－ Comfortable fabrics nurtured by the blessings of Lake Biwa
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Takashima City in Shiga Prefecture is known as a “textile town.”
There, for over 200 years, a fabric called “Chizimi” has been produced.
This unique fabric features fine crepe-like wrinkles on its surface, offering excellent moisture absorption and a refreshing feel—making it perfectly suited to Japan’s hot and humid climate.
The tradition of Chizimi has been preserved as a local industry and continues to thrive today, with about 90% of Japan’s domestically produced Chizimi fabrics now made in Takashima.
Starting this year, SOU・SOU has begun developing various products using Takashima Chizimi.
Chizimi cotton is woven using weft threads twisted about 1.5 times more than in regular plain weave, creating fine vertical creases that reduce the fabric’s contact area with the skin. It is woven with around 120 threads instead of the usual 180, leaving more gaps in the weave for better airflow. As a result, it absorbs sweat well and dries quickly. The use of strongly twisted weft yarns allows the fabric to stretch and contract, preventing it from sticking to the skin even when perspiring—keeping it light and cool. These are the distinctive features of Chizimi cotton.
The “Chizimi woven fabric” produced in Shin-Asahi, Takashima City, on the northwestern side of Lake Biwa, originated in the late Edo period as a winter side job for local farmers. It gained nationwide recognition during the Taisho era when Chizimi cotton became widely popular. Today in Takashima, all production processes—from yarn preparation to bleaching (a technique for whitening fabric) and dyeing that utilize the flowing waters of the Adogawa River leading into Lake Biwa—can be carried out entirely within the region.
Inside the neatly maintained factory of Takahashi Textiles, over 20 looms are in operation, including 1960s German-made winders and weaving machines produced by Nissan, a company famous for its automobiles. Each year, approximately 40,000 meters of fabric are woven there.
The large factory set amid the countryside, the “Takashima Bleaching Cooperative,” has handled all processing of Chizimi cotton since its founding in 1954 by eight textile companies.
Processing Chizimi requires special molds and washing equipment. This factory’s unique embossing technology, using high-temperature bleaching and pressure molds, reduces the fabric width from 152 cm to about 110 cm to create deep textures — a technique found only here in Japan. It can also produce various finishes, from soft to crisp textures.
All wastewater is thoroughly treated to meet strict environmental standards, including the Lake Biwa Eutrophication Prevention Ordinance, ensuring the preservation of the region’s natural environment.
Founded in 1950, “Sakao Orimono” specializes in cotton-blend fabrics, particularly those made with high-twist yarns. The company focuses on natural fibers, producing textiles with distinctive crinkled and sheer textures that feel pleasant to the touch.
Sakao Orimono Co., Ltd.
Founded in 1950
871 Asahi, Shin-Asahi-cho, Takashima-shi, Shiga 520-1501, Japan
TEL: 0740-25-2164 FAX: 0740-25-2183
