Guardian Garden (Tokyo, Japan)
11.28 – 12.23. 2017
Starting November 28, CREATION Gallery G8 and Guardian Garden—two galleries in Tokyo’s Ginza district operated by Recruit Holdings—will host the “Tube Socks Exhibition.” The exhibition is the 2017 edition of the annual “CREATION Project,” this year representing a collaboration involving 167 creative artists and a small company based in Osaka.
Higuchi Knitting Company, located in Hirakata City in Osaka Prefecture, is a producer of socks founded in 1933. Sock production in Japan peaked in the late 1980s and has been in a declining trend ever since. In the face of inexpensive imports from Asia, the Japanese sock industry as a whole is in a severe state. Higuchi Knitting takes maximum advantage of its resilience as a small-scale producer, however, creating made-to-order socks on request from the customer—even responding to orders for a single pair.
The items on exhibition in conjunction with CREATION Project 2017 are based on tube socks developed by Higuchi Knitting on the suggestion of its customers. The company’s tube socks are unusual in having no heel and being of extra-high quality. Those featured in the exhibition are all original articles with knitted designs created by artists from various fields and backgrounds. All items on show will be available for purchase.
The absence of a heel, combined with outstanding elasticity, means that Higuchi Knitting’s tube socks fit all sizes, from children to adults. They make ideal gifts, for Christmas or other occasions, or just for yourself.
Proceeds from the sale of the tube socks will be donated to “Save the Children.” Under that program, funds are used locally in Japan for a number of important purposes: to relieve child poverty, prevent child abuse, support recovery in disaster-affected regions, etc.
We hope many people will take this opportunity to participate in this worthy charity event.
http://rcc.recruit.co.jp/creationproject/project/2017/
Photo：Keizo Motoda
大阪府枚方市にある樋口メリヤス工業は、1933年に創業した靴下メーカー。
国内の靴下生産は、1989年ごろをピークに減少傾向にあり、アジア圏からの安価な製品の輸入など、業界全体が厳しい状況におかれる中で、小さな工房ならではの機動力を活かして、1足からお客様のリクエストに応える、オーダーメイドの靴下作りに取り組んでいます。
今回のアイテムは、樋口メリヤス工業がお客様の声から開発した、つつ型の靴下「つつした」がベースになっています。
CREATION Projectでは、かかとをなくすというユニークな発想と、品質にこだわり誕 生した「つつした」に、クリエイターの個性あふれるデザインを編み込んだ、オリジナルの靴下を展示、販売します。
かかとがなく伸縮性に優れているため、子どもから大人まではくことができるフリーサイズ。ご自分用はもちろん、クリスマス等のプレゼントにもおすすめの「つつの靴下」です。
靴下の収益金はセーブ・ザ・チルドレンに寄付し、子どもの貧困問題の解決や虐待の予防、災害被災地での支援など、日本の子どもたちのために役立てられます。
ぜひこの機会に、多くの方にチャリティーにご参加いただけることを願っています。
Photo：元田敬三
