Overview of producing areas Knit

The textile industry in Wakayama is said to have begun with cotton fabrics in the year of the Kyoho Reforms in the Edo period (in the first half of the 18th century). The Kishu Domain in particular encouraged the production of tabi footwear, making this the cornerstone of the garment industry. When the haori was adopted as military clothing in 1869, a new fabric was woven and was named “Kishu flannel.” Many of Wakayama’s long-established industries, including yarn twisting, dyeing, chemicals, and machinery, have developed through a close relationship with Kishu flannel. Such being the case, Kishu flannel businesses can be seen turning later toward the knitting of the new underclothing called meriyasu. The meriyasu knit industry began production with five Swiss-made circular knitting machines brought to Wakayama in 1909. Many factories in Japan were hit by air raids during World War II, but old machines remained undamaged in Wakayama. This is said to have allowed Wakayama to become one of the world’s leading centers of the knitting industry, using both old and new machines.