Textile Design 24: Morning Glory

The note from Textile Designer, Katsuji Wakisaka on the textile "Morning Glory"


Summer mornings, the flowers bloom.
One day they shall wither away.
As they steadily grow their shoots burst forth,
The impression of a large flower forcefully opening up is so refreshing.
Naturally, the summer flowers inspire me.

(Written by Katsuji Wakisaka, Translated by Rishy Kashyap)

Textile Design 23: Canal

Today's featured textile design is "Canal"

Taking a walk every morning through Nanzenji,
located in a small neighborhood where the canal water flows towards,
The echo of its murmur as it flows
along the road I am walking, resounds in my heart.
The villas around this area also draw from
this canal's water to make a small pond in their yards.
This Kyoto canal, made by tunneling an aqueduct from Lake Biwa
through the mountains, draws water
all the way to Kyoto
providing to Kyoto its tap water.

(Written by Katsuji Wakisaka, Translated by Angie Chen)

Textile Design 22 Smily Goldfish

Today's textile design is "Smily Goldfish"
One fond memory of a festival during my childhood days.
Crowds of people
at the spot lined with stalls
along the travel path of the Mikoshi.
There were so many exciting things;
Performances, ring toss, "Smart Ball" (pin ball),
Goldfish scooping, tortoiseshell candy, candy figures
Okonomiyaki, and the like.
I do poorly at Goldfish scooping,
and I have no memories of ever being able to scoop any up,
but it was a definite must-have at any festival.

(Written by Katsuji Wakisaka, translated by Angie Chen)

Textile Design 21 Shaved Ice

Today's textile design is "Shaved Ice"

The glistening sun.
Overcome by the heat, the humid air wraps around our bodies.
There's no escape, with not a breeze in sight.
I see a flag of shaved ice.
Ah, it flashes straight into my mind
the visions of salvation that the coolness would bring.
The flag of shaved ice is inseparably linked
with the Japanese summer,
no matter where you go in Japan.
That simple & clear image is a brilliant design
and what I believe to be a piece of Japanese culture.

(Written by Katsuji Wakisaka, translated by Angie Chen)

Textile Design 20: Wisteria

Today' textile design is "Wisteria"

I see a cluster of light purple between the trees.

Wild wisteria vines snaking throughout

Climbing along the trees with flowers in bloom.

I feel a strong presence from the sight of

Wisteria amongst the overlapping greenery.

(Written by Katsuji Wakisaka, translated by Angie Chen)

Textile Design 19:Spring Breeze

Today's featured textile design is "Spring Breeze," which is also used on a pair of our signature tabi socks.

Here's the note from the textile designer, Katsuji Wakisaka.

You can say that the wonderful sight of bright yellow flowers peaking through in-between the fields represents spring in Japan.

The Haiku poetry by Buson "Nanohana (broccoli flowers) - with the moon in the east and the sun in the west" reminds me of a sense of joy felt during a peaceful spring season.


(Katsuji Wakisaka, Translated by Chinatsu and Angie)

Textile Design 18: Plum Trees

Today's featured textile design is "Plum Trees," which is also a design used for a pair of our signature tabi socks and tenugui towels.

Here's the note from the textile designer, Katsuji Wakisaka.

While there is still a winter chill in the air, the plum flower blooms earlier than the rest.
Many people loved it for centuries for it's elegance and clean scent.
When you walk amongst plum trees, you feel your mind getting clear and your heart will be full of bliss.

(Katsuji Wakisaka)

Textile Design 17: Glittering Light

Today's featured textile design is "Glittering Light". which is used for the sleeve of our signature V-neck cross over shirt.

Long day is almost over and the sun is setting into the sea.
The surface of the sea is covered with orange light and glittering.
I was staring with a lot of thoughts in mind.
I don't know how long it past, when I came to myself,
the sea was losing it's glitterling light and the dusk was gatherint quietly.
It was a day I felt like I went out far away.


(written by Katsuji Wakisaka, translated by Chinatsu)

Textile Design 16:Stripes

Today's featured textile is "Stripes".

This is a simple pattern, just mixing two tone stripes ,but it turned out to be an unusual, unique stripe pattern.
The pattern is very interesting. You mix ordinary motifs but it becomes something completely new by mixing pattern and changing space in between.
I think this rule might apply to various things too. like human relationships.

