Brand & Maker Overview

SOU・SOU

A Kyoto-based textile brand creating a "new Japanese culture" through bold patterns and seasonal sensibility.

SOU・SOU is a Kyoto-based brand that creates pop, season-inspired textile designs and develops products under the concept of "creating a new Japanese culture." The predecessor shop opened in 2002, and SOU・SOU was established in 2003. With key figures including textile designer Katsuji Wakisaka, interior designer Hisanobu Tsujimura, and fashion designer/producer Takeyuki Wakabayashi, the brand actively incorporates traditional Japanese materials and techniques while proposing items that fit modern daily life — most notably Japanese-made jika-tabi footwear and related apparel and lifestyle goods.

565-72 Nakanocho, Shinkyogoku Shijo-agaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-8042, Japan SOU・SOU
SOU・SOU

Why We Love It

Not just "for traditional dress" — SOU・SOU's appeal is that it's usable for everyday footwear and daily wear. The signature jika-tabi, based on traditional forms yet brought right into today's atmosphere through pop textiles. Many series focus on "materials and dyeing" — such as Ise cotton and Kyoto-style Yuzen — making it fun to choose by pattern, yet mysteriously they blend in once worn. Recommended for those who want to incorporate seasonal mood through pattern and color, lightly.

PROFILE About the Company / Workshop

SOU・SOU traces its beginnings back to 2002, when its predecessor shop "teems design + moonbalance" opened. The brand was then established as SOU・SOU in 2003, and soon began developing jika-tabi — an important turning point in bringing traditional Japanese footwear into everyday life.

At the heart of SOU・SOU is textile design inspired by Japan's seasons and sensibilities. Beyond visual impact, the brand emphasizes the value of traditional materials and techniques. For example, SOU・SOU introduces Ise cotton as a heritage fabric woven on traditional looms, known for a texture that softens with repeated washing.

The brand's scope extends across footwear, clothing, and lifestyle goods — continuously exploring how "Japanese" forms can be updated for modern living. This cross-category approach, together with collaborations and special projects, helps translate textile expression into a wide range of practical items.

Rooted in Kyoto yet forward-looking, SOU・SOU continues to propose a light, wearable way to enjoy "new Japanese culture" — choosing patterns and colours as a way to reflect the seasons in daily life.

Kyoto textile brand built on seasonal motifs and bold graphic patterns

SOU・SOU designs textiles that express the seasons and atmosphere of Japan in a playful way. Under the concept of creating a "new Japanese culture," the brand develops products ranging from Japanese-made jika-tabi to apparel and lifestyle items.

Jika-tabi as an everyday choice

After establishing the brand, SOU・SOU started developing jika-tabi and has continued to reinterpret traditional Japanese forms for daily use — combining comfort-oriented product planning with distinctive textile patterns.

Connecting tradition and modern life (Ise cotton, Yuzen dyeing, shibori collaborations)

The brand actively works with traditional Japanese materials and techniques such as Ise cotton and Kyoto-style Yuzen dyeing, and has also collaborated with Arimatsu-Narumi shibori — bringing heritage craftsmanship into contemporary product lines.

Collaborations expanding the textile expression

Through collaborations and special projects, SOU・SOU has expanded its textile expression beyond clothing, translating its patterns into products suited for various lifestyles and use cases.

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