Top Japanese fabric manufacturers list & comparison

Japanese fabrics are famous for their high quality and wide selection. However for beginner buyers it can be challenging as there are so many fabric manufacturers in the market.

This time, let’s study about the characteristics of the most popular fabric manufacturers and what kind of fabrics they handle. Each company has its own characteristics,  and you can see which company’s fabrics match the direction of your brand.

There is a manufacturer that has its own inventory, as well  as a company that actually makes the fabric. In this article, we will introduce three types of companies: general, specific and production area.

General 

A general fabric manufacturer that handles a wide variety of fabrics, including woven, knit, natural, and synthetic fabrics.

Takisada Nagoya

URL : https://www.takisada-nagoya.jp/

Location : 2-13-19 Nishiki, Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi, Japan

Sales: 46.5 billion yen

One of Japan’s leading textile trading companies with a history of more than 150 years, Takisada-Nagoya’s fabric division is divided into two sections: men’s clothing fabrics and women’s clothing fabrics. Within these divisions, there are also separate sections for each product category, such as imports and formal wear, and each section deals with its own customers. However, since a certain amount of annual purchase order is required for direct transactions, it is necessary to make arrangements through fabric wholesalers.

One of the appeals of this service is that it has a large number of product numbers in stock, prices are higher than those of the manufacturers introduced later, and there are many brand-name fabrics and trendy fabrics. Especially in men’s wear:

• Harris Tweed
• CORDURA
• Cool Dots 

There are many famous brand fabrics with high functionality such as Harris Tweed 【HARRIS TWEED, Cordura 【CORDURA】& COOL DOTS.

Although they do not have a showroom in Tokyo, they do exhibitions every season, so you visit Tokyo you can touch and feel the actual fabrics.

If you are looking for high quality fabrics, check Takisada Nagoya product list out.

Sojitz Fashion -VANCET

URL : https://www.vancet.net/

Location : 2-1-2 Hiranomachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka

Sales : 9 billion yen

VANCET handles a wide range of fabrics, from fabrics for general-purpose materials and sundries to trendy fabrics, and has a system to securely manage inventory, excelling in small-order and quick delivery. We rely on VANCET when we are looking for anything, as they have everything from woven and knit fabrics to plain and patterned fabrics.

Also, since they start selling only after they have a good inventory, it does not happen that they only have sample fabrics and not mass-produced ones. However, since our main products are standard fabrics, there are many fabrics that can be changed into ordinary or fashionable clothes by the power of design.

Also, even high-end brands use VANCET for partial use, lining use, and accessories, so there is no harm in holding on to VANCET for a start.

To VANCET Product Page

SUNWELL

URL : https://www.sunwell.jp/

Location : 2-1-10 Hiranomachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka

Sales : 9.8 billion yen

Although the company naturally does custom-made projects for its customers, it was the first company to stock standard fabrics, create the Sunwell Net, and sell stock items wholesale. The company is often compared to Sojitz Fashion mentioned above, but it offers a more trendy lineup, including organic cotton fabrics and color variations.

Also, while all companies usually send cut products (up to 20m) in folding, Sunwell will roll the fabric up in paper tubes if you request it and pay a fee.

Good fashion fabrics! And at a moderate unit price! For such brands, you should definitely check out SUNWELL.

To SUNWELL Product Page

Specialized

Although it is similar to a general manufacturers, they specialize in certain types of fabric and stock them.

Masuda

URL : https://masuda-tx-ap.co.jp/

Location : 1-8-12 Marunouchi, Naka-ku, Nagoya, Aichi

Sales : 7.9 billion yen

Masuda is synonymous with synthetic fibers. This is the watchword for many people working in the apparel industry. The company also has nine sales branches throughout Japan, the largest number of any synthetic fiber-based fabric manufacturer. Therefore, Masuda has a variety of information and can order products that are not Masuda’s own risk, so brands that deal with sports, casual, uniforms, etc. are a must check.

To Masuda Product Page

Shibaya

URL : https://www.shibaya.co.jp/

Location : 3-3-3 Bingo-machi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan

Sales : 2.3 billion yen

Shibaya is a medium-sized fabric manufacturer that mainly handles woven fabrics made of natural materials. Rather than just plain fabrics, the company handles many fabrics that have been sun-dried and washed. Although their main specialty is fabrics for young women’s clothing, they also handle many functional and brand-name fabrics such as Coolmax and Cordura, so you may lose a little if you think they are only for ladies’ wear.

Another attraction of the company is its ability to respond quickly to demand, such as purchasing and selling large quantities of double gauze in early summer 2020 when the new coronavirus caused a mask shortage, and stocking antiviral processed fabrics when they become popular.

Shibaya is able to quickly respond to demand by purchasing and selling large quantities of double gauze in the early summer, and stocking up on antiviral processed fabrics when they become fashionable.

Go to SHIBAYA’s product page

Production area-specific

These are manufacturers that stock a large number of fabrics that are unique to the production area where they originate or are made in their own factories.

Ueyama Textile

URL : https://www.ueyama.net/

Location : 4-1-16 Omiya-dori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka

Sales : Undisclosed

　The most distinctive feature of Banshu-ori is the use of a technique called yarn-dyeing weaving, in which yarn is dyed first and patterns are woven with the dyed yarn. Banshu-ori accounts for more than 70 percent of the domestic market share of yarn-dyed fabrics, and its unique production method results in fabrics with natural texture, rich colors, and excellent texture, which are processed into a variety of products such as shirts, handkerchiefs, and tablecloths.

The main products of Ueyama are shirt fabrics, etc. Because they are yarn-dyed, many patterns such as checks and stripes are used, and a wide range of products are available, from standard items to trendy items. Because it is a high-quality domestic fabric, it is also used by high-end brands, so you should check it out when dealing with shirts!

To Ueyama Textile Product Page

Sasaki Sellm

URL : https://www.sasakisellm.co.jp/

Location : 2-9-16 Fibers, Ichinomiya-shi, Ichinomiya

Sales : undisclosed

Bishu is known for its wool. Sasaki Selm handles fabrics that have acquired the Bishu mark, but also collaborates with various production areas and handles many functional fabrics. In particular, wool and stretchable fabrics for both women and men are easy to handle in terms of sewing. Many of the fabrics are stretchy and beautiful, so if you are making clothes for adults, you should check them out. Especially with the future demand for home-based clothing, stretch and other functional fabrics should not be overlooked.

Sasaki Selm product page

Duck Textiles

URL : https://www.ducktex.co.jp/

Location : 334-3 Kawanami, Kanbe-cho, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture

Sales : 670 million yen

When it comes to denim fabrics, Okayama is probably the first place that comes to mind, but Fukuyama City in Hiroshima Prefecture actually holds 70% of the domestic market share. Duck Textile handles many denim fabrics, mainly from fabric makers in the Bingo and Bicchu areas. Rather, it is denim only. They are also a one-stop shop that takes care of processing such as bio-washing, which is easy to arrange. Also, you may think that denim is only for pants and blousons, but they make double gauze denim, etc., which will definitely change the way you have been perceiving denim.

If you are dealing in denim, you should check them out.

To Duck Textiles product page

Conclusion

Of course, there are many other fabric makers in addition to those mentioned here. It is difficult to deal with various fabric makers, so if you want to use fabrics from various places from time to time, it is one way to work with a material trading company that functions like a wholesaler. For more fabrics from other manufacturers, please check out ApparelX’s product list.