OK AJ IMA CO., LTD .
SILK HANDBAGS AND ACCESSORIES FROM KYOTO SINCE 1855

Traditional Beauty and Modern Style. More than Fashion. Art.

Company History
Company Profile
Company Name

OKAJIMA CO. LTD.

President

Shigeo Okajima (the 4th President)

Foundation

1855 (the Ansei Era Year 2)

Corporation
Establishment

September, 1985 (the Showa Era Year 60)

C a p i t a l

10,000,000 yen

Work Force

10

OK
A JU C O.,LTD
HEAD OFFICE
Location
KIYAMACHIDORI,OIKE-AGARU,NAKAGYO-KU,
KYOTO, JAPAN.ZIP 604-0923
TELEPHONE+8175 221-3501
TELEFACSIMILE+8175 221-5154

1855

1983

The 3rd President Jusuke Okajima II developed the company as a dyeing industry specializing in pure silk.
He served as the chairman of the Kyoto Yuzen Cooperative Association.
He received the ﬁrst Kyoto Industry Service Award.

1990

The 4th President Shigeo Okajima developed hand-painted Yuzen dyeing on pure silk mainly for kimono fabrics.
OKAJIMA started making accessories such as silk handbags and scarves.

1993

A new product line featuring the same name as the company OKAJIMA itself was launched and was presented
in NY and Japan.

1996

An exhibition <Beauty of Haura> was held at Ginza Mikimoto Hall.
A new brand <MAJIKAO> was launched.

1998

A new brand <KARAYOUZANMAI> was launched.

1999

A new brand <ESSEPI, > a collaboration work with the Italian company Leu Locati, was launched.
Another new brand <OKAJIMA CASUAL LINE> was also launched.

2002

A new brand <OKAJIMA IMAN, > products made in combination of Indonesian batik and Kyo Yuzen,was launched.
OKAJIMA IMAN art fabrics and KARAYOUZANMAI lacquered-frame loupes and fude pens were recognizedas Superior Products by the Kyoto Design Association.

2003

OKAJIMA IMAN shawls were recognized as Superior Products by the Kyoto Design Association.

2004

IMAN fude pens and shawls and OKAJIMA Sakiori handbag series were recognized as Superior Products bythe Kyoto Design Association.

2005

MAJIKAO reversible shawl, MAJIKAO bandanna set, and IMAN shawl were recognized as Made In Kyoto
2005 Superior Products by the Kyoto Design Association.
The <collezioni> series, a collaboration work with Italian company Leu Locati, was produced.

2006

Published the book "Japanese Stylishness and Dandyism -HAURA- OKAJIMA Collection" throughHachette Fujingaho (now Hearst Fujingaho) in June

2007

Some products were exhibited at the MAISON & OBJET held in Paris in January.
The company received orders from the Liberty Department Store (London) and Lane Crawford (Hong Kong).
The <KITEYA>shop was opened in SoHo, New York, in May.

2008

Exhibited at Maison & Objet held at the Paris Nord Villepinte in January.

2009

Exhibited at Maison & Objet held at the Paris Nord Villepinte in January.
Participated in the JAPAN Brand Exhibition held at Mitsukoshi Paris in January.

BRANCH＆SHOW ROOM
3-C TOKIWABIRU
647 TEARAIMIZU CHO,TAKOYAKUSHI-SAGARU,KARASUMA-DORI,NAKAGYO-KU,KYOTO.ZIP 604-8152TELEPHONE +8175 221-3502
TELEFACSIMILE +8175 221-3893
E-MAIL post@okaju.com
HP http://www.okaju.com/
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/okaju.kyoto
Holidays : Sat, Sun, Public holidays

Usaburo Okajima founded OKAJIMA and took up the post of president.
The 2nd President Jusuke Okajima mastered dyeing work for kimono linings and led Kyoto's Yuzen industry.
After World War II, OKAJIMA resumed its business under the national designation of a technique preserving
industry.He invented and implemented Yuzen-nagashi.

OKAJIMA Korea Collection was presented at the Galleria Department Store, Seoul, in November.

2010

Participated in the JAPAN Brand Exhibition held at Mitsukoshi Paris.

2012

Published the book "OKAJIMA Collection 'Kyoto Textile' - The Potential of Yuzen -"through Hearst Fujingaho in August

OKAJIMA-1

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OK AJIMA CO., LTD .
SILK HANDBAGS AND ACCESSORIES FROM KYOTO SINCE 1855

Traditional Beauty and Modern Style. More than Fashion. Art.

