Fukuroya Towel
A Historic Towel Manufacturer
with 130 Years of Tradition
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About Us
A Historic Towel Manufacturer with 130 Years of Tradition
Fukuroya Towel was founded in 1926 in Izumisano City in the Senshu area of southern Osaka – the birthplace of towel manufacturing in Japan – boasting a 130-year history in the industry. Although a relatively small-scale factory, we are able to leverage our technical expertise with over a century of experience to consistently create unique towel designs that always reflect the spirit of the times.
Guided by a legacy of world-renowned techniques and know-how inherited from our predecessors, we actively seek out the challenge of new endeavors, continuously pushing the bounds of our originality.
Embracing Ethical Craftsmanship, Building Bonds with Creators
Through close collaboration with local artisans across a wide variety of trades, we create naturally dyed towels with a 'no waste' philosophy, using vegetables and leftover organic resources from the production of other products that would otherwise be discarded to use as source materials in our process.
We create our towels using naturally derived starch paste while avoiding bleach, fluorescent brighteners, and fabric softeners, which allows us to create products that are gentle to the Earth and those who use them.
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Quality
Senshu Towels: Boasting Softness and Absorbency
After weaving untreated and starch-bonded threads together, the resulting fabric undergoes a unique finishing process called 'ato-zarashi' (post-rinsing).
Because this distinctive method thoroughly eliminates any lingering cotton oil or impurities, Senshu Towels are distinguished by their exceptional absorbency and softness from the moment of first use.
Further, because the 'ato-zarashi' method is performed after the fabric is woven, fewer steps are required in manufacturing, resulting in reduced water and energy consumption.
For over 130 years, towels have been made using the abundant water that flows from the Izumi Mountains in Osaka’s Senshu region.
The singular quality of the towels produced here is owed entirely to the exceptional purity of the waters that flow from these lands.
Embracing the blessings of the land while safeguarding its precious natural water resources, we strive to craft exceptional towels that complement the diverse lifestyles of whoever holds them.
Factory
Brand
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Towels dyed with natural pigments extracted from locally sourced fresh vegetables such as Mizunasu eggplant, Senshu onions, Matsunami cabbage, and Ayahomare carrots – all specialties of the Senshu region.
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Towels of the deepest hues, made with dye created from all-natural materials remaining after wine, beer, and matcha tea production.
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Woven of the same fibers found in Japanese 'washi' paper, together with reclaimed cotton remnants, these exquisite towels reflect our embrace of natural materials and commitment to sustainable practices.
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This enchanting and nostalgic lineup revives classic designs, patterns, and dye hues of towels found in the daily life of traditional Japanese households of days past.
Resellers
- Country
- Customer
- USA
- KIRIKO
- UK
- Foundland Ltd.
- Taiwan
- Woodywooday Ltd. 木吉
- Australia
- UC Maison Pty Ltd OSARA
- UK
- N A T I V E & C O
- Hong Kong
- COOLISTIC Broadwin Enterprise
- USA
- CANOE
- Korea
- Spade Space
Izumisano
City
A Heritage of Cotton and Textile Production
Izumisano City, the home of our factory, has long thrived as a town renowned for its prosperous merchants who amassed vast fortunes through the shipping industry, transporting goods from one port to another. Streetscapes reminiscent of this period from hundreds of years ago still exist today, echoing the prosperity of that bygone era.
During the Edo period (1603 – 1868), cotton cultivation blossomed in Izumisano thanks to the region’s rich, well-draining soil. This led to the flourishing of cotton textile manufacturing, including hand towels made from white cotton of exceptional quality – a history and tradition that lives on in the towel-making industries of today.
Seeds germinate, blossom, and bear the cotton used to make yarn, which is finally woven into towels – agriculture is the indispensable heart of it all.
More Than Just a Product
In this land that once thrived on maritime trade, we continue to cherish the locally grown produce and specialty products crafted with care by their producers.
Through collaboration with local artisans and producers, remnants and otherwise discarded resources from a variety of trades are given a renewed sense of value as they are fashioned into celebrated 'Senshu Towels.'
We aspire to transform these precious resources into towels that are not simply a product but something that carries the heartfelt intentions of their creators to reach international shores.
Local Initiative: Cotton Challenge
This exciting project provides a hands-on experience for the public to participate in
Traditional regional practices in Izumisano by cultivating and then using organically grown cotton to create towels.
In addition to revitalizing disused farmland and promoting local industry, the initiative provides an opportunity for children and residents to learn about the historical significance of this region as a cotton-producing area and the towel manufacturing process it's known for.
