Keep it long, treasure it long.

'Practicality' and 'beauty'

Hands harvesting dewy vegetables in the fields shrouded in morning mist. An afternoon spent reading a book and enjoying tea on the veranda at dusk. Kurume Kasuri monpe have quietly accompanied such lifestyles.

Kurume Kasuri was born in the Chikugo region about 200 years ago, and the technique of tying and dyeing threads and carefully weaving them has been carefully passed down to this day by only 20 weavers. Kurume Kasuri monpe are practical clothing filled with the wisdom of our ancestors. They dry quickly by morning after hanging them out overnight, are comfortable to fit anyone by tying them with strings, and are convenient to roll up and store compactly. They are easy to wear when relaxing or going out, and they surprisingly have all the functions required for modern life.

The fabric has just the right thickness and tension, creating a clean silhouette. Monpan are easy to wear and move around in, but with a modern design, they can be worn as pants or as relaxing wear for going out.

In addition, to make them comfortable for the season, a single layer of gauze is wrapped around the back and finished with a rolled stitch. The fluffy, thick monpan are comfortable to wear, and the fabric becomes more comfortable with each wear. This is the charm of the Kurume Kasuri fabric that has been passed down through generations, and the reason why the design has evolved and is loved.

Enjoy at your own pace

As everyday wear and as a relaxing wear. The charm of monpan is that you can wear them in your own way regardless of the time, place, and occasion. Wear them casually with sneakers or boots. Wear them with a high-quality cotton shirt for a slightly stylish look. The wearer's sensibilities will expand the possibilities of how to wear them. Kurume Kasuri monpe are made from natural cotton and woven with great care. They grow with time, as they accompany the wearer's daily activities. They are monpe that give a sense of richness to modern lifestyles that pursue convenience alone.

Experience the charm of Kurume Kasuri

Kurume Kasuri is one of Japan's traditional crafts. It is a 100% cotton fabric made in the Chikugo region in the southern part of Fukuoka Prefecture. Kasuri weaving flourished in this region thanks to the blessings of the Chikugo River, the longest river in Kyushu, which flows through the Chikugo region. The rich soil and clean water are said to be very suitable for producing kasuri. By dyeing the threads before weaving, subtle misalignment is created, and the fabric has become popular as a unique fabric.

In addition, Kurume Kasuri is not printed on the woven fabric, but the threads are dyed first and then the weaving pattern is created. The fabric, tightly woven with warp and weft threads, is very strong, and in the past, after its role as a kimono was over, it was mended and used as a futon cover, and was used for a long time. The fabric is also characterized by its softness. After weaving, the starch is removed by boiling, so it is soft and fluffy to the touch from the beginning, and the texture improves the more it is used.

Made of such fabric, Giemon is durable, light, strong, and washable, and is a masterpiece that you will want to use and grow for a long time, passing it on from parent to child and then to the child, repairing and caring for it, and feeling how it becomes more tasteful over time.

Connecting traditional crafts to the next generation

Giemon is the in-house brand of Okamoto Shoten, a wholesaler of Kurume Kasuri, founded in 1971. Founded by the founder, Noguchi Tasuke, Okamoto Shoten has been connecting Kurume Kasuri weavers with consumers as the world's fashions have changed from Japanese to Western clothing. The company has been asking itself, "How can we make Kasuri match the latest trends?" Since 1978, in order to further expand the possibilities of Kurume Kasuri, a traditional craft that boasts over 200 years of history, the company has launched its own brand and is planning, manufacturing, and selling original products that fit into modern life.

Kurume Kasuri items are woven with great care from fabric making to sewing, and are products that you will grow to love more and more as you use them every day. They can be used by people of all ages, both men and women, so they are a great gift for people who like fabrics, handicrafts and dyeing, and those who are natural-oriented, and they are also great souvenirs for people overseas who feel a sense of Japan.