渡文

西陣織

<h1>本物を結ぶ喜びを届ける』百年を超え絹の魅力を紡ぐ渡文</h1>
<paragraph>京都・西陣の地で明治40年から続く渡文は、「ほんものを結ぶ喜びを・・・」という社是のもと、女性の美しさを引き立てる帯づくりを118年にわたり手がけてきました。</paragraph>
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<paragraph>現在、西陣織で手織りを続ける織屋は数えるほどしかありません。その中でも、自社工場を持つ渡文だからこそ実現できるのが、お客様のご要望にお応えするスピードと、一貫したものづくりによるオリジナルデザインの創造です。<br />
渡文の帯や着物の特徴の一つは「軽やか」であること。見た目にはずっしりとした重厚感がありながら、実際に身につけると驚くほど動きやすいのです。これは、立体感と軽やかさを両立させた職人の技の結晶です。</paragraph>
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<paragraph>また渡文では能装束の復元も行っており、過去に手がけた江戸時代の装束の復元では、美術館の館長や美大の教授など専門家とともに、2年という歳月をかけて当時の色合いや技法を忠実に再現しました。<br />
その文化財級の技術力に加えて、既存の西陣織の概念に留まらない挑戦と進化を続けています。西陣織のノウハウを駆使したインテリアファブリック商品の開発や、絹の特性を活かしたスキンケアグッズの開発など、絹の新たな可能性と価値を紡ぎ出しています。</paragraph>
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<h1>上質な絹糸と職人の手が織りなす美しい着姿</h1>
<paragraph>渡文が誇る最高峰の技術が「本唐織」です。一般的な唐織と比べ、上質な絹糸を使用し、経糸や緯糸の打ち込みが非常に細かいことが特徴。<br />
使用する糸は、触ると雪を踏んだときのような「ギッギッ」という絹特有の音が響きます。この絹づれの音こそが、新鮮なうちに染められた上質な糸の証なのです。</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/4fe79944-f36f-4e79-a573-d1d986f06500-X9SYDecvTbmAPwGPyHVyjMXSVS3TOe.jpg' caption='触った時の触感や音で糸の上質さがわかる。'></photo>
<paragraph>本唐織は、軽やかでしなやかでありながら張りがあり、艶と繊細さが際立つ仕上がりを実現します。<br />
製作過程では「密度」の調整に最も心を配ります。デザインに応じてボリューム感を調整し、着用したときの美しいシルエットを追求しています。</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/0267b6d9-a90b-4a74-af0f-a8b836c4cef2-9ZBbWqVwtEf7LDmFMyjwxuBb3tkVIU.jpg' caption='製作風景。'></photo>
<paragraph>また帯を結んだときの見栄えまで考え抜いた絵柄の設計は、渡文ならでは。身につける時に背面で縦になる部分の絵柄は、織りの方向を変えるひと手間で、どの角度から見ても美しく見えるよう配慮されています。<br />
手織りも機械織りも、どちらの技術も兼ね備える渡文では様々なオーダーに幅広く応えることができます。</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/09bfc331-c935-48ac-ab7b-6a07e01f1703-lLPxzW8DGAIjfjxuFHrukSCx2xCer2.jpg' caption='実際に着物を着た人の見栄えを考えて、織りの方向を変える一手間の心遣いに、渡文の一貫した理念が垣間見える。'></photo>
<paragraph>「同じものを織れないといけない。僕らが作っているのは『織物』ではなく『売り物』」と語るベテラン職人の津田功さん。
「お客さんが実際に帯を締めて、軽くて驚いたとか、着物を見た時点で綺麗と言われると嬉しい。裏側が汚い仕上がりだったら商品も汚い。いい仕事は表よりも裏に現れる。」<br />
良質な西陣織を真摯に、安定して供給する仕事人の姿があります。</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/93bb7091-fd99-49c8-ab0c-9c661d0f278f-hvhhC8xL3B56jvLOwEeFV26WCLoh02.jpg' caption='職人の津田功さん。'></photo>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/5decf28d-b653-4828-851e-f53db666422b-FmFG5RMPSRbp8dCJRgMnjKErD9Mf3s.jpg' caption='織物のデザインの設計図として使用される図案。一見着物の図案とは思えない現代的なものや挑戦的な図案も多数ある。'></photo>
<h1>絹の可能性を広げ後世へ繋ぐ</h1>
<paragraph>チーフプランナーの後藤美知子さんは、「受け継がれて何百年経っても、人の心に残り続ける、感動させるものが『本物』」と語ります。その想いは、着物や帯だけでなく、新たな挑戦にも込められています。</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/3b79d0c0-0e15-40c8-8e1a-7230a335adfd-E5GRLJjMgKNu9i52A0XmI1f57rkPhk.jpg' caption='チーフプランナーの後藤美知子さん。'></photo>
<paragraph>伝統を残し後世に受け継いでいくことを目的に絹の良さを様々な形にして伝えているブランド「firstsilk」では、蚕が最初に吐き出す希少なキビソ糸を使ったボディタオルを開発しました。原料のキビソは織物作りには適さずほぼ廃棄されてきました。しかし繭全体の3%しか採れない希少なキビソには、肌に良いセリシンというコラーゲンが豊富に含まれているのです。<br />
絹の副産物に新たな価値を与える製品となりました。</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/9e4e8382-1d4a-4e4d-823e-241d3d795274-pe5TyvIHZvZmTbZIxKvXRNwIzyBQtu.jpg' caption='希少なキビソを使用したブランド「first silk」の商品。'></photo>
<paragraph>開発のきっかけは職人さんの手がみんなツルツルだったこと。使用後の肌のつるつる感は格別です。<br />
現在、日本の絹の生産量は、全体のわずか2%程度。しかし渡文では、国産絹への回帰を目指し、地方で養蚕を始める若い世代との連携も進めています。<br /><br />

