Brand
Dishes with a Fresh Concept Expressing Traditional Beauty
EMURA SHOUTEN
- 1917
- Nishijin textile and Kyo-yuzen
- Kazuhiro Emura
History
Kyoto's Kimono Fabric Wholesaler
Founded in 1917, Emura Shoten is a kimono fabrics wholesaler in Kyoto.
In the early days, the company was a wholesaler of fabrics and mainly dealt in high-quality “Tango” white fabrics suitable for Kyo-yuzen, and we even patented the “jimon” pattern that goes on the white fabric, but later we expanded to deal in a wide range of fabrics from all over Japan, including Kyoto kimono, Oshima silk, Yukino silk, and Echigo textiles.
When I took over the family kimono wholesale business, I wanted to make use of my kimono skills to create other interesting products.
I also saw it as a journey to explore what kind of traditional crafts we makers can leave behind for the next generation.
I was involved in making sweets at my previous job and came up with the idea of making plates for serving sweets.
Since then, I have experimented with new materials and manufacturing methods, leading to the development of KYO-yuzen and Nishijin textile dishes.
In today's daily life, wearing a kimono is inconvenient, but we believe that by creating dishes that incorporate traditional kimono fabrics, we can make the craft more accessible to people.
Characteristic
Dishes that Expand the Possibilities of Kimono
The Kyo-yuzen and Nishijin textile vessels allow the beauty of kimono to be appreciated, and are highly functional products with non-slip and shatterproof surfaces on the reverse side.
This new type of container, born from the innovative idea of laminating kimono fabric between glass and EVA resin, has opened up new possibilities for kimono.
Kyo-yuzen plates are made by dyeing traditional Kyo-yuzen patterns on white Tango fabric and enclosing them in glass.
We have tried to create elegant designs with a modest assertiveness so that the plates themselves go well with any kind of food.
The Nishijin textile plates are made of colorful and lustrous silk fabric with abundant gold and silver threads woven into it, bringing luxury and glamor to the forefront.
Both can be enjoyed not only as interior decorations, but also for actual use by serving food, sweets, fruit, etc.
on them.
Japanese and Western, old and new, soft and hard, the various elements of the dishes blend and harmonize with each other, adding color and splendor to the dining table.
For Customers
Feel Kyoto's Culture of Blending New and Old
The Kyo-yuzen and Nishijin textile dishes we offer show history in the colors and patterns of the textiles used, which are beautiful and have a sense of presence no matter where they are cut.
For example, plates made from silk fabrics with vivid gold and silver leaf and colors are as gorgeous as kimono, and dishes with fabric dyed in traditional komon patterns have a refined appearance that is suitable for both Japanese and Western cuisine.
The kimono techniques handed down in Japan, especially in Kyoto, must not be allowed to die out, but the reality is that kimono no longer fit the lifestyle of today's society, where Western-style clothing is the norm.
We will continue to promote the splendor of Kyoto culture, which is a fusion of respect for the old and acceptance of the new.
We invite you to pick up our products and feel our passion for yourself.
Award
2015 Awarded Division Prize in the
Kyoto Product Contest (sponsored by Kyoto Specialty Products Cooperative Association), Yuzen
2016 Grand Prix, Kyoto Product Contest, Nishijin textile (sponsored by Kyoto Specialty Products Cooperative)
2016 Chosen by the National Governor's Association as a gift to be delivered to VIPs overseas
2017 Received the Regional Brand Award in the OMOTENASHI SELECTION