Nara Period

Japan’s textile industry only became fully developed during the Nara period. It was sometime during this period (as early as 713) when silk manufacturing began in Kiryu that led to silk becoming a substitute payment for taxes. Since new looms were introduced by the Chinese during the preceding era, first-rate textiles were woven one after another. With silk being a mark of aristocracy, silk textiles were primarily woven for the rich and noble, not for the hoi polloi who had to settle for hemp and ordinary plant fibers for their clothing. It was also during this period when the first kimono-like clothing appeared, with the nobility wearing those with Chinese-inspired designs.

Rozome, a wax-resist dyeing technique that is unique to Japan, and Tie-dye also trace their roots back to the Nara period, with the latter spreading across the nation after being a hit in neighboring countries.

Almost every industry during the Nara period was similar to those of the Chinese since China was a mentor nation to Japan around that time. And truly, the textile industry of this era benefited much from the Chinese.