ABOVE Yoko Mori of Kogire toyo, a kimono and Japanese textile shop in downtown Kyoto.
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KYOTO JP Three years ago, I wrote a blog post declaring that Kyoto had only two fabric shops. Good news! I keep discovering more remarkable fabric resources in this historic city.
LINNET
Run by designer Mayumi and architect Satoshi, Linnet wins the prize for the sweetest fabric shop in town.
The Kyoto store specializes in linen fabrics, linen yarn, and linen ribbon, along with cotton and wool, patterns, paper goods, and sewing notions. Many of the linens are designed in-house.
The Linnet clothing on display radiates a pristine sensibility, with delicate details like soft colors, rounded collars, and petite white buttons.
I finally bought a pattern for the classic Japanese apron with crossed back straps, designed by Linnet. Yeah!
Linnet
562 Kikuyacho, Kyoto 604-8102
TUE to SAT: 11am – 6pm
Closed: SUN and MON
KOGIRE TOYOMost people probably walk right past Kogire toyo, dismissing the shop because of its humble appearance. What they’re missing is a motherlode of textile treasures — folk, formal, vintage, and antique.
Like a miniature flea market, Kogire toyo is packed with katazome scraps, chusen-dyed cotton bolts, lengths of kasuri, rolls of coarse hemp, kimono, yukata, haori, and more.
Seated at her sewing machine, Toyoko keeps a watchful eye on the comings and goings. Her adult daughter Yoko helps out, welcoming customers with her friendly manner and good English.
Just around the corner from Linnet, Kogire toyo is a must-visit for Japanese textile lovers.
Kogire toyo
84-4 Aburayachō, Kyoto 604-8103
DAILY: 10am – 6:30pm
DIYDISTRICT
Now we’re talking! Contemporary Japanese cottons! Some are hand-dyed, others machine-printed. All are made in Japan — except the brocades.
Owned by an enthusiastic couple, Diep and Guillaume, DIYDistrict moved from France to Kyoto in 2022. Their warehouse-style shop is packed with tall rolls of gorgeous cottons in weights ranging from lawn to sheeting to poplins, plus brocades.
The patterns span traditional Japanese designs and contemporary prints. Great solids include a linen-like indigo poplin for sashiko. Plus a big assortment of grab-and-go fat quarter packs.
A huge rack of vintage silk kimono and hand-sewn clothes, made from the Japanese cottons, add to their offerings.
At the moment, you have to climb three flights of stairs to reach the shop. By the time you read this post, DIYDistrict will have moved to the street level of their building.
DIYDistrict
Floor 3, 408-1 Ikesucho, Kyoto, 604-8216
MON to FRI: 9:30am – 6pm
K’S BEE QUILTI’ve only visited two other quilt shops in Japan: Quilt Party in Chiba, owned by the queen of taupe, Yoko Saito; and YUNO in Tokyo’s Shin-Koiwa district, known for its dainty prints.
Located in the Kayu-koji Shopping Arcade
高橋恵子パッチワークキルトスクール
〒604-8042 Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Nakanocho, 565-62
Although the address is correct, also paste the Japanese name of the shop into your map app.
MON to FRI: Noon – 6pm
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ABOUT US: Okan Arts, a petite family business, is co-owned by mother-daughter duo Patricia Belyea and Victoria Stone. Patricia and Victoria sell Japanese textiles online, host creative quilting experiences, and lead textile tours to Japan and the UK.
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