(Written by Katsuji Wakisaka, Traslated by Chinatsu and Rodrigo)

Textile Design 15: Heian Shrine

Today's featured design is Heian Shrine, We just got the tenugui towels with this pattern!

Kyoto, encircled by mountains has a single river running through it.
The mountains appear soft and majestic, the river keeping the earth gently moist.
People must have thought that that is why this city is the capital, because of its beauty, surrounded by nature's elegance.
Even now I enjoy looking at Heian shrines that have that atmosphere in common with many other shrines and temples.


まわりをぐるりと山に囲まれて、その中を一本の川が流れている。
山はふんわりとして雅で、川はゆるやかに大地をうるおしていっている。
この優雅な自然に抱かれた佇まいの美しい、こここそ都であるという想いを持ったと思う。
今も多くの神社仏閣と共に情緒ある平安京の姿を楽しむことができる。
(Written by Katsuji Wakisaka, translated by Chinatsu and Rodrigo)

Textile Design 14:Carp Streamer

Today's featured textile design is "Carp Streamer" (Koi-nobori), which is used for our new tabi socks and tenugui towel.

The Carp Streamer taking in the wind, swimming in a leisurely manner in the sunny blue sky.
People used to set it up wishing for a boy's success in the future, but nowadays, they set up several different carps wishing all of the family member's wishes.

Looking at the carps swimming around in the big sky, they looks so free and make me feel happy.


晴れた青空に風をいっぱいに受けて、
ゆうゆうと泳ぐ鯉のぼり。
昔は男の子の出世を願って立てられたが、
現在では家族みんなの願いをこめて
何尾もあげることもある様だ。
大空を泳ぎ回る姿は、自由自在で楽しくなってくる。
(Written by Katsuji Wakisaka, Translated by Chinatsu and Rodrigo)

Textile design 13: Whisper

Today's featured textile pattern is "whisper", used for the all season scarf and v-neck shirt.





This pattern that mixes small stripes and gingham is among my favorite pattern type.
By changing the width of the stripe, density, and changing the space between, I make the pattern more attractive.
I always achieve making these patterns by just sketching randomly.



細かい縞や格子などを組み合わせた模様は、僕が好きな分野の一つだ。
その線の太さや密度、またその組み合わせや間（ま）の変化で模様の魅力を演出していく。
こういう模様は何となく手を動かしているとうまれてくる。

(Written by Katsuji Wakisaka, Translated by Chinatsu and Rodrigo)

Textile Design 11: Miyako Dance

Today's featured textile design is "miyako dance". This new textile design just came out last month, and is used in our tenugui towel.

"Miyako Dance" is seen when the beautiful Maiko (apprentice geisha) from Kyoto's Gion district all dress up in their gorgeous kimono and perform their dance, known as Miyako dance, among a stage full of blooming cherry blossom trees.
This is a staple event for Kyoto in April, having been celebrated for around 130 years.
Maiko, lined up together and wearing blue kimono with a cherry blossom pattern, look truly glamorous. Through the image of Kimono, Kyoto's enfevered richness is expressed, welcoming in the Spring season.


爛漫と咲き乱れる桜の舞台に華やかな着物を着た
祇園のきれいどころが勢ぞろいする〝都をどり〟。
130年以上も続いていて、4月の京都には
なくてはならないものになっている。
青い地に桜の模様をあしらった着物で
居並ぶ様は何ともあでやか。
その着物のイメージで春を迎えて
盛り上がる京都の濃密さを歌い上げた。

(written by Katsuji Wakisaka, translated by Chinatsu and Rodorigo)

Textile Design 10:Dots and Stripes

Today's featured pattern is "Ma"(in between), one of the staple SOU・SOU pattern, used for All season Scarf, Tenugui Bags, and inside liner of the tabi shoes.

This is one of SOU・SOU's staple patterns, "Ma(In between)".
Each individual motif(stripes and dots) is small but if you see this pattern as whole, the structure is very bold.
I rearranged this pattern for the first time in 31 years.

SOU・SOUの定番柄に〝間〟というのがある。ひとつひとつのモチーフは小さい（例えば鮫小紋や縞）が全体の構成は大胆。それを31年ぶりに再構成してみた。

(written by Katsuji Wakisaka, translated by Chinatsu)

Textile Design 9:Marbles

Today's featured textile design is "Ohajiki(marble)". One of the staple SOU・SOU Pattern, used for our scarf, tenugui towel,andclothing too.

