Threads of Time in Kiryu

Inside the centuries-old looms that shape our future.

It is said that in Kiryu, “if you can’t weave it here, it can’t be woven anywhere.”

Two hours north of Tokyo, the town is cradled between low green mountains and fed by clear rivers that have washed silk for over 1,300 years. The streets still hum with the quiet industry of weaving, a rhythm older than the buildings that line them.

Here, in a discreet building, is Mitasho Co., Ltd., one of our most treasured partners.

A Heritage in Motion

Founded in the early Showa era, Mitasho is a family-run mill that has kept its looms running through war, economic booms, and the fast-fashion era that nearly erased small-batch weaving in Japan. Inside, the air is warm with the scent of natural fibers and machine oil.

Rows of Jacquard looms, some over a century old, intertwined with state-of-the-art machinery, clatter in a syncopated conversation. The sound is hypnotic, wood and steel in dialogue, each beat a reminder that cloth is not just made, it is performed.

The artisans here are maestros not only of technical precision, but of reading fabric the way a musician reads a score. They adjust tension by feel, coaxing patterns to emerge from the warp and weft with a patience that cannot be rushed.

Our First Visit

When Ana and Leila first stepped inside Mitasho’s weaving hall, they stopped just inside the doorway, letting the sound and movement wash over them.

“This is the heartbeat of the garment,” Ana said, running her hand lightly over a bolt of newly finished cloth.

For a space, in between., working with Mitasho wasn’t just about securing a supplier. It was about aligning with a philosophy, that fabric has a memory, and every thread carries the touch of the person who made it.

Mitasho’s looms produced our custom Bias Transparent Jacquard for our Bias Bomber Jacket and Balloon Sleeve Duster. Each one was woven in small runs, adjusted, and re-adjusted until it moved exactly as we envisioned.

Preserving the Past, Designing the Future

Kiryu’s weaving houses are not museums; they are living laboratories. Here, heritage techniques meet modern experimentation, hand-tied warps alongside CAD-guided Jacquard patterns. Mitasho’s fabrics have even been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Mitasho’s team is now helping us explore how traditional looms can work with unconventional fibers, from recycled materials to plant-based innovations. That is a story for another day.

For now, what matters is this: every time we run our hands over a finished garment, we feel Kiryu in it, the mountains, the rivers, and the quiet strength of those who keep the looms singing.