History of "Hikobe Science"

History of Hikobe Science

Our company is located in Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture, where the textile industry has been thriving since the Nara period 1300 years ago. The high quality and technological prowess of our textiles have earned Kiryu the distinction of being called "the Nishijin of the West, the Kiryu of the East," with "Kiryu Ori" leading the pack as a luxury fabric that has been recognized not only domestically but also internationally. It was during the Muromachi period that the Hikobe family, a warrior family, came to Kiryu, a town known for textiles. Operating a loom within their residence, they invented a new type of durable and warm fabric made from a blend of silk and rayon, affordable even for commoners, and marketed Kiryu textiles around the world... Adapting to changing times, they continued manufacturing from "a single thread" to serve people continuously. While being craftsmen, they never lost their inquisitive spirit and continued to embrace a "scientific" approach to new inventions. The spirit of the Hikobe family, passed down through generations in this town, remains the cornerstone of our manufacturing to this day.