Why Japan’s Ciota will only use Suvin cotton
Speaking with local media recently, Ciota brand founder and designer Masakazu Arasawa discussed why his label exclusively opts for Suvin cotton in its denim and other cotton-based ready-to-wear articles.
Created by an Indian cotton researcher in the 1970s, Suvin is made by crossbreeding Egyptian Sujata cotton with St Vincent cotton from the West Indies. Hand-picked, ultra-long and fine, it reportedly has a spinnability of 240s Ne to 300s Ne count of yarn.
Although particularly popular in Japan (where Ciota is based) today, only around 1,500 bales of Suvin cotton are currently produced in India each year (down from its peak of 36,000 bales between 1989 and 1990).
The designer especially praised both Suvin’s comfortable qualities (Ciota describes its softness as “comparable to cashmere” on its website) and cost-effectiveness.
Originally intimidated by Levi’s dominance in the market, he told reporters that his discovery of Suvin cotton - and, as a result, less “stiff” denim fabric - helped him to “see the light” and gave him the courage needed to establish his own label.
Image: Masakazu Arasawa photographed by Nanako Hidaka.
