The traditional Japanese technique of transforming clothing back into raw yarn material.
The fabric produced using this technique.
Skilled craftsmen can quickly identify and sort clothing by material through touch alone. If the fabric contains too much synthetic fiber, it cannot be repurposed through Hanmō. The fabrics are also sorted by color and then processed through a Hanmō machine to return them to their raw state.
Historically, these materials were labeled as “secondary used cheap material,” leading to a decline in the Hanmō technique’s popularity. However, today, such techniques are highly valued by environmentally conscious consumers worldwide. For instance, the American outdoor brand Columbia Sportswear utilizes Japan’s reused wool, made using the Hanmō technique.
