Listening to the voice of the material: Canvas' "enduring beauty"
Listening to the voice of the material: the "beauty of hard work" that is canvas
Not all WABISUKE products are made of canvas, but many of them are.
It is not a piece of fabric, but rather a "silent skeleton" that carries time and the landscape.
Canvas Journey: From Ancient to Modern Times
The history of canvas dates back to ancient Egypt before the Common Era.
Cloth woven from flax was used as sails for ships to catch the wind, and sometimes was used to wrap mummies and protect their lives.
It was later brought to Japan during the Muromachi period and is said to have been used on Oda Nobunaga's sailing ships.
In the late Edo period, a boatman named Kuraku Matsuemon from Takasago City, Hyogo Prefecture, improved canvas using Banshu cotton thread.
This cloth, called "Matsuemon sail," supported the voyages of the Kitamae ships and changed the way Japan sailed.
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The Functional Beauty of Canvas: A Fabric Focused on Wind and Water
The reason canvas was chosen as a sail is because of its functionality.
• Durability: The twisted instant yarn is woven into a plain weave, making it resistant to friction, wind and rain, and long-lasting.
• Breathable and waterproof: When wet, the threads become visible, providing natural waterproofing.
• Texture: The more you use it, the softer it becomes, giving it the appeal of being a "growing fabric" that becomes more manageable.
This "beauty that endures" is also part of WABISUKE's philosophy.
It quietly accompanies us in our daily lives and exists over time.
WABISUKE and Canvas: Tools for Transporting Landscapes
WABISUKE offers canvas tote bags, pouches, tea ceremony cases, and more.
These are not individual storage units, but rather serve as "tools for transporting scenery."
Just as moss in a garden becomes more beautiful when it is trampled, canvas also develops a more beautiful texture with use.
The fabric also begins to speak as it is infused with quiet traditional colors such as Benigara, Indigo, and Rikyu White Tea.
Modern canvas technology: a fusion of beauty and craftsmanship
Currently, approximately 70% of Japan's canvas is produced in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture.
The twisting techniques that have been used since the Meiji era and the production using rare shuttle looms are truly "fabric craftsmanship."
Even now, when synthetic fibers have become mainstream, canvas is being rediscovered due to its natural texture and environmental friendliness.
They quietly live in our lives in the form of accessories, interior decor, shoes, aprons, and more.
Bring the voice of canvas into your life
Canvas does not speak, but in the hands of the user, it remembers the scenery and marks the passage of time.
Are there any items in your life that have become more beautiful through use?
At WABISUKE, you can find tools that grow quietly, just like canvas.