“Slowly, carefully, and beautifully.”—Timeless textiles woven by the shuttle loom
The shuttle loom (power loom) is one of the most primitive and traditional weaving machines, standing in stark contrast to the state-of-the-art high-speed looms used for modern mass production.
At Shuttle Notes, we use these looms, which remain in active service today, to create one-of-a-kind textiles.
What is a shuttle loom?
A shuttle loom is a weaving machine that creates fabric by physically passing a boat-shaped component called a “shuttle,” which is wound with weft yarn, back and forth through the machine.
Unlike the currently mainstream air-jet or rapier looms, fabric is woven slowly and over a long period of time.
Prioritizing the expression of the fabric over production efficiency.
The production capacity of a shuttle loom is approximately 40 meters per day.
This is by no means efficient compared to the latest high-speed looms.
However, this “inefficiency” is the biggest reason for the depth and rich texture brought to the fabric.
By weaving slowly, the tension applied to the threads is gentle, creating a natural puffiness and three-dimensional effect in the finished fabric.
Rather than catering to the convenience of the machine, we bring out the individuality of the material—that is the charm of the shuttle loom.
One by one, by human hands.
Weaving on a shuttle loom requires high-level skill and experience.
When the weft thread runs out, the operator must manually remove the shuttle from each machine and replenish it with new thread.
Because such manual tasks are retained throughout the process, it is essential to “observe with the eyes and feel with the hands” the state of the machine and the appearance of the threads.
The delicate sensibilities of the craftsmen determine the finish of the textiles.
The Origin of Shuttle Notes
Since our founding in 1948, we have walked alongside this shuttle loom.
In an era of dizzying change, what we continue to hold dear is the spirit of “onko chishin” (learning from the past to create the new).
Respecting good old techniques while proposing textiles that fit modern designs and lifestyles.
That is the mission of Shuttle Notes.
In Closing
In a quiet factory, the sight of heavy shuttle looms slowly sounding as they weave fabric has a beauty akin to turning back time.
This “effort,” which at first glance may seem wasteful, is the driving force behind creating fabric that will be loved for generations.
A warmth and presence that mass production can never replicate.
Putting that into every bolt, we continue to weave fabric again today.