〜<Kyo Yuzen,> exceptional painting and dyeing handicraft that do Kyoto proud〜
Origin of Yuzen

Characteristics of Yuzen dyeing

It is said that a folding-fan painternamed Yuzensai Miyazaki, who livedin Gion, Kyoto, created designs forkimono that would lead to Yuzen inthe mid Edo Era (1688〜1703).

A wide range of expressions can be done
like a drawing. ＜Shading＞ technique,which produces a sense of depth andmovement, is used to its fullest.

OKAJIMA and Yuzen
Expansion of Yuzen

OKAJIMA engaged in Yuzen since the late Edo Era
when Yuzen started. The 2nd president, who wasnominated to be a Living National Treasure, invented
Mizumoto-nagashi. The 3rd president served as thechairman of the Kyoto Yuzen Cooperative Association.

Using multiple colors, the Yuzen dyeing has agorgeous yet delicate appearance. This dyeing
became the dominant fashion, overcoming mostother dyeing. It is said that Yuzen-dyed fabrics
were treasured for their use in clothing.

Succession and Expansion
Having engaged in public works for Kyoto
Prefecture for generations, OKAJIMA isrecognized as one of Kyoto's representative
companies in the dyeing industry.
The current (4th) President Shigeo Okajima
continues to innovate with Yuzen by making
products in Kyoto, Tokyo, Indonesia, andMilano.
OKAJIMA-24OKAJIMA CO.,LTD.
SILK HANDBAGS AND ACCESSORIES FROM KYOTO SINCE 1855

Traditional Beauty and Modern Style. More than Fashion. Art.

OKAJIMA Star Customers

OKAJIMA has been making geiko and maiko
kimono costumes for the <Miyako Odori, >one of Kyotoﾕs spring events, since the Meiji
Era year 5 (1872).

Above is the handbag that Empress
Michiko purchased in Kyoto.
Princesses Masako and Kiko, and Mrs.
Sayako Kuroda (ex-princess) also own
this type.

Eminent Japanese painters such as Kiyotaka Kaburagi, Seihou Takeuchi,
Sekka Kamisaka, and Ryuou Kishida designed for OKAJIMAﾕs products
when they were still young and obscure. Due to a good friendship withKamisaka, the company keeps some of his works.

●Fabrics for a formal dress commissioned for Mrs. Sayoko Kurodaﾕs European visit.
●Kimono worn by actresses such as Sae Isshiki and Rie Tomosaka at the award ceremony of the Japan Academy Prize.
A number of guests at the reception also have bags made by OKAJIMA.
●Kimono worn by singers such as Yoko Nagayama and Kaori Kouzai at the NHK end-of-year singing match.
●Kimono worn by top stars of the Takarazuka Revue Troupe at their graduation and retirement ceremonies.
●Shawls favored by actresses Sayuri Yoshinaga and Kimiko Ikegami.

※Shawls favored by actresses Sayuri Yoshinaga and Kimiko Ikegami.

OKAJIMA-35OK A J I MA C O.,LT D .
SILK HANDBAGS AND ACCESSORIES FROM KYOTO SINCE 1855

Traditional Beauty and Modern Style. More than Fashion. Art.

Brand
S UMMARYThe OKAJIMA collection is composed of two series; handbags and accessories, in both of which an excellent harmony of the traditional Japanese beauty and modernstyle is expressed.
OKAJIMA's handbags and accessories are made of high quality silk, on which hand dyeing and painting are done in the Kyo Yuzen style. Characteristics of Kyo Yuzen,
are its delicate, fantasy-like designs using natural motifs and also its gorgeous dyeing expressed by color coordination. Kyo Yuzen originated in Kyoto, the thousand-yearold city and the center of cultural and artistic activities from ancient times. Its style was perfected around the 17th century.
Today, OKAJIMA brings a reﬁned style to this silk art, making new, valuable creations. Each OKAJIMA product is made by hand, so no similar thing exists in the world.
Each one is a masterpiece.

OKAJIMA casual line series
Standard line of handbags made of Nagahama
chirimen(crepe) fabrics with hand-painted
Yuzen dyeing done on them.
They are water-proofed, light, and durable.

OKAJIMA casual line series
Line of handbags made of tsumugi(pongee)
fabrics with hand-painted Yuzen dyeing doneon them. They are water-proofed, light, anddurable.

aurora

OKAJIMA party line
This line is produced in collaboration
with the Italian company Leu Locati,a purveyor of fine bags to Royalfamilies and first ladies the world over.
This is the highest class of OKAJIMA
handbag line.

OKAJIMA party line
Series of fine, gorgeous, jewel-like bags,
accented with hand-painted Yuzen trim

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