LVMH Métiers d’art enters into a partnership with the historic Japanese weaver Hosoo

LVMH Métiers d’Art strengthens its ties with the land of the rising sun. Following the agreement announced in April with the denim specialist Kuroki, the LVMH division dedicated to the supply of precious raw materials announces a new partnership in Japan with the historic manufacturer of silk fabrics for kimonos Hosoo, which also supplies fashion houses to luxury brands , such as Chanel or Christian Dior, large hotels such as Bulgari or the Ritz, and the interior design sector.

Founded in 1688 in Kyoto’s Nishijin district, this venerable institution has been run by the Hosoo family for twelve generations, with Masataka Hosoo, its president, at the helm today. It earned its reputation by supplying the imperial court, samurai and noble families with kimonos and traditional silk accessories, woven using the artisanal nishjin-ori technique of mixing silk, gold and silver threads. This know-how dating back to the 15th century has been preserved by Hosoo, a spinner, weaver and manufacturer, who has continued to innovate in sericulture.

The high level of Japanese craftsmanship and traditional techniques, especially in the field of textiles, is of great importance to the luxury giant, as evidenced by this agreement with Hosoo and the previous one with Kuroki, which come at a time when LVMH Métiers d ‘Art opened its doors in 2010. At the beginning of this year, the country established a structure dedicated to the development of Japanese know-how, led by Emina Morioka.

“What we especially appreciate is that Hosoo has the entire production process in-house. The company has not only been able to maintain its glorious past, but has also been able to innovate in the field of production techniques and dyes, through research, including in the field of the different possible applications of sericulture waste. This rapprochement is a first step towards a long-term collaboration,” explains the CEO of the Métiers d’Art division, Matteo De Rosa.

“This collaboration will not only bring innovation to traditional silk manufacturing techniques, but will also introduce new ideas and perspectives, providing growth opportunities and global visibility,” he noted, calling “the ‘intercultural exchange of knowledge and expertise’ and the bridge thus created. between East and West.

LVMH has not taken a stake in Hosoo, as it could do for other partners. “This is a commercial partnership, created for the purpose of long-term investments,” explains Matteo De Rosa, without detailing the contours of the agreement. “Hosoo already supplies to some of our homes. But the company will become a partner of the group and preferred supplier for all our brands, while we will support it in its development and chart a path to revive sericulture in Japan to blow,” he continues.

“The manufacturers gathered around our Métiers d’Art division are all number 1 in their field. Our goal is for them to remain that way in the long term by continuing to innovate and stay relevant. They all have potential. What what we do is offer to provide them with an additional engine, this can be in the form of investments or through management or commercial support,” he concludes.

Focused on the leather, exotic skins and metal sectors, but also on textiles and ready-to-wear, LVMH Métiers d’Art was founded in 2015 by the number 1 in luxury to provide itself with a “unique profession in the world” and also create a ecosystem around exceptional professions and materials. It brings together 17 specialized suppliers and achieves a turnover of 700 million euros.