「絹の魅力はまだまだ伝わっていない」という後藤さんの言葉通り、医療分野での活用など、絹の可能性は無限大です。<br />
渡文が大切にするのは、ただ伝統を守るだけでなく、挑戦することとの両輪。今日も京都・西陣の工房では、熟練の職人たちが糸と向き合い、118年の歴史に恥じない技術と新しい視点を持ち合わせて「本物を結ぶ喜び」を紡ぎ続けています。</paragraph>
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<h1>“Delivering the Joy of Connecting with Authenticity” — Watabun, weaving the allure of silk for over a century.</h1>
<paragraph>Since 1907, in the Nishijin district of Kyoto, Watabun has been creating obis that enhance women’s beauty under its company creed of “the joy of connecting with authenticity.” For 118 years, they have continued this tradition.</paragraph>
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<paragraph>Today, only a handful of weaving houses in Nishijin still handweave. Among them, Watabun’s unique strength lies in having its own factory, which allows for quick responses to customer requests and the creation of original designs through fully integrated production. One of the hallmarks of Watabun’s obis and kimonos is their lightness. Though they appear weighty and substantial, once worn they move with surprising ease. This is the crystallization of craftsmanship that balances both dimensionality and lightness.</paragraph>
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<paragraph>Watabun also engages in restoring Noh costumes. In one such project, they spent two years faithfully reproducing an Edo-period costume, working alongside museum directors, art university professors, and other specialists to authentically revive its colors and techniques. Beyond this cultural heritage–level expertise, Watabun continues to evolve, developing interior fabric products that apply Nishijin weaving know-how and skincare goods that utilize the qualities of silk—uncovering new possibilities and values of silk.</paragraph>
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<h1>The graceful elegance woven by the finest silk threads and artisans’ hands.</h1>
<paragraph>At the pinnacle of Watabun’s craft is Honkaraori. Compared with ordinary karaori, it uses superior silk threads with an extraordinarily fine density of warps and wefts. The silk threads produce a distinctive “gik-gik” sound when touched—like stepping on fresh snow. This unique creak of silk is proof of threads dyed while still fresh and of the highest quality.</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/1265b11a-524c-4584-bac8-52f3e8bf5bbf-x0aN7SFIPvKBZiBc9lI5cuQthYQ9nW.jpg' caption='You can recognize the quality of the silk threads by their texture and sound when touched.'></photo>
<paragraph>Honkaraori achieves a finish that is light, supple, yet firm, with a lustrous and delicate beauty. Throughout the process, utmost attention is given to adjusting the “density.” Volume is modulated according to design to achieve an elegant silhouette when worn.</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/98cd3219-187b-4e80-a1de-0dff468175a0-EgDxS1rlIOlva5pE5Yt32DrVnkQyJi.jpg' caption='Production scene.'></photo>
<paragraph>Another hallmark of Watabun is the careful planning of patterns so that they look beautiful even when the obi is tied. For example, motifs that fall vertically at the back are woven with adjusted directions, ensuring beauty from every angle. With both handweaving and machine weaving techniques at their disposal, Watabun is able to accommodate a wide variety of orders.</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/68119898-eb07-4507-814a-f2306ba6f501-JfHDL8o0896SelNfbX2ym19485R78h.jpg' caption='The extra care of changing the weaving direction so that the kimono looks beautiful when worn reflects Watabun’s consistent philosophy.'></photo>
