Ryukobo

Kumi-himo bracelet

Since its establishment in 1889, RyuKobo has been the only workshop in Tokyo that handles the entire process of making yarns suitable for kumi-himo (braided cords), dyeing, designing, and assembling.

Under the direction of Takashi Fukuda, a modern master craftsman, RyuKobo also proposes products that have evolved beyond the framework of kimono, such as chairs, umbrellas, and stationery, in the hope that more people will become familiar with the technique of kumi-himo used for obi-stringing Japanese kimonos.

We have evolved kumi-himo from the techniques and know-how passed down from our predecessors, and for the Rugby World Cup held in Japan in 2019, we produced medal ribbons and participation commemorative mats in pure domestic silk kumihimo, which is durable and stretchable.

Kumi-himo bracelet

Ryukobo is aggressively developing new products by evolving braid designs with traditional techniques and know-how. The modern, up-dated braids are collector’s items that can be worn with Western-style clothing as well as traditional Japanese costume.

A fashion-oriented approach, sublimating designs to every-day personal wear such as bracelets, is being taken. Braids offer truly limitless possibilities for freely arranging colors and shapes. Braiding technology, having being inherited from predecessors in many strands, is set to evolve into new shapes.