Visiting Kyoto by the Sea means getting to experience Tango chirimen, textured silk of the highest quality with a 300-year production history. Artisans in the area thank the region’s geography for the ability to create the finest quality silk. Because of the mountains abutting the sea and the stability of the climate, the region has year-round levels of humidity perfect for silk weaving and spinning. But the area is not just a tour through history. It's streets are a mix of preserved heritage buildings that will transport you back over a hundred years and an active, vibrant weaving culture. It is the perfect time to visit Kyoto by the Sea, as the area is now in the middle of a "silk renaissance." This elegant tradition has attracted young artisans from other regions of Japan as well as drawn in the younger generations of established silk weaving families in the area who want to infuse Japan’s traditional industry with innovative aesthetics. A visit to Tayu's bustling factory highlights just how thriving the industry is, while at the same time offering a tour of how this traditional has been passed through multiple generations. You may even spot a picture of the Emperor's visit and the souvenir he purchased at the company's gift shop. http://www.tayuh.jp/ Tamiya Raden Ltd., for example, weaves mother of pearl shell into the chirimen silk fabric, creating a material that has garnered the attention international designers. http://tamiyaraden.com/ Kusuka Brand hand-weaves an assortment of ties, stoles, and shoes that have caught the eye of top fashion brands in Tokyo. https://www.kuska.jp/ Creation Studio Itoasobi is an innovative company that interweaves a variety of materials into their silk, creating visually and textually impressive fabrics. https://www.itoasobi.jp Fujifu is a company that infuses natural elements into their weaving, creating earthy yet elegant fabrics out of wisteria. https://www.fujifu.jp/ There are many brands in the area with stories like these: silk weavers in the area were recently featured during Paris’ Fashion Week, they have attended global conferences to showcase the silk textiles of the region. It is more than just silk, the area has a distinct identity and the artisans working to create the next movement of silk in the Kyoto by the Sea are breathing the life of the region into their products. The two are inseparable and the connection between the land, sea, and the creations that result are best experienced all together. Own a piece of Japanese history, meet the artisan who created it, and visit the land that birthed it. Check out TANGO OPEN, a collective that is dedicated to preserving and innovating the Kyoto by the Sea area: (English) https://tangoopen.jp/en/ http://www.uminokyoto.jp/english/sea/detail.php?article_id=2