Wear nature.
Now and forever.
KARAMUSHI-ORI KARAMUSHI WEAVING
A natural fabric woven from threads spun from the fibers carefully extracted from karamushi stalks.
The finished fabric is highly breathable and moisture-absorbent, offering a light and supple texture. Its unique firmness provides a cool and comfortable feel, making it truly appealing.
1. Use of Natural Materials
Karamushi is an eco-friendly natural material derived from plants. Compared to synthetic fibers, it has high biodegradability, making it less harmful to the environment even when discarded.
2. Sustainable Cultivation
Karamushi is relatively easy to cultivate, requiring minimal use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which helps reduce its environmental impact.
3. Traditional Manufacturing Methods
The emphasis on handcrafting reduces the environmental burden associated with mass production. It also helps preserve local traditional techniques and the craftsmanship of skilled artisans.
4. Durability
Karamushi fabric is highly durable, allowing for long-term use. This reduces the need for frequent replacements, helping to conserve resources and minimize waste.
5. Contribution to the Local Economy
Traditionally produced karamushi fabric supports the preservation of local economies and cultures, contributing to the sustainability of regional communities.
6. Low Environmental Impact Processing
The processing of karamushi fabric typically involves minimal chemical treatments, resulting in a reduced environmental footprint.
JAPANESE
ECO-FRIENDLY
MATERIAL
NATURAL MATERIAL
Using fibers derived from Choma (also known as karamushi), a plant believed to be the source of Japan’s oldest primitive textiles, every step from cultivation to thread production is performed entirely by hand. Today, this precious cultural heritage is preserved and produced in only two locations: Showa Village in Fukushima Prefecture and Miyako Island in Okinawa Prefecture.
Even in the Reiwa Era, Showa Village is same as before.
Amid the tide of modernization and growing convenience, Showa Village continues to embrace a traditional way of life.
Located in western Fukushima Prefecture, this picturesque mountain village is surrounded by beautiful natural scenery. It is also the only village on the Japanese mainland that cultivates and produces Karamushi(ramie), the raw material for traditional woven fabrics like Jofu.
Today, the village has also become a leader in baby’s breath cultivation, ranking first nationwide in production during the summer and autumn seasons.
Field Burning
Harvesting
The burning of karamushi fields takes place around May 21st, during the “Grain Full” period (the eighth solar term). This process aims to maintain the quality of karamushi growth, exterminate harmful insects, and use the resulting ashes as fertilizer.
The karamushi harvest takes place from late July to early August. Each stalk is carefully harvested by hand, one at a time. The stalks are then sorted into two types: “Oyasou” (parent stalks with side shoots) and the higher-quality “Kagesou” (stalks without side shoots). Afterward, the leaves are removed, and the stalks are soaked in clean, fresh water to prepare them for further processing.
CRAFTSMANSHIP
Karamushi Stripping
Karamushi Fiber Extraction
After soaking the stalks for several hours or overnight, the outer skin of the karamushi is carefully peeled away. To prevent drying and to wash away the plant’s green sap, the peeled fibers are immersed in water again.
Using tools such as the Obiki-ban (fiber board), Obiki-ita (fiber plate), and Obiki-gu (fiber scraper), the outer skin and fibers are meticulously separated one sheet at a time. The extracted fibers are then air-dried in the shade for several days to preserve their quality.
Spinning (OUMI)
Karamushi-Ori (Weaving)
The fibers extracted during the karamushi pulling process are split into appropriate thicknesses for the desired thread size and then carefully joined together. This painstaking task requires immense patience and precision—spinning enough thread for a single obi belt can take approximately three months.
The hand-spun threads are set onto traditional looms, such as Jibata (ground looms) or Takahata (upright looms), and meticulously woven by hand. Producing perfectly aligned patterns for obi belts or fabric rolls without breaking the delicate threads requires a high level of craftsmanship and expertise.
“Crafted by hand, woven with care, and made to last.”
FASHIONABLE
In traditional craftsmanship, karamushi-ori (weaving) has long been cherished for creating kimonos and other Japanese cultural artifacts. At KARAMU, we offer a range of modern fashion items, allowing people today to enjoy karamushi-ori in a more accessible and stylish way.
SUSTAINABLE
FASHION
BRAND
2024
“Timeless Natural Beauty, Brought Into Your Everyday Life”
KARAMU presents a collection of simple yet sophisticated unisex items that highlight the unique qualities of karamushi fabric, crafted in Showa Village, Fukushima. This fabric embodies a delicate yet resilient character—its fine texture reminiscent of spider silk carries an ethereal fragility, while its natural origins impart a supple strength.
To showcase the fabric’s lightweight elegance, the designs are kept minimal and timeless. With classic silhouettes that transcend fleeting trends, Karamu offers styles that subtly express individuality while remaining effortlessly versatile.
