REPORT
The brim of this scalloped hat is hand-sewn with the braid interlaced edge to edge, not overlapped
K. Dorfzaun Montecristi weaver
K. Dorfzaun works to keep the skills alive by offering weaving training for locals who are interested in learning. This isn’t a weekend workshop for tourists, but training that takes months.
Similar to the vast variation in woven patterns of the hat bodies created by the freelance weavers and sold by the K. Dorfzaun company, there are many plaiting patterns used with strip straw, as can be seen in the hats by Ishidaseibou.
About 20 years ago, the company worked with renowned Japanese hat designer Mr Akio Hirata. Ishidaseibou sewed hat bodies for him using fine 2-3 mm straw plait, which was the finest plait that existed and is now extremely rare. Ishidaseibou still makes these very fine hats. One of their iconic styles is the Casablanca, favoured by Katsushi. Ms Mayuko Aizawa is the straw
Ishidaseibou japan
www.ishidaseibou.com
The Ishidaseibou company has been around for 125 years and is family-owned. Mr Katsushi Ishida became CEO in 2017 and is fourth generation of the family. He can make hats, but he is very busy now managing the business. His siblings, Takako, Hiroyuki and Masashi, are also involved
in the business, which is located in Kasaoka city in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. Ishidaseibou is known for its
very narrow plait that is finely sewn into hats of various designs.
expert at Ishidaseibou. Several years ago she undertook the project of learning to make the straw plait by hand in the region that was formerly recognised for its plait starting back in 1874. In Japanese, sanada means braid or plait using wheat or barley straw. Mayuko created a beautiful booklet explaining the sanada history of the region, which highlighted learning to make the plait, the tools involved and stories from the elders, and she used the plait to make her favourite style of hat, a boater.
Mr Katsushi (right) with his sister Takako and brothers Hiroyuki and Masashi
Work in progress: boater hat by Mayuko
Ishidaseibou’s straw expert Mayuko Aizawa
58 | the hat magazine #93
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