History of Aprons
"Hou apron" is a traditional Japanese workwear worn around the waist by people working in rice shops, liquor stores, and other stores.
Woven from thick cotton threads, sturdy sail aprons are classified as heavy cotton fabrics.
The origins of Japanese aprons are said to date back to the 15th century (there are various theories).
They are called "MAEKAKE" or "MAETARE" because they are worn (hanging) in front of the body, and have been valued for their practical use as they protect the waists of workers and prevent tears in clothing and injuries.
It took on its current form during the Edo period, and from the Meiji period onwards, the shop name was dyed into it and it came to be used as a uniform and for advertising purposes.
In Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, the top aprons producing area in Japan, aprons exploded in popularity after the war from the 1950s to 1970s. According to Hidesuke Sugie, chairman of the Toyohashi Sail Aprons Promotion Association, "at its peak, 10,000 aprons were shipped per day."
As Japan's economy grew, the production of aprons also increased rapidly, and starting with sake breweries across the country, aprons bearing the names of companies and stores in all kinds of industries, such as rice shops, miso shops, soy sauce shops, fertilizer stores, and food manufacturers, began to be made, and they spread throughout the country.
It has a simple design - a rectangular piece of thickly woven cotton fabric with red and white strings attached - but hidden within it is a wealth of wisdom from our ancestors.
Features of the apron
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The primary function of an apron is to protect the waist. The pelvis is a very important part of maintaining balance in the body. In interviews conducted by our company Anything from 2004 to 2006 with people who have been wearing aprons to work for a long time, many people, including the father of Kameta Shoten, a rice shop in Kinshicho, Tokyo, shared their experiences over the years, saying, "When I wear an apron, I never hurt my back, no matter how old I get." It tightens your pelvis and dantian (three inches below the navel), which gives you more energy to work. |
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In the past, sake cases and beer bottle cases were also made of wooden boxes. When carrying them, I carried my luggage with an apron over my shoulders to prevent my clothes from getting torn. Nowadays, they are made of cardboard or plastic cases, so you don't see them like this anymore... |
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In the past, sake cases and beer bottle cases were also made of wooden boxes. When carrying them, I carried my luggage with an apron over my shoulders to prevent my clothes from getting torn. Nowadays, they are made of cardboard or plastic cases, so you don't see them like this anymore... |
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And finally, there is a major role of aprons: advertising. Historically, it was most commonly used by sake and shochu breweries. The original aprons from each store are still popular today! |
How to fasten the apron
How to tie an apron to protect your waist "MAEKAKE"
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SETP1. Tighten the bone called the ilium, which sticks out just above the pelvis at the "belt" level. This is the position above the most protruding hip bone. You can also tighten the pelvis 3-4 cm below the ilium (about two fingers below). Tightening the pelvis will stabilize the hip joint. |
SETP2. Next, take a deep breath and exhale slightly, cross the strings behind your back and squeeze them tightly, then bring the strings to the front. |
SETP3. Take the string you brought from the back and tie it firmly in front. |
How to wash an apron
Please also read the washing instructions to ensure that you can enjoy your product for as long as possible.
◎About washing
Of course, you can wash it in the washing machine. Please note the following points.
- Please avoid using fabric softener when washing.
- Due to the nature of the dye, the color may fade, so please wash separately from white items.
- Due to the nature of the fabric, it may shrink slightly.
◎About ironing
If you dehydrate it too much, it will easily wrinkle because the fabric is quite thick.
Please shorten the dehydration time to about 1 minute and dry the item while it is still damp.
Please take note of the following points when doing so.
- Please avoid using a tumble dryer when drying after washing. You can simply hang it out to dry as usual.
- Avoid ironing directly on the patterned areas.
Repair of apron
Repairing an old apron
When an apron is used for many years, the strings will inevitably start to tear or rip.
We not only repair Anything aprons, but also aprons that have been used by your grandfather or vintage aprons found at a flea market, so please feel free to contact us.
Please print out this [Apron Repair Request Form] , fill it out, and attach it to your apron.
Please mail it to Anything's Shinjuku Gyoen office.
If you would like to download the [Apron Repair Request Form], click here → [Apron Repair Request Form Excel and PDF data]
If you can't print it out,
- Your name, address, phone number, and email address
- Desired repair details
- Payment method for repair costs (advance bank transfer or cash on delivery)
Please enclose a piece of paper with the above information.
☆We apologize, but please wash the aprons you send us before sending them (unless they are unused).
Once we receive the apron, we will contact you by email or phone to inform you of the cost and delivery date, and then proceed with the repair.
We will return the item to you within 10 days to 2 weeks.
◎Repair price list
- Apron string replacement: 1,100 yen (tax included)
- Pocket repair or addition: 1,100 yen (tax included)
- Repair of tears: 1,100 yen (tax included)
Please feel free to contact us with any other inquiries.
[Free repair service for our semi-order and fully-order aprons]
*This service started in mid-August 2019.
Only semi-order and full-order aprons from Anything are available.
If it has been more than five years since your order ,
We will provide free repairs such as replacing waist straps and repairing pockets.
*Please note that shipping costs to our company will be borne by the customer .
*If you receive the item cash on delivery, we will return it to you cash on delivery after repairs.
*If you would like to add a pocket to an item that does not already have one, this can be done at an additional charge.
*The printed portion is not eligible for repair and cannot be reprinted.
If you are not sure when you placed your order, please feel free to contact us by phone.
We will confirm when you placed your order based on your name, design, etc.
◎Where to send the apron to be repaired (shipping costs to be borne by the customer)
☆We apologize for the inconvenience, but please wash the aprons you send us before sending them (unless they are unused) .
〒160-0022
2nd KS Building 1F, 1-11-17 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
TEL: 03-5843-0247 FAX: 03-5843-0248 (Monday to Friday 9:00 to 18:00)
Anything Ltd. Repair department: Ogura
[Apron repair request form Excel and PDF data]