Japan Collection

The chambray

The chambray is a traditional Japanese fabric full of personality. Often confused with denim, it presents many particularities that differentiate it from its fraternal twin. The resemblance between these two fabrics stems from their manufacture since their warp threads are of indigo color and their weft threads of unbleached color. Yet, the chambray uses a simple weave while denim a twill weave. To understand easily the difference it is enough to look if the tissues have a way: the chambray has neither front nor reverse whereas the denim has an effect of oblique on the front. Thus, the chambray tends to be lighter and softer, making it a perfectly suited fabric for summer temperatures.

The spinning-top

Called koma (楽 楽, ま ま) in Japanese, the top is a typical old toy but it is also considered a lucky charm. As the word kaiten (転 転), rotation, circulation or frequentation in Japanese, its movements make predicting "the circulation of money", "success at work" or "rapidity of spirit". The spinning tops are often used by the Japanese during the New Year. It is primarily a toy, but it is both enjoyed by children and adults.

Seigaiha pattern

Seigaiha pattern representing waves appeared in Japan in the 6th century originally it was used to illustrate the seas and oceans.

In Japanese culture this pattern has been used many times on textiles, in the arts or in Japanese gardens. It consists of 4 overlapping patterns of circle segments. Sometimes confused with a fan motif it is indeed a pattern of waves.

Asanoha pattern

The Japanese ancestral pattern Asanoha represents a hemp leaf repeated endlessly.

The hemp leaf takes the form of a six-pointed star with crossed stars, creating a unique repeat pattern recognizable at a glance.

Since cotton was imported fairly late in Japan, hemp was one of the most widely used plants for making textiles until about 1900.

The Japanese Cedar Tree

The Cryptomeria of Japan or Japanese Cedar is a sacred tree of Japan. Very present in Japanese culture, it is a tree that expresses all its nobility near many temples. Its fragrant wood of a pink-red color, light but strong, is very resistant to decomposition. It is often used in Japan for all types of construction as well as interior panels. The cryptomeria obviously has an obvious place in any Japanese atmosphere, zen or feng-shui.