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Japanese Tex-style has been established since 1999. We specialize in importing vintage and antique Japanese textiles and clothing. Our stock includes JAPANESE VINTAGE AND ANTIQUE KIMONO, OBI, HAORI, JAPANESE FOLK TEXTILES such as INDIGO, SHIBORI and SASHIKO together with a selection of Japanese crafts, including Dolls, Pottery, Scrolls and Carvings.

We appeal to Clients who wish to buy to wear, collect or use in interior design.

We have agents in Japan, working exclusively with us, specially selecting our stock items. I visit Japan periodically in order to keep updated on sourcing, exhibitions and availability of antique textiles.

Items are presented for sale in the best possible condition, but due to the age of some of them, there may be small marks or imperfections, which would be drawn to your attention.

We trust that you will enjoy your visit. Our stock is regularly updated, so please look out for new items. Please make use of our wishlist facility to purchase items and to request more information regarding any in particular.

News Update: JAPAN VISIT, FEBRUARY 5th - MARCH 1st 2010

I am returning to Japan for a short visit from 5th February until 1st March, this will include a trip to Hokkaido to the Yuki Matsuri (Snow Festival). We will be buying on the trip and also viewing any textile exhibitions on at the museums and galleries during those dates. I will of course share my adventures with you on my return. The website will remain open for orders and enquiries during this period although, my son will be relaying emails to me in Japan so replies may take a little longer than our usual fast service. He will then dispatch the order from the UK.

On my return, Japanese Tex-style has a stand at the Manchester Textile Fair 7th March 2010 (see under Out and About for more details) but for our usual customers our stand is not in the usual place we are situated in one of the middle aisles 6th row from entrance. We hope to see you there!

PASSIONATE POTTERY

Pottery and ceramics have been around for centuries, this traditional skill is just as popular today. I was lucky enough to visit a pottery studio in the beautiful countryside of Sanda. It was an important time of the year for Tanaka-san, it was time to keep the fire burning all night long, literally! It was a Noborigama, which is a chambered climbing kiln built on a slope, each step up the hill had a chamber with it's own stoking port. Climbing kilns have been used in Japan since the 17th century. A continuous supply is needed for the firing, as wood thrown into the smouldering kiln burns rapidly. I was introduced to the men, wearing few clothes because of the tremendous heat, I felt half baked myself! They had beer and food to keep them going for three days. There was a shift system and a hierachy, as this is such an important procedure, a year's worth of pottery and work would be lost if one mistake was made or the temperature suddenly dropped. Burning wood produces a heat of up to 2500 F (1400 C). The placement of pieces within the kiln can distinctly affect the pottery's appearance. I was talking to Tanaka-san, who has himself been to England and I mentioned the potter Bernard Leach, Tanaka-san said that he had attended the same school as the famous English potter. I wanted to know more...........

Bernard Howell Leach (1887-1979) is regarded as the " Father of British Studio pottery" with quite a colourful portfolio of pottery, in many styles. Leach was born in Hong Kong but his grandparents were missionaries in Japan. He studied etching at the London School of Art, before settling in Japan, where he became fascinated with pottery and studied under the great master KENZAN. He befriended a young potter named Shoji Hamada, together they set-up the Leach Pottery, in St Ives, Cornwall (1920). This included the construction of a traditional Japanese wood burning kiln. The Leach pottery remains open today, accompanied by a museum. Hamada's pottery is exhibited in museums throughout Japan, including Osaka and Kyoto. The two promoted pottery as a cocktail of Western and Eastern arts and philosophy. They considered pottery as a combination of art, philosophy, design and craft-even as a greater lifestyle! I have to agree, the community spirit and passion for keeping this traditional skill alive, when we live in such a modern world, with faster and easier alternatives, it was extremely heartwarming to be involved. To drink hot green tea (matcha) from a tea bowl (chawan), handmade by a passionate potter, fired by maybe ten half naked men, patiently cooled and decorated with care, is much more appealing, to me, than a mass produced mug!

LOUISE KATE YOUNG, JAPAN 2010

UPDATE 04.02.10

PHOTO INSET- ITEM T376 RAKU CHAWAN.

JAPANESE TEX-STYLE OUT AND ABOUT!

ANTIQUE TEXTILE FAIR, Starts: 07/03/2010
Venue: ARMATAGE CENTRE, MOSELEY ROAD, FALLOWFIELD, MANCHESTER
Notes: Sunday 7th March 10am-5pm Trade 8.30am

CUSTOMER INFORMATION

Please check availability of an item before ordering, either using the WISHLIST or MESSAGE facility. Alternatively email or telephone us (see CONTACT US) with your query.

UK CUSTOMERS

Postage and Packing for UK customers is included in the price, except for extremely heavy items and on these it will be pointed out in the description that postage is extra. Orders over £50.00 we use Royal Mail Special Delivery, under £50.00 1st Class Recorded. Payment for UK customers is by cheque or through Paypal, at www.paypal.com using the Send Money option or if preferred an invoice can be sent via email.

INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS

Please check availability of an item and also shipping costs before ordering using our WISHLIST or MESSAGE facility. For overseas shipping we use Royal Mail Airsure, International Signed For and Parcelforce Worldwide services depending on country, weight and size. We have no control over customs payments or delays due to customs clearance. This should not apply to country members of the EU.

All International customers pay through Paypal, at www.paypal.com. Please pay in British Pounds, currency converter is only a guide.

RETURNS POLICY

We take great care to photograph and give descriptions with the upmost accuracy, however we have no control on how colours appear on different monitors. As the textiles and garments etc. are vintage (secondhand) and antique, we have a non-returnable policy but are very happy to provide further information or photographs before purchase.

We are always happy to talk to customers and strive to maintain a very high standard of customer service. Feedback is very much appreciated.