Keep it long, treasure it long.

Elegant and beautiful

Formal wear for occasions such as graduation ceremonies and formal events. Since these moments are captured in photographs, you want to look polished and also blend in with the atmosphere of the occasion. However, if you treat it as a piece meant "only for that day," it often ends up being limited in use and stored away in your closet. Ideally, you want to choose something that you can wear not only for commemorative dinners and business meetings but also for gatherings with close friends, without compromising on elegance or style. The "sumi" series from hatsutoki answers this desire.

A Formal Wear That Seems to Be Missing

hatsutoki, a brand of Banshu textiles, starts from the creation of a single thread, tailored to the image of the clothing they want to create. The fabric for the sumi series was carefully constructed based on the requirements for formal wear. While it is relatively easy to create a functional fabric that is wrinkle-resistant and has a glossy finish by blending polyester, achieving "easy care," "wrinkle resistance," and "all-season usability" using only natural fibers is a challenging task.

To address this, they used strong-twisted wool yarn for the weft against a cotton warp. The finely twisted worsted wool is a thread often used in high-quality suits, known for its excellent moisture absorption and release. The strong twist creates a smooth texture, resulting in a fabric that is resistant to wrinkles. This makes it a reliable choice for long travel days, easy to grab when needed. In summer, it can be worn lightly on its own, while in winter, it pairs well with turtlenecks or lightweight knits for easy temperature regulation, making it versatile throughout the year. Since formal wear isn't something you accumulate in multiples, the ability to wear it whenever necessary, regardless of the season, brings peace of mind.

Available in two colors: sumi black and sumi gray. The sumi black features a deep black that doesn't overpower the woven pattern, while the sumi gray expresses a soft ink color using multi-colored threads, both exuding elegance and calmness. By subtly blending thread colors rather than using a single hue, depth is created, and the texture of the threads manifests as intricate expressions, adding to the unique charm of this fabric.

The sumi tapered pants are designed with an image of a poised and beautiful woman in mind. They feature a relaxed fit around the waist while maintaining a sleek silhouette, incorporating design elements that encourage good posture and graceful movements in quiet spaces. The front has an asymmetrical design where the fabric slightly overlaps, allowing for a stylish look even when paired with a plain white shirt. With a lining made from plant-derived fiber "cupra," they offer excellent breathability and comfortable wear. The inner drawstring allows for waist size adjustments, making it a versatile piece that can be shared between parent and child or accommodate body changes over time. It also pairs beautifully with the bolero from the same sumi series for a coordinated look.

New Possibilities of Banshu Textiles

hatsutoki is a brand of Banshu textiles, which is a lightweight fabric primarily made of cotton, with over 200 years of history in the northern Harima region of Hyogo Prefecture. Known for its "pre-dyed" manufacturing method, Banshu textiles hold an 80% share of the national market for pre-dyed fabrics. Textile production areas often benefit from large rivers that provide abundant water, which contributes to the beautiful colors of the fabrics, bringing out hues that can only be expressed in that region.

hatsutoki was born from the desire to convey the excitement of experiencing Banshu textiles for the first time. In a market flooded with trend-chasing, homogenized clothing where the origins and production methods are often unknown, they aim to communicate the thoughts behind their creations and the wonderful qualities of Banshu textiles that feel good against the skin.

Fully Utilizing Techniques Cultivated in the Region

hatsutoki's production begins with creating a single thread, driven by the desire to make clothing with a specific image, texture, and design, and then developing the fabric (thread) to match that vision. Rather than designing based on existing fabric, the design, fabric, and texture are harmonized. This is hatsutoki's strength, allowing them to advance the design and fabric development simultaneously.

They engage in the production of "wonderful basics," which are designed to be universal and long-lasting, drawing inspiration from the surrounding natural landscapes, colors, sounds, and all sensory experiences, revealing infinite possibilities in their designs.