Banshu-ori weaving, produced in the Kita-Harima area of Hyogo Prefecture, is distinguished by its natural texture and vibrant colors, known as a yarn-dyed cotton textile. It frequently ends up with clothing manufacturers and brands, so it rarely comes to the fore as Banshu-ori in its final products. Still, it is utilized in many items in our everyday apparel and miscellaneous goods. We visited MARUMAN Inc., which is taking on new manufacturing challenges from Nishiwaki in the Banshu-ori production area.
PROFILE
Junpei Maruyama
Vice President of MARUMAN Inc.
Born in 1982. After majoring in communications network engineering at Okayama University and graduating from graduate school, he worked in sales at a venture company specializing in LED lighting. After joining Maruman in 2011, he launched an in-house brand and developed a wide range of products.
PROFILE
Yoshinori Ueda
Born in 1978. After majoring in managerial engineering at Setsunan University, he joined Maruman in 2002. He self-taught the Jacquard pattern program from 2005. Starting in 2024, he manages the material brand "MARUMAN JACQUARD," handling everything from design to sales.
The Invisible Presence of Fabrics that Supported Everyday Life
Could you tell us about the business and how it all began?
Maruyama: In 1901, the first-generation Maruyama Man'emon established Maruman Shop, beginning the business with a weaving factory and a sewing plant consisting of 400 Jacquard looms. After the war, through a division of labor among weaving factories, dyeing mills, and processing plants, the products were delivered to spinning companies, trading firms, and wholesalers, flourishing as a shirt fabric manufacturer. However, production gradually shifted overseas due to lower costs, and production declined. Additionally, as the working men's attire transformed from suits and ties to casual wear, we realized that merely producing shirt fabric within the existing business framework was not feasible. Thus, under the direction of textile designer Kanako Kajiwara, we released our in-house brand "POLS" in 2015 to broaden our range of apparel products, and in 2024 we launched the material brand "MARUMAN JACQUARD."Share Article
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