OKAJU co.,ltd. 岡重

The History of OKAJIMA

Founder　Usaburo Okajima

Established the company in late 1855. Taught at Kyoto City School of Arts (now Kyoto City University of Arts).

2nd President　Jusuke Okajima

Conducted a specialised business in dyeing and processing kimono linings.

3rd President　Jusuke Okajima II

Expanded the business as a specialist of pure silk dyeing and weaving. Received the first Kyoto Sangyokorosha (person of industrial merits) award in 1983.

4th President　Shigeo Okajima

Current president. Expanded the business by adopting the hand-painted Yuzen technique.

Pondering ways to make use of the unique, brush-painted Yuzen dyeing technique, the current president Shigeo Okajima started to produce silk fashion accessories in 1990 and launched new brands. He works actively on not only opening exhibitions like "Consealed Dyeing -Beauty of Haura-" but also on preserving traditional Asian cultural industries and promoting art design exchanges between the East and West.

About Yuzen

Yuzen, characterised by its elegant patterns that are hand painted and dyed, is a unique dyeing technique Kyoto is proud of. It is said that Yuzen was invented in late 17th century and brought to fruition by a fan painter Yuzensai Miyazaki, who was living in Gion, Kyoto.
Utilising gorgeous colouring, this innovative dyeing is said to have become so popular that it put many other kinds of dyeing in the shade. Yuzen dyeing is distinctive in that technologically any patterns and designs can be done as one fancies, and it doesn't damage the soft texture of the silk in the process of dyeing. The Technique called bokashi (colour gradation) is also peculiar to this dyeing method, and it expresses a sense of Japanese Beauty that embodies depth and movement that beholders are drawn into.
It's not too much to say that Kyo Yuzen is the most beautiful form of dyeing in the world. It lives with us, appreciated for its gorgeousness and richness as well as delicateness and profoundness.

Company Profile

In 1855, after completing his study in dyeing processing, the company founder Usaburo Okajima taught at Kyoto City School of Arts (now Kyoto City University of Arts) and mastered the essence of the Japanese arts. His eldest son, Jusuke Okajima, the second president of the company, conducted a specialised business in dyeing and processing kimono linings. His superior skill was highly respected, and his reputation became widely known in the Yuzen industry of those day in Kyoto. Due to wars, the business was suspended, but it was expanded after the wars as a national factory of technical preservation. The third president received the first Kyoto Sangyokorosha (Person of Industrial Merits) award.
His eldest son, Shigeo Okajima, the current president, grasps the significance of Yuzen dyeing with an exceptional point of view. Not only does he propose kimono fashions to further develop the business as a long-established, high-class kimono-making company, but he also engages in a variety of production activities such as fashion accessories.

The OKAJIMA company strives to maintain the highest quality of their products by undertaking different methods and techniques. Some designs, for instance, are co-created by the company's exclusive design development staff and the laboratory (studio) colour development staff. The whole production process is done by hand by our artisans in Kyoto, Tokyo, Indonesia and Milan.
In addition the president Shigeo Okajima considers it important to preserve traditional Asian handicrafts as well as to promote and develop the interchange of Western and Eastern arts and designs. In Kyoto he refurbished his company office, housed in a traditional Japanese style building, and put up a cultural gallery called "Roji", which people can use for a variety of events and exhibitions. In Indonesia he supports Batik preservation.
Using the technique of Yuzen, he aspires to further develop the traditional dyeing industry and also to create fashionable items that are appreciated by modern people.

Chronology

1990

Started producing fashion accessories such as silk handbags and scarves.

1993

Completed the new brand "OKAJIMA" after two years of research and development.
Presented a party bag collection in New York and Kyoto.

1996

Presented a series of haura (kimono coat linings) materials the company produced from the late 1800s through the early 1900s at a cultural event "Consealed Dye -Beauty of Haura-" in the Ginza Mikimoto Hall.
Introduced reproductions of haura as well as daily bags under the new brand "MAJIKAO".

1998

Completed the new brand "Karayo Zanmai" featuring chintz patterns and presented it in Tokyo and Kyoto.

1999

Simultaneously presented the "OKAJIMA Casual Line" collection and a formal bag collection "ESSEPI" co-produced by OKAJIMA and the Italian hand bag maker Leu Locati.

2000

Presented "COMON", a series of fashionable items made from Japanese-style materials like bamboo.

2002

Presented the new brand "IMAN", featuring a fusion of Kyo Yuzen and Indonesian Batik.

2004

Presented the new brand "fuki", a collection of modern household goods made from textiles whose patterns were inspired by komon (fine pattern).

2005

Presented the new brand "collezioni", featuring collaborative work between Leu Locati and OKAJIMA companies.

2006

June
Published the book "Japanese Stylishness and Dandyism -HAURA- OKAJIMA Collection" through Hachette Fujingaho (now Hearst Fujingaho).

November
Held a solo exhibition in Seoul, South Korea.

2007

January
Exhibited at Maison & Objet Paris. Received orderds from Liberty in London and Lane Crawford in Hong Kong.

May
Opened the shop "Kiteya" in SoHo, New York.

2008

January
Exhibited at Maison & Objet held at the Paris Nord Villepinte.

2009

January
Exhibited at Maison & Objet held at the Paris Nord Villepinte.

Participated in the JAPAN Brand Exhibition held at Mitsukoshi Paris.

2010

Participated in the JAPAN Brand Exhibition held at Mitsukoshi Paris.

July
Presented a bag collection co-produced by DOGNIN and OKAJIMA companies at the "LUXURIA" in Monaco.

2011

November
Participated in the "Fu Fu Fu Furoshiki" at ISETAN Shinjuku. Furoshiki (wrapping cloth) with designs inspired by ITO Jakuchu and KATSUSHIKA Hokusai were exhibited.

2012

July
Opened a new shop/show room at Karasuma Takoyakushi, Kyoto.

August
Published the book "OKAJIMA Collection 'Kyoto Textile' - The Potential of Yuzen -" through Hearst Fujingaho.

2013

January
Exhibited in the "Fu Fu Fu Furoshiki" at ISETAN Shinjuku, where a collection of Ise katagami (stencil) owned by ISETAN as well as a variety of furoshiki produced by Japanese designers and creators were presented.