[Kawashima Selkon]
A Nishijin brocade store of long standing since 1843.
In 1843, the 1st Kawashima Jinbē established it.
In 1879, Benjirō succeeded the 2nd Jinbē, the 2nd head of the family.
In 1888, Benjirō manufactured ornamental textiles in the room of the Meiji Palace. He turned out to be the first artisan of ornamental textiles in the country. Thus, he became the first purveyor for a palace room in the country.
In 1910, the 2nd Jinbē died. The 3rd Kawashima Jinbē succeeded the head of the family.
In 1938, he reformed the store to a corporate organization, and established “Kawashima Orimono Jinbē Inc. Store”.
The next year he changed the store’s name to “Kawashima Orimonosyo Inc.”.
In 1957, he changed it to “Kawashima Orimono Inc.”.
* ”orimono” means “textile” or “fabric”.
In 1974, Jinbē producted ornamental textlies within the room of Akasaka Palace. Jinbē received a praise from the Prime Minister at that time.
In 1996, Jinbē took part in a restored article of the Shosoin treasures, “Ashiginu Itten”.
In 2005, he supplied one of his works, “Reika” (rei = beautiful or elegant, ka = flower), which is a type of Tuzureori wall pictures at the dinner room of Kyoto Guest House.