Life, a tapestry woven from each "now"

Saori weaving, often undertaken in welfare settings, and the weaving of a manufacturer that handles tweed fabrics for renowned brands.

These two different expressions met, and a new fabric with the potential for new possibilities was born.

Heralbony has, until now, delivered art created by artists with disabilities to society by digitizing paintings and developing them into products.

This time, through an encounter with Runbinii Art Museum in Hanamaki, Iwate Prefecture, and Nippon Homespun, a manufacturing company also operating in Hanamaki, a new challenge begins to bring the expression of "weaving" to even more people.

Products

Tweed vest

¥79,200 (tax included)

Tweed vest

¥79,200 (tax included)

Tweed clutch bag

¥30,800 (tax included)

Tweed clutch bag

¥30,800 (tax included)
ものづくりコンセプト

Artist
Yoshiko (Lumbini-en)
Yoshiko

When she is creating, she hardly speaks.
Facing the loom, without rushing to finish, she continues to move her hands as she pleases.
She chooses the threads, sets them up, and moves them while stepping on the pedals.
Through the accumulation of this time, the fabric gradually takes on an expression.
It is precisely because Saori weaving offers a high degree of freedom that her creative process can be understood as one that is not bound by judgment but entrusted to her senses.
As her hands move silently, the threads form layers and overlap.
From this sequence, her daily life emerges.

Embracing Being on the Loom: The Philosophy of Saori Weaving

This project is an attempt where Nihon Homespun elevates the hand-woven textiles of artist Yoshiko-san into fabric, and Heralbony delivers them as products.

The core of the production was "Saori weaving," a philosophy that directly translates the sensibilities of each weaver into fabric.

"It's like accepting fluctuations, coincidences, and even non-uniformity as inevitable. I felt that as a foundation supporting the individual's way of being, it could convey a more unwavering impression than the word 'individuality'," says Ms. Itagaki, Art Director of Rung Pung Nee Art Museum.

"The simplicity of the loom as a task, and the idea that whatever is created is all correct. There's absolutely nothing that is considered a failure if it doesn't turn out a certain way. It's a philosophical perspective that there is nothing that deviates from the path. I think the combination of these two aspects matches what welfare seeks—that is, it's a suitable expression for people with diverse conditions and characteristics to create something."

Being free from evaluation, promises, and back-calculation.
It is also an act of simply layering the present moment as it is.

Tweed woven with ultimate freedom

It all began when Mr. Kikuchi of Japan Homespun encountered Saori weaving.

"I felt an overwhelming sense of freedom. It was all about expressing one's own world, cherishing the inspiration of the moment. I felt that every moment was approached with full effort. For us, who had prioritized efficiency and convenience, it was a huge shock."

Free use of color and a light structure.
It was as if life itself was woven into the fabric.

Mr. Itagaki continued:

"There was no reverse engineering whatsoever. It was something achieved simply by accumulating 'nows.' Nature makes no promises. When I saw the finished product, I felt a miraculous感動."

Making things, starting from people who have been considered outside the norm. There was a way of being there that was close to nature.

The process of achieving something is valuable in itself.

With no clear end in sight, the artist and craftsmen went back and forth between sites, engaging in repeated discussions. Numerous hints born from the dialogue between professionals gradually began to take shape.

"From a manufacturing perspective, it's easier and more accurate to use fewer materials and repeat the same thing. However, the approach of creating textiles this time, without any such considerations, was a learning experience for us, and we felt that's how it should be. Working on this piece made me think about what I truly want to create now," said Kikuchi.

Itagaki also commented:

"I believe that ultimately, not just the product, but everything, including the events that occurred during its creation, is a crucial process. It's the same with Heralbony's past products: what kind of communication they had with the artists and workshops, where they got stuck, struggled, and how they overcame those challenges. I think the entire process, including the time it takes for products with new stories to emerge, connected through artists with disabilities as the starting point, is incredibly valuable."

Each time the warp is set and the weft is passed through, the "present" layers itself. Perhaps fabric is an accumulation of time.

Resonance opened a new door

In a weaving process with no single correct answer, the artist’s “now” is poured into the weft, creating one-of-a-kind fabrics that accumulate like a diary. By showing the utmost respect and effort toward these fabrics, a tweed with unprecedented depth was completed.

Kikuchi says:

“I believe that making everyone involved happy is what my company should do, our mission. Through weaving, we were able to set a common goal of bringing happiness to various people.”

Itagaki continues:

“Once again, it became clear that this was born because our philosophy of wishing for happiness and our goals fundamentally align. I felt that encounters between different industries that can resonate with each other have the potential to create new reverberations. There's truly a possibility that something completely unpredictable could still emerge. I’m looking forward to it.”

Welfare and craftsmanship.
A trajectory of creation born from the intersection of these two expressions.

Please experience its texture and lingering impression with your own senses.

ものづくりコンセプト

Hisanori Kikuchi

President and CEO of Nippon Homespun Co., Ltd. in Hanamaki, Iwate Prefecture.
While preserving traditional hand-spinning and hand-weaving techniques, he is dedicated to integrating them with modern designs.
The quality and innovation of his work have attracted attention from global fashion brands.

ものづくりコンセプト

Takashi Itagaki

Born in Hanamaki City in 1971.
Art Director at Runbinii Art Museum, Koryu-kai Social Welfare Corporation.
He has played a central role since the museum's opening.
He has a deep connection with Heralbony, and has collaborated on various projects with the Matsuda brothers, the company's representatives.

Commemorative Talk Event on Co-creation

Japan Homespun × Heralbony

~A fabric woven by lives piling up "now"~

We will be holding an event to commemorate this collaboration. Please note that advance registration is required, so please apply using the form below.

HERALBONY ISAI PARK
1-10-1 Saien, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, 020-8655

Saturday, March 21, 2026

Program for the day

11:00-12:00
Children's Dance & Sansa Odori Performance

13:30-14:15
Nippon Homespun x Heralbony
Collaboration Commemorative Talk Event
~Fabric where life layers "now"~
Speakers: Takashi Itagaki x Hisanori Kikuchi x Fumito Matsuda (Moderator)

14:45-15:15
Artist in Residence Event: Saori Weaving Public Production
Artist: Yoshiko
Apply here

Creative Direction: MIU (HERALBONY)
Text: Mio Goto
Photography: Takumi Kimura (HERALBONY)
Videography: Yui Sugawara