Hand towel woven by the wind - Imabari's challenge and rebirth, September 2006

Hand towel woven by the wind - Imabari's challenge and rebirth, September 2006

In 2006, Ikeuchi Towel, a towel manufacturer in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture, began a groundbreaking initiative to weave towels using electricity generated by wind power. The product, named "Wind Woven Towel," was not just a daily necessity, but a special product that allowed users to feel the value of natural energy to the touch. Green Power Certificates issued by Japan Natural Energy were used in the manufacturing process, and a system was introduced to incorporate electricity generated by wind power into the product as an "invisible material.

At the time, efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions were a national issue in Japanese society, against the backdrop of the Kyoto Protocol coming into effect in 2005. Amidst growing concerns about global warming and the energy crisis, interest in the use of renewable energy and sustainable lifestyles was rapidly growing. In these times, the "Wind Woven Towel" became a symbolic product that successfully combined environmental considerations and craftsmanship.

At a time when CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) was beginning to attract attention, Ikeuchi Towel was one of the first to attempt to convert natural energy into product value. It was a way for the traditional towel industry to be reborn from a new environmental perspective, rather than simply competing for the lowest price. The attitude of a company rooted in the Imabari region to respond to global-scale issues eventually won the sympathy of consumers and increased the value of the brand.

The "Wind Woven Towel" was not only a small question about coexistence with nature, but also a quiet revolution that transformed the power of the wind into the warmth of threads. This pioneering stance transcended the framework of mere eco-products and left a solid mark in 2006 as a cultural activity that will open the way to the future of the region.