A 'Residency Lab' Born in the Heart of Kurume Kasuri: Sakata Orimono Reopens 'Haku. Orige'

Sakata Orimono, a manufacturer of Kurume Kasuri in Chikugo, Fukuoka, has renovated its accommodation facility 'Orige' into 'Haku. Orige.' An exclusive preview for press and related parties will be held on May 29, 2026, followed by a public opening on May 30 and 31.

Sakata Orimono has taken over the management of Hirokawa town's migration promotion hub 'Orige' and rebranded it as 'Haku. Orige.' The facility, based on the concept of 'a craft region where you can stay,' allows guests to experience Kurume Kasuri and the textile culture of the Chikugo region during their stay. Guests can wear Kurume Kasuri loungewear and haori coats, and explore surrounding workshops and local resources using complimentary bicycles.

This renovation also introduces a residency lab function for designers and artists. Designers and artists from around the world, including New York and Turkey, have already started creating work using local materials and techniques.

With labor shortages and a lack of connection with consumers becoming challenges in craft production regions, 'Haku. Orige' aims to build a new 'relationship population' by allowing people to experience the local culture through staying. By redesigning the migration promotion facility into a space where tourism, creation, and experience intersect, they hope to communicate the new possibilities of the craft region.

An opening ceremony on May 29 will feature a flag-making workshop for local children using fabric scraps from the production process, creating opportunities for children to connect with local textile culture.

'Orige' means 'my home' in the dialect of the Chikugo region. The facility will also serve as one of the bases for the Native Textile Council, which promotes the textile culture of the Chikugo region.