THE ART OF TOWEL MAKING
On Shikoku, Japan’s fourth-largest island, amidst lush nature lies the mecca of Japan’s towel industry: Imabari.
Imabari has long flourished as one of the world’s leading high-quality towel production centers due in part to its favorable natural conditions. The properties of the water used during production are extremely important for towels, and Imabari is blessed with pristine fresh subsoil water from the Sosha River, which originates in the Takanawa Mountains adjacent to Mt. Ishizuchi. Imabari’s warm climate and freshwater purity, paired with generations of dedicated craftsmanship, have fostered a unique region that encapsulates the art of towel making.
RENEWED TRADITION
In 2006, Kashiwa Sato used an Imabari Towel for the first time and was struck by its quality. “It is incredibly soft and comforting. It doesn’t feel like you are wiping your body like with most towels. More than surprised, I am moved." At the time, towel producers in the Imabari region were in a dire position due to more affordable and mass produced towels from overseas. However, Sato was confident that Imabari Towels definitely had the quality to be appreciated globally. Sato then started the Imabari Towel Recovery Project. He designed a logo that symbolized Imabari’s rich nature and its pursuit for the highest quality. This unique regional trademark began the hope for revitalizing Imabari's towel industry.
