Wearing 400 Years of Tradition, Aizu Cotton Challenges the World

With scorching summers and harshly cold winters, the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture is surrounded by mountains and has fostered "Aizu cotton" in its unique basin climate. The history of Aizu cotton dates back 400 years, beginning when the feudal lord of Aizu at the time, Gamo Ujisato, started cultivating cotton as a new industry for the town. Since then, nurtured by the land and people of Aizu, the craft has been passed down to the present day.

"HARAPPA Co, Ltd." is now bringing new energy to Aizu cotton, creating products that fit seamlessly into modern lifestyles. The company is built upon Harayama Textile Factory, an established weaving factory founded in 1899 (Meiji 32). At Harappa, they base their activities at this traditional mill, expanding their original "HARAPPA" brand. We visited Harayama Textile Factory to explore the unique allure of Aizu cotton.

PROFILE

Kazuho Yahagi

Originally from Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture. While working in socks manufacturing and the apparel industry, became fascinated by traditional Japanese techniques and materials. Personally visited factories across the country to deepen her craft knowledge on-site. Encountered Aizu cotton after reading an article about Nana Yamasaki, CEO of HARAPPA Co., Ltd.; visiting her in person opened the door to a new path, leading to her current role at the company as a staff member.

Aizu Cotton: Born from a Rugged Climate

Tell us about Aizu cotton.

Aizu cotton is a traditional cotton textile that has been woven in the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture since the Edo period.

The Aizu basin climate brings severe heat in the summer and snowy, freezing winters. Adapted to such an environment, Aizu cotton feels smooth and cool in summer, yet retains warmth and keeps heat from escaping in the winter.

Originally loved as workwear for agriculture, this fabric is extremely durable and perfectly suited for daily use. The warp threads are heavily starched, so they initially feel stiff, but the more they are used, the softer they become, eventually taking on a buttery texture. It is a textile infused with the wisdom of generations, deeply rooted in daily life.

The simple yet beautiful striped patterns are also impressive.

The striped designs of Aizu cotton trace back to the Edo period "Ji-jima" patterns unique to each village. The thickness and color scheme of the stripes differ by region, making them like local "uniforms" symbolic of their respective areas.

HARAPPA Co., Ltd.'s "HARAPPA" brand produces about 120 varieties of Aizu cotton, including both traditional patterns and new designs. Each stripe design—even such as "Katsuo-jima" and "Hade-jima"—is individually named, which is another distinctive trait.

It takes even three days just to prepare for weaving a single stripe design. The most crucial step is a process known as "Seikei" (warping). To create the stripes, the order and width of the colors must be determined precisely according to a recipe, and the warp threads are strung one by one in sequence. The combination with weft threads is also carefully adjusted, and the stripes are formed thoughtfully and without compromise.