Hemp-made Bedding Collection at Milan Design Week | Majotae 9490

FDT Bureau

Japanese hemp textile brand Majotae recently unveiled its inaugural collection of hemp bedding during the Milan Design Week through two exhibitions in the city. Named Majotae 9490 to represent the average number of days a person spends asleep in their lifetime, the collection includes flat sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases, created in collaboration with Teruhiro Yanagihara Studio. Know more about it on FURNITURE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (FDT).

Majotae opted for hemp fabric due to its practical advantages, including durability, antibacterial properties, quick-drying ability, odoUr resistance and adaptability to various temperatures. Moreover, the brand emphasized that as the fabric softens over time, the bedding becomes increasingly comforting with each use. The company’s approach involved merging contemporary technological innovations and production techniques with traditional artisanal skills developed in Japan’s taima-fu hemp fabric industry.

With a history spanning over 10,000 years in Japan, hemp has played various roles, from being used in shimenawa ropes to kesho-mawashi loincloths for sumo wrestlers, particularly the highest rank, yokozuna. However, the industrial revolution led to a decline in hemp cloth production as its fibers were deemed unsuitable for mechanical spinning. Now, with hemp’s ability to be cultivated quickly in arid regions and with reduced environmental impact, the material is regaining global attention.

To mark the launch, Majotae organized two exhibitions in Milan, designed by Teruhiro Yanagihara Studio. The first exhibit presented the new collection, allowing visitors to feel the fabric and learn about traditional Japanese hemp-textile production methods. The second exhibition showcased highlights from Majotae’s taima-fu archive and featured weaving demonstrations using an antique loom from the archive.

Image credit: Majotae