Vol.2

As a towel maker, the real life of a 20-year-old

Ms. Ishimaru is the youngest in the workshop. Born and raised in Imabari, where towel manufacturing is a local industry, what is the towel weaving process like for a 20-year-old girl?　In this issue of "People of Ikeuchi," we have captured her struggles as she actually works at the site and learns her jobs one by one, and we have also included some words from her in response to questions about her job and future goals, despite her shy personality.

Ishimaru in charge of weaving

Encounter with IKEUCHI ORGANIC

–How long have you been with IKEUCHI ORGANIC?

Two years and nine months.

–How did you come to know about IKEUCHI ORGANIC (Ikeuchi Towel at that time)?

I originally learned about it when I saw a job opening at my school, where I studied manufacturing (in the information technology department of a technical high school).

–Did you have an opening for a weaving position?

No, that was not the case. There was a job opening at a towel shop, and I was put in charge of weaving from the beginning.

Everything was all white, so at first it just looked the same.

–What was the first job you were taught when you first joined the company?

How to thread a thread.

–Once you are able to thread thread, what’s next?

I learned the different types of thread. (The threads are) all pure white, so at first they all looked the same.

–Now you can easily tell the difference between threads?

Well, yes (laughs) .

–Do you have any yarns that are easy to handle?

Twisted yarns (Note: twinned yarns, two yarns twisted together into one) are hard to break and easy to work with.

I want to be able to produce from start to finish by myself.

–Please tell us briefly about the towel weaving process. How do you get the yarn to the loom after the stretcher (note: a huge spool of yarn with many threads wound around it to set the yarn on the loom) comes in?

It takes the aze of the yarn that was previously on the loom. This is the process of separating one or two stitches. How can I explain it…. A new stretcher is applied, and then the warp threads are tied to the tying machine (note: the warp threads that are currently on the loom are tied one by one to the next warp thread to be woven).

–Can you do tying?

Yes, I was taught.

–How long does it take to tie?

It takes me about two hours because I am not used to it yet.

–How long does it take for someone who is used to it?

With a Ruch (note: the name of the loom is Swiss-made SULZER RUTI), it may take an hour or less.

–How long does it take until you can do it all?

I was told it would take about five years.

–Do you have any goals for the future?

I just spin the loom now, but I would like to be able to do everything from connecting all the stretchers to producing the whole product by myself from start to finish.

–I want to be able to do that quickly.

Yes, that’s right.

–What is your favorite IKEUCHI OEGANIC towel?

It is a towel handkerchief of the first-generation Straits ( note: now discontinued; successor model is Straits 2).

–What do you like about it?

The pattern is unusual. It’s a little unique.

–When do you use it?

When I take it outside.

–Would you like to see your woven products in a store?

Yes, I would.

–It would be nice if the towel weavers had some kind of training in sales at a directly managed store. So, if you were to go to a training session at a store, where would you like to visit, the directly-managed stores in Tokyo, Kyoto, or Fukuoka?

Well…I’m not sure.

–I’m not sure…it’s okay if you want to go to Tokyo, Kyoto, or Fukuoka.

Then Tokyo then ( laughs).

Interview January 2016
Interview and text by Mutaguchi, Kamio
Photographer/ Yuji Kimura (Kimura Photo Office)