With their soft, subtle color scheme, Hosokawa Woollen Textile’s cashmere shawls are attracting attention. The unique coloring is created through a craft method called Bengala dyeing. Bengala dyeing is a natural dye method that uses iron oxide. The dye is created with a small amount of room-temperature water, and the color is not affected by sunlight. In the Habikino area, a region with a deep connection to the earth, the material has been used for painting homes and religious items for over 300 years. The shawl dyeing is performed by Habikino-based Bengala manufacturer Kosyokunobi. All of the dyeing work is done by hand. “The colors are created by crushing oxidized steel and arranging the pieces. All 23 colors are pleasant on the eyes, with an ancient Japanese sensibility.”

Company CEO Hiroshi Hosokawa is one fan of this Bengala dyeing method. In developing products, he is aiming to create items that can be used in everyday life, not just folk pieces. “The dye expresses patterns that resemble the sun setting along mountain ridges. The gradation works with both western and Japanese clothing, so it’s easily adaptable. Our color schemes are named in English to accommodate our overseas customers, who are showing an appreciation for Japanese aesthetics.” Weighing 50 grams, the shawls are flexible like a feather, and are thinly woven from the delicate, almost transparent cashmere thread, which uses goat’s wool. With excellent breathability and temperature retention, this is the ultimate product, and feels great throughout the seasons.