Shikada Sangyo
A company manufacturing “Yame sudare” (bamboo blinds), designated as a special traditional craft by the Governor of Fukuoka Prefecture.
Produces sudare fabrics and bamboo-based materials using bamboo as a primary local resource. A Fire and Disaster Management Agency–certified factory that performs in-house flame-retardant processing for commercial environments. In addition to bamboo, it also applies flame-retardant treatment to various natural materials such as rattan, rush (igusa), and coconut shells.
Features
- Strength: Production of sudare fabric rolls measuring 2.4 m × 40 m (plain weave using power looms).
- Strength: Production of sudare fabric measuring 95 cm × 1500 cm using traditional methods (twisted weaving on a foot-powered loom).
- Strength: Made-to-order contract products for commercial facilities
- Strength: Extensive experience collaborating with creators, including Kengo Kuma
- Strength: Knowledge and expertise in export practices for overseas markets
- Strength: Currently exploring potential uses for offcuts of sudare fabric
- Challenge: Showroom visits require advance booking if a staff member is needed for explanation.
Our Abilities
Integrated craft and material solutions in bamboo sudare
- Production and custom manufacturing of bamboo sudare, including traditional weaving and hand-sewn finishing
- Material sourcing, processing, and flame-retardant treatment of bamboo and other natural materials (including imports)
- Assembly of mechanisms such as roll screens and collaboration on custom construction and fabrication
Bamboo Sudare: Crafting Spatial Boundaries for Contemporary Architecture
Using bamboo—one of Fukuoka Prefecture’s key regional resources, which ranks fourth in bamboo forest area nationwide—as our founding material, we have been producing bamboo sudare for over 100 years. Bamboo sudare is not merely a sunshade, but a “boundary” or spatial divider. We propose these refined, high-quality products as interior materials for commercial environments to interior designers and architects.
We also have over 20 years of expertise in flame-retardant processing, which is essential for commercial facilities, and we offer consultation on flame-retardant treatment for materials beyond bamboo. Specializing in the contract market both in Japan and overseas, our strength as a small-to-medium enterprise lies in our flexible, made-to-order production capabilities. We believe that maintaining a certain level of production capacity while adapting to customization is the path forward for craft-based manufacturers.