What kind of company is Daiichi Sogei?

Our 'Fukusa' (silk wrapping cloth) product is a manifestation of Japanese people's courtesy and consideration for others at ceremonial occasions. Daiichi Sogei Co., Ltd. is a company specializing in the manufacture of gift bags for congratulatory occasions or condolences, as well as other fabric products; it focuses mainly on the fukusa. Although it originally manufactured made-to-order products, it started to create original products from 2015. We are exploring new forms of clothing such as the development of "stylish fukusa" that fit the present age, with a variety of ceremonial uses, such as having functionality, being folded finely and using modern textiles.

What is so impressive about Daiichi Sogei?

① Can be manufactured in-house and consistently from fabric
Daiichi Sogei Co., Ltd. is a company specializing in "fukusa". Our strength is that we can manufacture in-house and consistently from fabric. For this reason, we can receive orders for manufacturing products with strong original elements, such as commemorative graduations from universities. We create products that meet our customers' needs to make such things, from textile printing with inkjet printers to embroidery using electronically controlled sewing machines.

② We are skilled in bag processing technology
Even in the textile industry, the market for "fukusa" is not large. Other companies often make fukusa as a part of furoshiki manufacturing. As a result, a lot of places, a lot of finished products have just the tiniest bit of needlework. Meanwhile, Daiichi Sogei Co., Ltd.'s products, manufactured in an integrated manner, make use of advanced processing technology for bags. Because it is a product that expresses feelings toward others, we consider it important for it to have a beautiful form and sewing lines.

Techniques and Technology

① We can carry out processing from fabric trimming to sewing
② We can do original textile designs
③ We can do multiple lines of embroidery at the same time, enabling us to do large lot productions

Things Daiichi Sogei is not equipped for

① We can't process iron and resins

Main products we make

Style Fukusa
A stylish fukusa fit for a modern lifestyle. It can be folded to fit in a pocket after handing over a shugi-bukuro (a special envelope holding money for celebratory occasions), or used as a clutch bag in non-ceremonial occasions. It is our flagship product. Proactively using modern color matching and patterns that overturn the image of fukuro, we produce products that younger generations would want to use.

Inner workings of the factory

① We spread the fabric and slice it with a knife cutter

Fukusa is a traditional Japanese product, but Daiichi Sogei uses a manufacturing method with modern technology. Parts that can be manufactured without human intervention, such as a roll-up machine that stretches and superimposes cloth, and industrial cutters, are actively used to improve efficiency.

② We clip the nonwoven fabric and sew it one by one by hand

The non-woven fabric is intercalated between cut cloths and sewed into a bag shape. Machines are also used, but handiwork by skilled personnel is necessary to work around features and characteristics of each type of cloth. We manage quality by doing this work manually. Small needlepoint designs are performed with an electronically controlled sewing machine.

The love from the maker

Daiichi Sogei Co., Ltd. specializes in fukusa, but it started with the production of miscellaneous goods that were originally placed at souvenir shops in tourist spots. I remember not even considering succeeding after the company turned to fukusa production about 20 years ago. When I quit my previous job at a childcare related company and took over this company, I was enthusiastic about it being a small but challenging industry.

Currently, 30% of the products manufactured, such as our hallmark product, the "Style Fukusa", are our own. Our company has gone through several challenges, but as the values of ceremonial occasions are changing, we must create products that will become the "next big thing". At large stationery stores, etc., the number of types of celebration bags sold increases every year, but regrettably, the space for sales of fukusa is not increasing.

* Old mold used in the past

Fukusa often expresses a spirit of attentiveness unique to Japan, such as the act of wrapping money and carrying it with care. Since the shape of the cloth is inevitably limited, aiming for novelty in shape may be difficult. What we consider important is to inherit this spirit of attentiveness to the next generation. Without worrying too much about our products, we want to challenge the market.

Official HP：https://hukusa.co.jp/

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