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Masataka Hosoo, innovator and brand director of HOSOO, a Kyoto-based traditional kimono textile maker, is bringing Nishijin-ori weaving techniques and textiles to the forefront of the design and fashion scenes worldwide. Popularized by the nobles of the Imperial Courts of Kyoto and the samurai class, Nishijin is a special yarn dyeing and weaving technique developed more than 1,200 years ago which is used for garments, such as kimonos.
HOSOO’s history can be traced back to the Kyoto silk industry of the sixth century, and today the company is widely acknowledged both for its exceptional skills within traditional Japanese three-dimensional weaving techniques and for applying richly textured Nishijin weaving to contemporary design. Introducing elements of modern technology and his innovative business acumen to this traditional craft has allowed Hosoo to establish ongoing relationships with artists including Teresita Fernández, Sputniko!, Peter Marino, and Lady Gaga, as well as international design firms, such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Dior.