HANTEN is a traditional workwear (originally for craftsmen) like a warm Japanese style short coat or jacket. It used to be worn over a kimono.
Miyata Orimono in Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture
In 1913, Miyata Orimono started weaving the traditional cotton cloth called Kurume-gasuri, which is a textile produced in Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture, and surrounding areas. It is mainly used for kimono. Since then, they have been producing the traditional HANTEN for more than half a century.
Miyata Orimono boasted the highest quality and production volume in Japan, shipping 500,000 hanten annually throughout the country at its peak. The selection of yarns for their fabrics, the mix of cotton blends and the high quality of their products are still important to them today.
Our project called "LIFESTOCK"
We have created a new coined term, "LIFESTOCK." It has the opposite meaning of dead stock. Items that remain in stock even though they can still be used as dead stock, or items that are in storage because they are no longer considered valuable because they are no longer in fashion. We collect these items and call them "LIFESTOCK." Our project has been in development since 2014, and aims to utilize their value and connect them to the next stage of manufacturing. We want to take that value and apply it to the next process.
HANTEN FROM "LIFESTOCK" was inspired by our own project to reuse fabric samples stored in the respective regions to convey the identity and craftsmanship of each of the 47 prefectures.
The outer fabrics of HANTEN FROM "LIFESTOCK" are selected from the precious traditional Japanese fabrics stored in the production area. Each piece is handcrafted by Miyata Orimono craftsmen, who have been making hanten in Chikugo City, Fukuoka Prefecture, for more than half a century.
Cotton Wadding Made From Natural Fibers
This HANTEN is made of 80% natural cotton wadding and 20% polyester wadding. Natural cotton wadding has voids in its fibers that retain heat and resist static electricity. In addition, the polyester wadding is blended in an exquisite ratio that compensates for the puffiness of the cotton wadding without compromising the quality of the cotton wadding. This air-filled wadding allows vapor to escape as you sweat. It keeps you comfortable all day long because natural cotton circulates human body heat.
How to Make a HANTEN?
Working in pairs, they rhythmically stuff the wadding into the HANTEN in an exquisite combination, without speaking aloud. Because the sheets of wadding are piled up and stuffed by hand, the wadding can be carefully placed in every corner, including the back and the hem. With proper care, these HANTEN can be used for a long time and will gradually adapt to your body.
Stitch-by-Stitch, Hand Stitching
Miyata Orimono makes sure that each HANTEN is sewn and finished by hand, as a sewing machine would destroy the volume of the cotton. Besides, they change the width of the needlework according to the strength required for each part of the HANTEN and plump up the area around the collar. All these detailed processes give your HANTEN its special comfort.
HANTEN FROM "LIFESTOCK"
It is a loose-fitting HANTEN based on its traditional shape. It is soft and fitted, with a string tie in the front and a pocket on each side. Although this product has been manufactured based on the dimensions shown, the actual dimensions of the finished product may vary slightly due to hand sewing.
The outer fabrics are selected from the precious traditional Japanese fabrics stored in the production area. Each piece is handcrafted by Miyata Orimono craftsmen, who have been making HANTEN in Chikugo City, Fukuoka Prefecture, for more than half a century.
Miyata Orimono makes sure that each HANTEN is sewn and finished by hand, as a sewing machine would destroy the volume of the cotton. Besides, they change the width of the needlework according to the strength required for each part of the HANTEN and plump up the area around the collar. All these detailed processes give your HANTEN its special comfort.
