- SAPPAKAMA - Traditional Japanese Pants with Fabrics That Have a 400-year History

About the Product

SAPPAKAMA is a joint project between OSOCU (in Aichi Prefecture) and en-nichi (in Iwate Prefecture), and was developed based on the traditional work wear SAPPAKAMA.

These tailored pants feature a three-dimensional silhouette and narrow hems. The changeover at the calves is unique and nice. In addition, the gusset at the inseam and the space around the hips create a unique silhouette. The waist elastic, side pockets, etc., have been added to suit modern life, and the shape that would have been used in the Meiji and Taisho periods (approx. 100-150 years ago) has been reproduced as much as possible based on old materials. These pants can be worn in active situations such as outdoors and cycling. Chita Momen is made of non-elastic cotton material, but it is very easy to move.

"Chita Momen'' in Aichi has a history of more than 400 years, but it is a rare fabric that is rarely seen in apparel. It is slowly woven with a loom in the Meiji period (approx. 100-150 years ago). This time, we have adopted a material called "Aya Tsumugi'' which OSOCU thinks is suitable for pants because of its thickness. This is a soft fabric with an uneven surface. The width of this fabric is about 40 cm, which is suitable for Wafuku (including kimono), so it is not very efficient to produce clothes, and it is rarely used in apparel. Even so, we still want to use this fabric created by looms and techniques that have been handed down for a long time.

The black of "Nagoya Kuromontsukizome," which is made with a technique that has been handed down from generation to generation dating back to about 400 years ago, is a color that even people who love black will admire. And, KYOYA somemonoten Inc. 's Urushi (Japanese lacquer) was created in the process of making use of lacquer trees that had been discarded. Lacquer dyeing is the work of artisans, and the pigment is extracted from the chips produced during lumbering, not from the sap of lacquer.

Specifications

[Material] Fabric: Chita cotton (Ayatsumugi), String: Cotton, Sewing thread: Cotton

[Color] Japanese Black (Nagoya Kuromontsukizome), Lacquer Dyed (Tan), Kibata (Ecru/ Unbleached and Undyed)

The term “Kibata” refers to the fabric as it is woven. From here, the fabric goes through the processes of de-gluing, bleaching, and dyeing to become the fabric you often see. The raw fabrics dyed before the threads are dyed are unbleached and undyed, with only the glue removed. We added it to our lineup at short notice so that you can see the color of the fabric itself. The color is closer to kinari or ivory than to white. Since the fabric is not bleached, non-cotton material from the spinning and weaving process appears as fine dots.

[Size]

-Size M (Intended for 150-165 cm (4’ 1” ~ 5’ 4”). Outseam 94 cm (3’ 1”), Waist (elastic) 62~96 cm (2’~3’ 2”), Inseam 62 cm (2’), Hip 60 cm (1’ 1”), Hem-width 17 cm (6.7”))

-Size L (Intended for 165-175 cm (5’ 4” ~ 5’ 9”). Outseam 100 cm (3’ 3”), Waist (elastic) 66~102 cm (2’ 2” ~ 3’ 4”), Inseam 65 cm (2’ 2”), Hip 64 cm (2’ 1”), Hem-width 18 cm (7.1”))

The measurements of the width of thigh are difficult to determine due to the unique shape of the inseam, but the M Size is about 33 cm (1’ 1”) and the L size is about 36 cm (1’ 2”). Please refer to the images too.

The waist is loose and can be adjusted with a string, so length is the most important in sizing. The rise is high, so the look changes depending on whether you wear it at the waist or up to the waist. Also, the underside is the same color, so you can fold the them.

Maintenance

-Can be machine washed.

-Black and Ecru do not lose color.

-Please wash Lacquer dyed one separately from white and light colored clothes because color may transfer.

-Gentle washing or washing by hand is recommended.

-Avoid dryers to prevent shrinking

-Avoid direct sunlight when drying to avoid fading. Especially lacquer dyed ones tend to be affected by light, we do not recommend spending a long time under fluorescent light either.

-However, general wear and fading is unavoidable so don’t be too careful when wearing it.

About the Maker

We are OSOCU, a brand based in Aichi Prefecture offering clothing and small goods that incorporate traditional Japanese materials and techniques. We established in 2017 within TANIKEN CO.,LTD., which was founded in 1876, and we continue to make products in Japan while working hand in hand with partners outside the company.

Japan has many unique manufacturing traditions. In particular, all traditional products have their own backgrounds and cultural stories. We think it would be wonderful if we could make use of such culture in our manufacturing. For this reason, we value the transparency of the story and production background, and we want the users to know about it.

OSOCU (pronounced the same as " slowly" in Japanese), as the name suggests, is never in a hurry. We make products that are not easily influenced by trends, and we are not in a hurry to rush through a project every season. We will continue to create values that will last for a long time to come, weaving each value slowly and without haste.

This time, we received full cooperation from en-nichi, a brand of KYOYA somemonoten Inc., the dyehouse in Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture. This project started when the OSOCU’s representative, Tani, met SAPPAKAMA in Okinawa in November 2021 and was strongly attracted to SAPPAKAMA, which he learned about on the spot. We have received full support from them for sewing and lacquer-dyeing. Other Companies local to Aichi Prefecture, like OSOCU, also cooperated with us in the weaving and black dyeing of fabrics and photography. We would be happy if you could take a look at our traditional Japanese SAPPAKAMA made of local materials.