The 285-year-old skills and traditions of Kyoto's long-established obi craftsman, Kondaya Genbei, are breathing new life into our aloha shirts. Kondaya's textiles and dyeing techniques, which have been used for high-quality kimono fabrics, have been reborn in modern aloha shirt designs. A whole new story is about to be spun as tradition and fashion meet.
Please take a look at the world of this collection, which combines the traditions of Kondaya Genbei with modern style.
The trajectory of a sash craftsman who embodies tradition and innovation
Genbei Yamaguchi was born in 1948 in the traditional town of Muromachi in Kyoto. He grew up in a family of obi craftsmen, carrying on the traditions of his grandfather from an early age, and took on the name of the 10th generation Kondaya Genbei in 1979. Since then, he has produced numerous works that embody the fusion of innovation and tradition, with innovative ideas and outstanding techniques.
In 1985, he held a solo exhibition featuring primitive fabrics. Taking this opportunity, he also began making new obi sashes using wild silk from Southeast Asia, establishing his own unique style. Furthermore, in 2002, he produced a kimono using the precious "Koishimaru" cocoons, which are only raised in the silkworm farm within the Imperial Palace. He held the "Kaguya, This Cocoon: Koishimaru" Exhibition at the Sogetsu Kaikan in Akasaka, Tokyo, which won him the Nikkei Excellence Award and has received high acclaim.
He received the Japan Cultural Design Grand Prize in 2003. In 2006, he collaborated with designer Hiroko Koshino and architect Kengo Kuma on the exhibition "Osumi - Ink and Color" at the Daimaru Museum in Tokyo, and has also worked closely with creators from various fields.
In 2008, he collaborated with United Arrows to create a men's kimono collection, which was shown at the Tokyo Collection under the title "Kekisha Tatsuno Keifu." In 2009, he also ventured into the world of film, designing the costumes for the film "Hokaibito" under the title "Heisei no Funzoue."
Yamaguchi Genbei has been expanding his field of activities through the media, beginning with his appearance on NHK's BS Premium one-hour program "Takeshi's Art Beat, the Man Who Breathes Soul into Obi" in 2012, where Beat Takeshi, a comedian, actor, painter, film director and other creative endeavors, proposes new ways to enjoy art. In 2014, he released a work that expressed the work of painter Matsui Fuyuko on an obi. He is a solitary obi craftsman who continues to open up new possibilities while protecting tradition.
The pride of each stitch, born from delicate craftsmanship
"It's all about people. The craftsmanship of the craftsmen's handiwork," says Genbei. He points out that the delay in the Industrial Revolution is the reason why the tradition of handiwork has been so deeply rooted in Japan for so long. "When jacquard was introduced to Nishijin, the craftsmen resisted, saying, 'We don't use machines, we put our soul into each stitch.' That's why Japanese handiwork has survived." This is the result of the pride that comes from such craftsmanship, and the skills that are put into each and every stitch. The great appeal of Kondaya Genbei is that the spirit that quietly yet richly asserts that it is Kondaya exudes from each and every element of the material, weave, design, and color.
A new story after 285 years
The high-quality fabrics and dyeing techniques that were once used for kimono fabrics are now being brought to life in the fabric of aloha shirts. As Genbei says, "I want to make an obi that people can't tie," he aims to imbue his work with something special. 285 years of skill and spirit are woven into each and every bolt of fabric for the SHORT SLEEVE SHIRT . When you wear it, you become part of a new story that resides there, and you will have a gorgeous experience that embodies the harmony of tradition and modernity.