compared to the regular one so that both beginners and experts can handle it, and the size of the ball hole is also adjusted to larger size specifications. The soft and splendid beech material used for the product allows the users to enjoy how the material ages by the texture and visual appearance. This product is also packaged in a special paulownia box so you can enjoy a luxurious look as an interior accessory by keeping it in the box.
Price: 12,700 yen (13,970 yen – tax included)
※This price is set per item.
【Bank of Craft×Nishijin textile×CURRENT】
Traditional craft designed skateboard “Keijuhakuohbun”
This skateboard is created by Bank of Craft, a project that aims to reconstruct the value of traditional crafts and arts, and to inherit and develop traditional crafts by taking advantage of its techniques and shaping them to suit modern life through some development and crossover under their mission of building a new business model of traditional crafts and arts,This product is made in collaboration with Nishijin textile (Kyoto), a traditional Japanese craft design and skateboarding media “CURRENT”.
Price：15,000 yen (16,500 yen – tax included)
The post Bringing a new wind to the culture of Nishijin textile! “Bank of Craft” introduces a new charm of Nishijin textile fused with “Street culture”. first appeared on FINEPLAY.
