Basara meets Kiryu craftsmanship in global spotlight of fashion

KANSAI SUPER STUDIO, founded in 1973 by designer and producer Kansai Yamamoto, will launch its brand “KANSAIMAN” in Paris on Wednesday. The brand is a collaboration with artisans from Kiryu, Japan, a town renowned for its textile craftsmanship.

KANSAIMAN draws inspiration from “basara,” a philosophy celebrating rebellious beauty and innovation, in contrast to the traditional Japanese aesthetic of “wabi-sabi,” boasting creativity and bold experimentation.

The collection focuses on jackets that fuse Japanese craftsmanship with artistic expression. Most materials and techniques, excluding specific fabrics like cut-and-sewn and velvet, are sourced from Kiryu’s artisans. For over a thousand years, Kiryu has been a hub of silk weaving, and today it remains a centre for weaving, dyeing, embroidery, and garment processing, all concentrated within a small area.

Kiryu’s rich history and skilled craftsmanship have been essential to the brand’s success. Despite challenges faced by many traditional textile industries, the town’s artisans continue to earn international recognition for preserving Japanese heritage and artisanal excellence. KANSAI SUPER STUDIO aims to continue this legacy.

The brand’s vision is to create pieces that embody Japanese cultural heritage. Its collaborations with Kiryu’s craftspeople, such as master embroidery artist Kiyomi Osawa, ensure the preservation and evolution of traditional techniques.