INFORMATION
Wear nature.
Now and forever.
KARAMUSHI-ORI KARAMUSHI WEAVING
A natural fabric woven from threads spun from the fibers carefully extracted from karamushi stalks.
The finished fabric is highly breathable and moisture-absorbent, offering a light and supple texture. Its unique firmness provides a cool and comfortable feel, making it truly appealing.
JAPANESE
ECO-FRIENDLY
MATERIAL
1. Use of Natural Materials
Karamushi is an eco-friendly natural material derived from plants. Compared to synthetic fibers, it has high biodegradability, making it less harmful to the environment even when discarded.
2. Sustainable Cultivation
Karamushi is relatively easy to cultivate, requiring minimal use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which helps reduce its environmental impact.
3. Traditional Manufacturing Methods
The emphasis on handcrafting reduces the environmental burden associated with mass production. It also helps preserve local traditional techniques and the craftsmanship of skilled artisans.
4. Durability
Karamushi fabric is highly durable, allowing for long-term use. This reduces the need for frequent replacements, helping to conserve resources and minimize waste.
5. Contribution to the Local Economy
Traditionally produced karamushi fabric supports the preservation of local economies and cultures, contributing to the sustainability of regional communities.
6. Low Environmental Impact Processing
The processing of karamushi fabric typically involves minimal chemical treatments, resulting in a reduced environmental footprint.
NATURAL MATERIAL
Using fibers derived from Choma (also known as karamushi), a plant believed to be the source of Japan’s oldest primitive textiles, every step from cultivation to thread production is performed entirely by hand. Today, this precious cultural heritage is preserved and produced in only two locations: Showa Village in Fukushima Prefecture and Miyako Island in Okinawa Prefecture.
Even in the Reiwa Era, Showa Village is same as before.
Amid the tide of modernization and growing convenience, Showa Village continues to embrace a traditional way of life.
Located in western Fukushima Prefecture, this picturesque mountain village is surrounded by beautiful natural scenery. It is also the only village on the Japanese mainland that cultivates and produces Karamushi(ramie), the raw material for traditional woven fabrics like Jofu.
Today, the village has also become a leader in baby’s breath cultivation, ranking first nationwide in production during the summer and autumn seasons.
Field Burning
Harvesting
The burning of karamushi fields takes place around May 21st, during the “Grain Full” period (the eighth solar term). This process aims to maintain the quality of karamushi growth, exterminate harmful insects, and use the resulting ashes as fertilizer.
The karamushi harvest takes place from late July to early August. Each stalk is carefully harvested by hand, one at a time. The stalks are then sorted into two types: “Oyasou” (parent stalks with side shoots) and the higher-quality “Kagesou” (stalks without side shoots). Afterward, the leaves are removed, and the stalks are soaked in clean, fresh water to prepare them for further processing.
CRAFTSMANSHIP
Karamushi Stripping
Karamushi Fiber Extraction
After soaking the stalks for several hours or overnight, the outer skin of the karamushi is carefully peeled away. To prevent drying and to wash away the plant’s green sap, the peeled fibers are immersed in water again.
Using tools such as the Obiki-ban (fiber board), Obiki-ita (fiber plate), and Obiki-gu (fiber scraper), the outer skin and fibers are meticulously separated one sheet at a time. The extracted fibers are then air-dried in the shade for several days to preserve their quality.
Spinning (OUMI)
Karamushi-Ori (Weaving)
The fibers extracted during the karamushi pulling process are split into appropriate thicknesses for the desired thread size and then carefully joined together. This painstaking task requires immense patience and precision—spinning enough thread for a single obi belt can take approximately three months.
The hand-spun threads are set onto traditional looms, such as Jibata (ground looms) or Takahata (upright looms), and meticulously woven by hand. Producing perfectly aligned patterns for obi belts or fabric rolls without breaking the delicate threads requires a high level of craftsmanship and expertise.
“Crafted by hand, woven with care, and made to last.”
FASHIONABLE
In traditional craftsmanship, karamushi-ori (weaving) has long been cherished for creating kimonos and other Japanese cultural artifacts. At KARAMU, we offer a range of modern fashion items, allowing people today to enjoy karamushi-ori in a more accessible and stylish way.
SUSTAINABLE
FASHION
BRAND
2024
“Timeless Natural Beauty, Brought Into Your Everyday Life”
KARAMU presents a collection of simple yet sophisticated unisex items that highlight the unique qualities of karamushi fabric, crafted in Showa Village, Fukushima. This fabric embodies a delicate yet resilient character—its fine texture reminiscent of spider silk carries an ethereal fragility, while its natural origins impart a supple strength.
To showcase the fabric’s lightweight elegance, the designs are kept minimal and timeless. With classic silhouettes that transcend fleeting trends, Karamu offers styles that subtly express individuality while remaining effortlessly versatile.