Harappa Aizu Cotton Apron (K02)

Traditional craft cotton from Harappa Aizu Japan Apron

Aizu Momen, or Aizu Cotton, has been woven in Fukushima for about 400 years. It was born as tough, no-nonsense workwear built for a spectrum of climates. The fabric's signature is in the warp; It's starched in wheat starch before weaving, which packs tiny air pockets into the cloth. That means cool and breezy in summer, instantly warm in winter, and it gets softer with every wash. Harappa nurtured this craft back from the brink, reviving a shuttered 120-year-old weaving factory. They intend to carry this 400+ year old tradition into its next 100 years, now handling every step, from dyeing to weaving the stripes, of this iconic fabric.