In 1868, Japan put an end to 250 years of closed diplomatic borders and sent emissaries to the West. This is how the weavers of Nishijin, a district of Kyoto specialised in the production of Obi and Kimono, discovered the Jacquard loom invented in 1801 in Lyon.
This loom used perforated cards to select the warp threads to be lifted in order to slide the shuttle and create the pattern. This innovation contributed to the development of the silk industry in the Meiji period.
Jacquard looms are still used to weave traditional belts in Nishijin, with incredibly complex and varied patterns.
By creating unique pouches from Kyoto obis in Reims, Kyomaï celebrates this tradition of exchange between France and Japan.
Explore our selection of clutches >
