The Heartwarming Handiwork of Iwate's "Homespun"

First, what exactly is homespun?

Homespun originally comes from a British handicraft. The name literally means "wool fabric spun at home." It's made by hand-spinning and hand-weaving wool, and its story in Japan began during the Meiji era when missionaries introduced it to Ninohe City in Iwate.

Later, during World War I, it became difficult to import wool from abroad, so domestic wool production was encouraged as a national policy. With their cool climates, areas like Iwate, Nagano, and Hokkaido were well-suited for raising sheep, and that's how the practice was introduced there.

Today, our products are made to be sold commercially, but the craft is rooted in the post-war era when farming families would raise their own sheep to make clothes. It was perfectly normal for people to create the things they needed for daily life with their own hands. That kind of handiwork was just a part of life.

The craft eventually grew into an industry in various regions, but with the rise of mechanization and changing lifestyles, it gradually declined. Despite this, the techniques were passed down, and today, Iwate Prefecture is the only place in Japan that remains a production center for homespun.