HISTORY

With the current Representative Director Dai Watanabe as the lead, DOKOH SHOJI started to develop new materials in hopes of popularizing silk as an easy, everyday textile; and established an integrated system that can provide full-service manufacturing through production (OEM). At around the same time, we also began to launch collaborative initiatives and projects with younger brands, and continue to pursue these opportunities today. In addition to 100% silk products, we have developed and started to offer a wide range of new products by combining various technologies and fibers. In manufacturing our products, we conduct market research on materials, embroidery processing, parts and other relevant details that match each project concept based on the customer request. We assess potential problems that may arise due to design and/or material characteristics, and aim to produce each product with the sewing specifications and processes that are reasonable for the material while economizing the cost. We produce high-quality products using our expert knowledge on silk and other materials, sewing and processing, and advanced technology.

Just in time for the company's 19th anniversary in 2001, DOKOH SHOJI introduced the Dynamie Silk, a revolutionary core yarn that combines synthetic fiber and silk (raw silk) by a brand new technology. Developed over five years, Dynamie Silk is a silk thread created by coating the elastic core with pure silk. Until now, silk has been considered a delicate material that is difficult to care for. But Dynamie Silk's elasticity makes it possible to create a wide range of items from innerwear to outerwear while maintaining the gorgeous silky look and feel. It's an incredibly innovative yarn that can also be combined with other fibers to develop a variety of new materials, and meets today's growing demands for materials that are "eco-friendly," "wrinkle-free," "non-shrinking" and "easy to wash." It can be used for a wide range of clothes and fashion goods, including blouses, dresses, knitwear, and jerseys, as well as snug-fit underwear. Indeed, because of its peerless uniqueness, Dynamie Silk has the potential to become a major presence that can sustain silk businesses and industry at large.

DOKOH SHOJI has always specialized in silk, and we are committed to developing yarns, materials, and products that introduce new types of silk appropriate for everyday clothing and that leverage silk's excellent qualities while eliminating the disadvantages. From the development of exclusive textiles to servicing OEM needs from fashion apparel companies, we have generated peerless recognition for our full silk product offerings made possible by having our own garment processing factories in China while strengthening collaborative ties with Japan. With this extensive experience, we began developing an in-house brand as an additional business opportunity. What was born as a result is our first apparel brand LOOK SEA, which debuted in 2016 with a full line-up of casual basics and loungewear.
LOOK SEA's target audience is the grown-up who knows the real value of things. With LOOK SEA, we hope to continue developing original products and branding strategies that appeal to adults with discriminating tastes, and to communicate the joy of "everyday silk." We use exclusive silk materials developed by our company to create comfortable basic wear that takes advantage of silk's excellent characteristics that are kind to the body.

Before World War II, Japan's silk industry was booming thanks to raw silk exports to the West and the domestic demand for kimono. Indeed, raw silk was a major export product that contributed significantly to the modernization of the country since the Meiji era.

Post-War Period I (1950 to 1959)

The post-war Japanese silk industry resumed business by exporting silk fabrics to the West, and the textile stocks reserved for military use were transferred from the government agencies to private trades. However, the U.S., who was previously the primary importer, had invented nylon during the war, and the American demand for raw silk had become virtually non-existent. Most wide-weavers thus focused their exports to Europe and catered to the domestic demand for formal kimonos, while selling off the surplus of Western-style clothing produced for the European export.

Post-War Period II (1960 to 1974)

With several historical events, including the marriage of the Crown Prince (now the Emperor), the doubling of income, and the Tokyo Olympics taking place, the Japanese economy saw a major economic boom. Domestic demands expanded, and the demand for kimonos continued to grow until the restoration of Japan-China diplomatic relations and the oil crisis during the latter half of this period.

Post-War Period III (1975 to Present)

A new system to streamline the raw silk imports was put into effect in order for the Japanese government to curb business imports. As a result, the silk textile industry was forced to buy raw silk at prices that were much higher than the international standard. This inevitably drove up the overall prices for silk products, pushing average consumers further away from silk and contributing to the declining demands for kimono. During the first half of the 1970s, the industry aggressively attempted to switch over the target from Japanese to Western-style clothing. However, the lack of product planning skills failed to convince apparel businesses, and, in terms of silk clothing textile, imported materials from Italy and other European countries dominated. The quality of secondary products from China began to improve, as the country's dyeing, printing and sewing techniques advanced as we entered the 21st century. And the cheap pricing of Chinese products were no longer equated to the lack of quality. In 2005 the quota system for silk fabric import was eliminated, and it became possible for anyone to import the material. But due to Japan's continued recession, the import volume decreased even after the quota elimination, to approximately 40% of what it was before. The general climate in Japan is pessimistic when it comes to the survival of the silk-related industries. However, we firmly believe that it's still possible to pass on the torch of this traditional industry and to revive and grow the demands that focus on silk's unique qualities.