<paragraph>“As craftsmen, we must be able to weave the same piece again. What we make are not merely ‘woven things’ but products to be sold,” says veteran craftsman Isao Tsuda. “It makes me happy when customers say they are surprised at how light the obi feels once tied, or remark how beautiful the kimono looks at first sight. If the reverse side were poorly finished, the product itself would be unworthy. True quality appears more clearly on the reverse than the front.”<br />
Here stands the figure of a dedicated craftsman, sincerely and consistently supplying fine Nishijin textiles.</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/063fdcf2-763d-4c44-a51c-7157660c3adc-0tYAqZghuPEg7RoquoaGyviBlD3rwK.jpg' caption='Craftsman Isao Tsuda.'></photo>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/79b30b3c-5237-4d84-89d6-891ddcee1e7a-LL69ny11zz5XGLEDklj5tQEFEPoClZ.jpg' caption='Design drawings used as blueprints for woven textiles. Many are modern or experimental, making them appear unlike traditional kimono patterns at first glance.'></photo>
<h1>Expanding the possibilities of silk for future generations.</h1>
<paragraph>Chief Planner Michiko Goto says, “What is ‘authentic’ is something that continues to move people’s hearts even after hundreds of years.” This spirit is embodied not only in kimonos and obis but also in new challenges.<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/46c6ddb5-786c-4c27-8294-3bbedcf070c7-0yJpAQNtTwNV0gTeYla8Ychg1GGKrL.jpg' caption='Chief Planner Michiko Goto.'></photo></paragraph>
<paragraph>The brand firstsilk, created to preserve tradition and pass on the beauty of silk to future generations, has developed body towels made from the rare kibiso thread—silk extruded at the very start by silkworms. Though unsuitable for weaving and usually discarded, this scarce kibiso (only about 3% of the cocoon) is rich in sericin, a collagen beneficial to skin. Thus, a new product was born that gives value to a byproduct of silk.</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/5ede1a70-5bc6-4c76-97a9-16b4bf04443c-NhDHbY7OTQbBypQ61csakYw4APq5Ke.jpg' caption='A product from the brand “firstsilk,” which uses rare kibiso.'></photo>
<paragraph>The inspiration came from noticing that artisans’ hands were always smooth. The silky touch after use is exceptional. Today, Japan’s silk production accounts for only about 2% of the global total. Still, Watabun is working toward a revival of domestic silk by collaborating with young generations who are starting sericulture in rural areas.<br /><br />
As Ms. Goto notes, “The appeal of silk has yet to be fully conveyed.” Indeed, silk holds boundless potential, from fashion to medical applications. For Watabun, the key is not merely protecting tradition but advancing through constant challenges. Even today, in their Nishijin workshop in Kyoto, master artisans continue weaving with skill and vision, carrying forward 118 years of history and spinning “the joy of connecting with authenticity.”</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/47c8faec-a224-452c-b157-2b070ec7c803-AXMTaYLlMMXuGO0PHNOmQSw4TSw6JQ.jpg' caption'></photo>

1907年から続く西陣織を製作する渡文は、着心地やデザインなど、着る人のことを第一に考えた、女性が一番引き立つための帯を作り続けています。
また帯作り以外にも、絹を使ったスキンケアグッズやインテリアファブリック商品なども開発しており、西陣織と絹の新たな可能性にも挑戦しています。


Since 1907, Watabun has been producing Nishijin textiles, creating obis designed with the utmost care for comfort and style, always placing the wearer first and highlighting women at their most beautiful.
In addition to obi-making, Watabun also develops skincare goods and interior fabric products made with silk, taking on the challenge of exploring new possibilities for both Nishijin weaving and silk itself.