PRODUCER’S VOICE

Our team consists of long-established subcontractors in a region known for wool textile production called Bishu, which straddles western Aichi Prefecture and southern Gifu Prefecture. The process includes twisting the yarns to change their shapes before weaving the fabric, hand-washing the woven fabric to create the intended texture, and manufacturing knitted fabric that is now used for car seats and items for the home. The subcontractors possess techniques characteristic of the wool producing region, and their businesses depend on the delicate work of artisans with many years of experience. However, the scale of the business has declined to about one-tenth of the peak period, and the shortage of successors is becoming an imminent problem pronounced by the aging population of Japan. Participation in the MORE THAN PROJECT gives us the opportunity to utilize the valuable skills of the subcontractors to produce end products and to partake in overseas exhibitions. I hope that this project contributes to the revival of the Bishu region and becomes the first of many future endeavors.