Woven by brands –
BATTAN BATTAN, the textile artisans.
Celebrated fashion brands inject their production process with excellent artisanship and play a crucial role in elevating textile technology to the realm of an art. BATTAN BATTAN is a unit of such textile artisans. The name derives from the Old French batant, or press, and refers to the flying shuttle that passes the weft through the warp stretched on a loom. The term repeated twice – BATTAN BATTAN – brings to mind the sound of the weft being pressed on the loom, and encapsulates the textile artisans’ ambition to carry on engaging in dynamic activities. For many years, textile artisans have developed and enhanced traditional techniques while supporting the latest moves in fashion behind the scenes. In recent years, the world is beginning to recognize that their seasoned skills are essential to fashion’s bold creations. At a time when the preservation of traditional techniques is emerging as a global challenge, BATTAN BATTAN hopes to continue meeting the requests of the world’s best creators while presenting its own work and passing on regional techniques to the future.
History
| Mar. 2018 | Representatives of three Japan Fukui Textiles member companies – Shinsuke Sawada (Fubisha Textiles), Akinori Higashino (Higashino Tokichi Orimono), and Yuzo Yamashita (Yamazaki Velvet) – join hands and launch a new project |
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| June–Oct. 2018 | Members visit one another and present their specialized techniques – Fubisha Textiles (June), Yamazaki Velvet (Sept.), and Higashino Tokichi Orimono (Oct.) |
| June 2018 | Project receives support under Fukui Prefecture program for collaborative new material development by textile companies |
| July 2018 | Yuzo Yamashita exhibits in Milano Unica (Milan, Italy) and receives “Milano trend” recognition |
| Aug. 2018 | Members discuss branding with designer Masami Takahashi |
| Sept. 2018 | Shinsuke Sawada enters Refreshing Leno in Japan Textile Contest |
| Oct. 2018 | Project exhibits in Hokuriku Yarn Fair |
| Nov. 2018 | Project joins research in new vegetable dyeing with Takashi Masuda at Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) Project exhibits in JFW Japan Creation 2019 |
| Dec. 2018 | Members discuss branding with designer Masami Takahashi (2nd session) BATTAN BATTAN brand name is established |
| Jan. 2019 | BATTAN BATTAN logo is established |
| Feb. 2019 | BATTAN BATTAN” press release
Project exhibits in HCJ2019 Shinsuke Sawada receives excellence prize at Japan Textile Contest Research in new vegetable dyeing with Takashi Masuda (JAIST) is selected as program celebrating 150th anniversary of Austro-Japanese diplomatic relations New vegetable dyeing tests are conducted at Higashino Tokichi Orimono |
| Mar. 2019 | BATTAN BATTAN is unveiled at Japan Fukui Textiles |
| Apr. 2019 | Shinsuke Sawada receives Award for Achievements in Textile Technologies New vegetable dyeing tests are conducted at Higashino Tokichi Orimono (2nd round) |
| May 2019 | Presentation on new vegetable dyeing research and BATTAN BATTAN is held at Kanazawa Castle |
| July 2019 | Yuzo Yamashita and Shinsuke Sawada receive “Milano trend” recognition at Milano Unica (Milan, Italy) Project exhibits in JAFIC Platform |
| Oct. 2019 | Project exhibits in Hokuriku Yarn Fair Members hold meeting at Isetan Mitsukoshi Nihombashi |
| Nov. 2019 | Research in new vegetable dyeing with Takashi Masuda (JAIST) receives highest accolade, the MEXT Minister’s Award, at STI for SDGs Awards organized by Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) Project joins Cross ArtTech Fashion Show 2019 at Kyoritsu Women’s University Project exhibits in JFW Japan Creation 2020 Masaji Yamazaki is selected as Outstanding Skilled Worker (Master Craftsman) |
| Dec. 2019 | New vegetable dyed stoles are exhibited and unveiled in Vienna, Austria Yamazaki Velvet gives factory tour to overseas apparel buyers Project exhibits in Europe and US textile exports tradeshow |