Shiozawa Fabrics

Along with Shiozawa pongee, Honshiozawa is a representative cloth from the Shiozawa area and has been well known by the name Shiozawa Omeshi for some time past. Its origins are said to date back to the middle of the 18th century and similarly to the crepe from Echigo, it is a silk crepe with a characteristic crimp, which makes use of linen weaving techniques.

Using raw silk, the weft thread is tightly twisted before being woven. Its distinctiveness comes from its crimp which appears when the cloth is washed in hot water. The resulting silk ikat cloth with its patterns of fussy motifs is famous for its quality, elegance and beautiful texture. Cloth for kimono is now being produced by 16 frims and there are 20 government recognized Master Craftsmen.