Kineya tabi, larger size cord tabi now in stock
It has been well-received by our customers ever since it was first introduced at our store. It is now also available at Kineya, a long-established store in Gyoda City, Saitama Prefecture, at the Tabi Tabi online shop!
Up until now, we have been handling sizes up to 25cm, but we now have larger sizes from 25.5cm in stock.
In the Edo period, before the type of tabi that was fastened with kohaze was made, string tabi were used. I thought Kohaze tabi was the norm, but when I saw the string tabi in Kineya's pamphlet, I fell in love with them at first sight! Wouldn't this be cute to match with clothes? ?
Since we started selling them, I've put down 3 pairs and wear string socks every other day. Indigo-dyed string tabi pairs perfectly with the feet of a casual pongee or cotton kimono. It is also attractive that you can enjoy the unique change in color by wearing and washing repeatedly. It's perfect for everyday use with casual kimono, and the knot of the string that can be seen at a glance looks fresh, so it doesn't look out of place with clothes (I personally think...) These tabi socks are a must-have for me!
*Please note that even one pair of shoes over 25.5 cannot be shipped by post. Flat rate: ¥880 except for Hokkaido and Okinawa (1 pair of sizes up to 25.0 will be shipped via post for ¥380)
Some people may be concerned about color fading when it comes to indigo dyeing, but I have not had any problems with color fading so far after actually using it. Washing with water is required before use. (Indigo dyeing is said to use acetic acid to stop the color, so there is a method of watering it with vinegar and water, but I only wash it with water.) I use them just like any other color tabi, except that I don't wash them with other things.
Even if you have washed your hands more than 10 times, your hands will be slightly stained blue when you wash them (the blue color on your hands will easily come off with soap), so your feet may get stuffy and damp during the hot season, or when it rains suddenly. If your feet get wet, there may be a risk of color transfer to light-colored thongs. You definitely don't want color transfer with such items! In that case, please avoid indigo-dyed tabi socks.
The images below show the new string tabi borrowed from Kinaya Tabi (top) and the used string tabi (bottom), allowing you to enjoy the aging of the indigo dyed socks.
They are more comfortable to wear than Kohaze's tabi socks. I love using them like socks when wearing clothes. Some customers who purchased at physical stores wanted them as room shoes. We are currently selling it at both physical stores and online shops, but if you are in the area, we highly recommend that you pick it up and take a look! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us via LINE or email.
Kineya Tabi
Gyoda City, Saitama Prefecture, is located between two major rivers, the Tone River and the Arakawa River, and has abundant water and a climate suitable for cotton cultivation, and has been a thriving cotton producer since ancient times. Tabi-making began in this area over 300 years ago, during the Edo period.
At that time, the feudal lord of Matsudaira in the Oshi domain (present-day Gyoda) encouraged the production of tabi in the Oshi castle town, and as people frequently traveled to Fukiage-juku on the Nakasendo road, it spread throughout the country and continues to be the number one producer of tabi in Japan. I'm proud。
Kineya Tabi, which has a long history in Gyoda City, was founded in 1929 as Nakazawa Tabi Co., Ltd., and is still a long-established tabi store that continues to operate today, changing its name to Kineya Tabi.
