Aizu Momen (Cotton Cloth)

The tradition of making Aizu momen dates back many hundreds of years to when it was hand-woven by women at home as a hard-wearing thick cotton cloth used for making casual and working clothes. Aizu momen cloth is easily recognizable by its traditional thick striped patterns of browns and indigos. (Incidentally, the process of producing indigo colored cotton thread involves a lot of repetitive and arduous work).

In the days when most Aizu folk wore clothes made of Aizu momen it was a common sight to see dyed cotton yarn fluttering in the wind in the yards of the many momen factories.

Nowadays Aizu momen is used to produce popular local souvenirs like draw string handbags, purses, wallets, ties, umbrellas and curtains etc.

Aizu momen was first produced during the Edo period (1603-1867) when the local feudal lord and leader of the Aizu clan, Masayuki Hoshina encouraged his people to grow cotton and produce Aizu momen. During the following Meiji period (1868-1912) the number of cotton yarn spinning mills reached its peak.

For more details please contact;

Aizu-Wakamatsu Bussan Kyokai
(Aizu-Wakamatsu Manufacturers Association)
TEL: 0242-29-3692
FAX: 0242-29-3692