Ishikawa Region

Ishikawa Region

From Kaga silk to carbon fibre

Around 40% of the textile output from the Ishikawa region of Ishikawa Prefecture in the Hokuriku region comprises filament synthetics such as nylon and polyester as well as knitted fabrics. Textiles emerging here cater for a wide range of applications: sport, outdoor and casual wear and usage other than apparel, such as car seating and curtains. Another focus is on fibre materials like carbon fibre fabric.

The Komatsu textile district in Ishikawa is said to be where Kaga-ginu (Kaga silk) came into existence, supposedly thanks to a weaving technique dating all the way back to the 4th century. It is even said to have been offered to the Ashikaga Shogun, or military dictator, during the Muromachi Period (1336-1573). Later on, during the Meiji Period (1868-1912), those in the region focused on producing figured woven fabrics and as of today, synthetic piece-dyed fabrics are the mainstay. Ishikawa Prefecture established the ‘Textile And Fashion Resource Ishikawa Corporation’ in 1990, to support the textile industry across the board, partnering the Ishikawa Textile Association. The region also strives to support design and planning proposals by approaching downstream industry players and finding alternatives to subcontracting much of the finishing process industry.