Meet the maker ー Sugano Hifuku

Meet the maker

From Kojima, Okayama — home of Japanese denim

The Kojima District is the home of Japanese denim. A beautiful one-hour train ride south of Okayama City, on the southern coast of Honshu Island. Centuries of textile tradition and craftsmanship are absorbed into the manufacturing practices of Sugano Hifuku, maker of CIBI Design denim goods.

Satoshi and Zenta worked closely to create the CIBI everyday apparel collection, shaped through CIBI’s design direction — bringing together simplicity, function, and a sensibility grounded in everyday living.

CIBI sits down with Sugano Hifuku owner, Satoshi-san, for a conversation about craftsmanship, Kojima, and the making of the collection.

About Sugano Hifuku

Kojima jeans go through a complete process, starting with the dyeing of materials, weaving, sewing, washing and finishing. They receive high recognition, not only in Japan but also in the world.

Their denim factory has been manufacturing over four decades, now with the second generation team who will continue to stride in denim manufacturing.

Everything they do is hand-made and a sustainable approach in making products is what CIBI proudly likes to introduce to our everyday life.

CIBI everyday apparel is made in collaboration with our longtime friends at Sugano Hifuku in Okayama, using high-quality Okayama denim and generations of craftsmanship to create beautifully considered pieces made to be lived in and loved over time.

We hope you will enjoy waring them for a long time and make it your own favourite. The more you wear, the more original it becomes.

Why do you think Japanese denim from Okayama prefecture is loved not only in Japan but around the world?

Satoshi-san: It has a profound history. Japanese denim begun from making replica of American denim jeans. American army came to Kojima and remaking their workwear was the beginning of factories making casual jeans in Kojima.

Since then the culture of making jeans was developed in Kojima, the whole town got behind in manufacturing jeans and they still continue to produce some of the best jeans in Japan, especially how they cannot only produce the best denim but they can specialise in making unique special finishes on the denim that no other factories in the world can do.

The denim that factories in Kojima produce are second to none. Their techniques and machines now can produce the best quality denim, some with very thick woven fabric which again is special to Kojima.

What types of denim do you manufacture and what are the difference between them?

Satoshi-san : We use both raw and selvedge denim. Rigid denim is basically raw denim. Selvedge denim is narrow denim with self finished edge and nice coloured finish. Because it’s a very narrow denim measuring 140cm wide, it is very difficult to cut many pieces out and requires more denim to make a pair of jeans

What would you recommend is the best way to wash. hot or cold water, soap, machine or hand wash?

Satoshi-san Up to you! It all depends how you like to wear it!
Wash with natural detergent and cold water is the best.

For those who like a more vintage look, wash them frequently to make them softer. Sometimes it is also recommended not to wash for a while as it can develop a patina, further giving them a unique look and feel.

You make many different styles of clothing and items, what is the most fun element of making?

Satoshi-san: I really enjoy that moment when a customer gets inspired and moved by the product we made!

Seeing the finished product when we manage to make something really beautiful is always fun and using a variety of different machinery to produce something new also brings joy. We do not directly sell to customers so when hear that the customers really loved the products we manufactured, we get a lot of joy!

Which process do you like the most when making the products?

Satoshi-san: One thing I really like is the connections with the makers.

In clothing and manufacturing, there are many people involved, from making the denim, washing the denim, putting small parts together, sewing, packing and checking the final product.

I cherish our relationships working with people from all aspects of life. Only because of the many skilful people that we can make complicated and detailed jackets! There are not many manufacturers who can do what we can these day as many factories have closed down.