The Silk Pattern Notebook / No4

Product Description : Why is it so EXPENSIVE?

Product Story

General Product Information

A luxury notebook for chronicling your life, adorned with Kyoto's finest Kinran silk. The "Beauty of Utility" perfected by centuries of tradition elegantly safeguards your thoughts and precious memories within its 96 premium pages. In this digital age, carve your own unique story into this journal—feeling the warmth of silk beneath your fingertips with every stroke of the pen.

 Product History

When did these crafts start to craft?：1200 years ago / 800AD / Heian period in Japan

The origins of Nishijin textiles date back to the 5th and 6th centuries. It is said that foreigners settled in Kyoto and introduced silkworm and silk weaving techniques, giving birth to today's Nishijin textiles. Nishijin is a Japanese word meaning "west camp" and the name Nishijin-ori was given because the place where the artisans settled was just where west side military was located during the wars of that era.

Craftsman Story

Craftsman Profile

Konkan Studio
Established in the mid-18th century (Horeki era) in the historic Muromachi district of Kyoto, KONKAN SHOTEN has been a premier manufacturer and wholesaler of "Kinran"—exquisite gold-brocaded silk textiles—for over 270 years. 
Our heritage is built upon a vast collection of over 30,000 archival designs and an unwavering commitment to the finest "Shoken" (pure silk). While we continue to provide essential textiles for traditional Noh costumes and ceremonial robes, we also embrace modern innovation. Our work extends to artistic collaborations for films, TV commercials, and bespoke costume design, pushing the boundaries of traditional weaving. 
Operating from an authentic Kyo-machiya (traditional townhouse), we harmonize ancestral craftsmanship with contemporary sensibilities. Through the elegant brilliance of every thread, KONKAN SHOTEN remains dedicated to weaving the timeless aesthetic of Japan into the fabric of the future.

Craftsman Passion

The Thread of Passion: An Unwavering Soul of Craftsmanship

For over 270 years since the Edo period, Konkan Shoten has preserved more than just fabric. What we carry forward is the very spirit and stubborn dedication of the artisans who breathe life into every single strand of silk. 
To discern the subtle condition of a thread by touch alone and to weave intricate patterns with absolute precision—this process demands an immense span of time and a silent, relentless battle against compromise. Behind the resplendent world of "Kinran" lies the grit of manual labor and the insatiable curiosity of predecessors who accumulated over 30,000 archival designs. 
Even in a modern era driven by efficiency, we deliberately choose the painstaking path. In the silhouette of an artisan facing the loom, one sees both the pride of guarding tradition and the spark of ambition to create a beauty yet unseen. It is this raw intensity that gives depth to the silk’s luster, crafting "authenticity" that resonates deep within the soul of the beholder.

 

Your Contribution to Craftsman

Customer Voice

Due to the market structure (link for full articles are attached bottom), craftsman have not known who the customer is and how customer reacts to their work. We made a “Message to Craftsman” box at purchase page. We will deliver all message to every craftsman. Our review will be also shared to craftsman so please leave your comment and evaluation on review section!

Income for Craftsman: Craftsman get only less than 10% of selling price?

As written above, craftsman have not controlled last phase of sales channel that resulting in selling price is set by third-party without craftsman’s recognition. There are some cases that only less than 10% of selling price is given to craftsman. We promise with our customer / craftsman that we offer the fair trade with craftsmen in our contract!

We made an article about above problem and our challenge. Please have a read from below link.
Current state of the Crafts Market / Benefits brought by Suigenkyo

Measurement

Length：21.5cm
Width：15.3cm
Thickness：2cm
Number of pages：96pages
Weight：380g

Material & Caution

Materials

Silk thread
Gold thread
Paper

Caution

Individual Difference

Each piece is handmade, so there are individual differences even in the same series. We hope that you will understand the change by handmade.

Delivery Date

Please note that it will take about three months for delivery if we do not have the item in stock.