Since 1915, an imperial dye house rooted in Mibu, Kyoto has dedicated their entire practice to working with only one colour: black. Honed over a century, their process evolved through competition to produce the deepest shade of black for dyeing traditional kimonos and Japanese formal wear.

Four generations carried on this tradition, and in 1996 they developed their kurozome kakumei technique, utilizing an ecologically sound dye compound to create a depth of blackness that remains colourfast in the sun and rain, while reducing the reflection of light. This natural oxide finish uses various kinds of bottoming, including madder, indigo, tea leaves and bark, in order to achieve richer, nuanced tones of black.

Our Kyoto Black collection is a partnership built on the values of process, technique, and expertise. Comprising signature Midweight Terry styles, each garment undergoes multiple rounds of dyeing to reach its final stage of black. Instead of coating the fabric's surface, this laborious process envelopes each fiber individually.

The result brings together a mastery of craftsmanship and preservation of time-honored traditions, imbuing a renewed sense of texture to the garments.