The "Ohajiki" (marble) pattern is a very cute design in general, but when you make each marble bigger,
it creates an easy-going mood. How this pattern came to be so relaxing is a mystery.

“おはじき”はかわいいデザインですが、大柄のものはとても大らかでゆったりしている。ホッとする雰囲気が出てきたことは不思議に思う。
(written by Katsuji Wakisaka, translated by Chinatsu)

Textile Design 8:Bar

Today's featured textile design is "Bar"("san"), used for recent hit products like Kimono Slv shirt, Fishermans pants, and Scarf.

Old japanese houses used to have Shoji paper screen window and window panel, made with a refined sense.
I think the aesthetic of the master carpenter was reflected on these designs at the time.
So I expressed the alternating style of the crossing window panel bars with this design.


昔の家は障子や窓枠には粋なものが多い。
当時の棟梁の美意識が反映しているのだろう。
互い違いに組まれた棧（さん）の粋さを表現した。

（脇坂克二）

(written by Katsuji Wakisaka, translated by Rodorigo)

Textile Design 7: Japanese Alphabet

Today's featured textile design is "Iro ha niohedo"("japanese alphabet"),
used for our kids shoes, business card case, and tenugui towel.

To create textile design using Japanese alphabets may be against popular trend. We rarely see any textile design with Japanese alphabets. But creating new designs using these materials is big role for me now.
日本語のテキスタイルデザインを作るというのは、時代性から言うと難しいものかもしれない。現にほとんど見かけない。しかし、この“素材”を作ってデザインするという事は、今の僕の大きな役割でもある。

(Written by Katsuji Wakisaka, Translated by Chinatsu)

Textile Design 5: Chrysanthemum Burst

Today's featured textile is "Chrysanthemum Burst"very popular pattern used for our Ise-cotton Scarf.

For me, Chrysanthemum is an easy motif to design with. You can add as many petals as you want, so I kept adding them and adjusted the balance and rhythm of the petals to create "Kiku Zukushi"
I think the balance and rhythm is a very important element of textile design.


僕にとって菊というのはデザインしやすいものだ。
花びらをどれだけでも増やしていけるから、どんどん描き込んでいって
あとでバランスとかリズムをよくしていったのが“菊づくし”。
このバランスとリズムというものがテキスタイルデザインにはとても大事だと思う。

(Written by Katsuji Wakisaka, Translated by Chinatsu)

Textile Design 4: Tadasu Forest

Today's featured textile design is "Tadasu Forest",the popular pattern used for our Ise Cotton Scarf.
Here's the note from the designer, Wakisaka.

The Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto is preserved as a world heritage site. Tadasu Forest,which is part of the shrine, is full of native tall trees which make it a very relaxing space. Here, I tried to express the different shades of leaves and shapes by using detailed gingham and plaid patterns to achieve the richness of color of the forest.

-Katsuji WakisakaTranslated by Chinatsu

世界遺産となっている下鴨神社。
原生林の鎮守の森。
木々がそびえ立っていて、気持ちのいい空間が広がっている。
細かい市松や格子柄を使って、葉の濃淡や形の微妙な変化を表現し、豊かで多彩な森の感じが出せればと願った。
（脇坂克二）

Textile Design 3: Scattered Clouds

Today's featured textile design is Scattered Clouds.We have many products of this pattern, including Socks,, Tops,and Pants.
Here's the note from the designer, Wakisaka.
本日ご紹介するデザインは「ちぎれ雲」です。ちぎれ雲は足袋下やジバン、もんぺ等SOU・SOUの商品に数多く使われているデザインです。以下、脇坂さんからのコメントになります。

White clouds floating in the blue sky, looking as if they are just painted with a quick brush stroke. Looking up at the clear sky makes my concerns and worries seem small.
Nature always helps release us.

青い空に筆でさっさっと描いたような白い雲が並んでいる。
澄んだその空を見上げていると、今自分が感じている悩みや考えていることが、何となくちっぽけなことかと思えてくる。
自然はいつも僕たちを解放してくれる。

(Written by Katsuji Wakisaka, Translated by Chinatsu)