Introduction of Cooperative Map

History of woven labels Around the end of Meiji period, woven labels that were imported from London were attached to high-grade clothes. In Japan, Naotaro Teraoka (born in 1886 in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture) installed a device that could weave more than one fabric at the same time on the loom. He invented a way of weaving labels by combining the device with the Nishijin jacquard machine. It is said that production of woven labels was started around 1911. In Hokuriku district, ribbons were manufactured from around the middle of Meiji period. By utilizing the experience of production of ribbons, Hiroshi Kadota in Maruoka-cho introduced the technique of production of woven labels under the instruction of Mr. Teraoka in 1915. It is said that was the start of the woven label industry in Maruoka. Around the same time, Ryosaku Uchida remodeled the jacquard tape weaving machine and started production of woven labels. Kajita Okudani and Yosakichi Muso studied the technique at Kocho Name Seisakusyo in Kyoto for one or two years. After they returned to Fukui, they started production of woven labels using manual weaving machines. Many manual woven label plants were built from around 1918. Between 1935 and 1938, all the manual weaving machines were changed to mechanical ones. Narrow-fabric plants in Fukui Prefecture developed drastically and Fukui exceeded other big production sites including Ishikawa, Kiryu, Ashikaga, and Kyoto. In addition, between 1955 and 1959, many new fabric companies appeared, and existing companies also expanded in scale. In these several years, the number of small companies of the fabric industry is decreasing. Before, woven labels were used only for indicating product names. However, the label is used for adding fashion tastes recently, and demand for emblems and name labels of sports players are increasing. Artistic textiles such as image of historical sites, beautiful scenery, and famous persons designed using computers are manufactured and sold as "Echizen weave". The production amount of woven labels in Fukui commands 70% of total production in Japan.

History of Cooperative 1930 Cooperative started. Dec. 1935 Changed to Maruoka Narrow Fabric Mark Cooperative. 27 member companies Dec. 1941 Integrated into Fukui Fabric Cooperative due to war. (20 related organizations in Fukui were integrated.) 1947 Fukui Fabric Industry Cooperative was established. Dec. 1949 Separated into 9 cooperatives due to influence of Great Fukui Earthquake and change of government regions. Feb. 1950 Maruoka Narrow Fabric Cooperative was established. Dec. 1965 A sizing plant was newly built as a common facility. Dec. 1970 The cooperative center was built, and the office was moved. Selection of standard colors approved by Japan woven label commercial and industrial conference Oct. 1976 Jacquard Dept. was established. Jan. 1977 Selection of jacquard yarn died by raw fluid approved by Japan woven label commercial and industrial conference Nov. 1980 Raw yarn warehouse was built. April 1986 Competitive bidding qualification in Fukui Prefecture was decided. May 1987 Changed the name to Maruoka Finetex Cooperative. Jan. 1987 Approved as qualified cooperative by government (Osaka International Trade and Industry Dept.) March 1990 Memorial ceremony of 40th anniversary of cooperative June 1992 Improvement plan based on labor law was recognized. July 1992 Start of equipment leasing project to cope with insufficient labor June 1993 Continued equipment leasing project to cope with insufficient labor. July 1993 Promotion development group "Echizen weave" book covers and bookmarkers were used for the book named "Shortest letters in Japan". July 1994 Continued equipment leasing project March 1995 Completed equipment leasing project 26 companies leased 221 machines. Total 76,740,000 yen Jan. 1996 Start of R&D of dyed raw polyester yarn Jan. 1997 Preparation of sample books of dyed raw polyester yarn, Fine Silky (FS: commercial name) and sales (37 colors) were started. April 1998 Promotion Development Group developed new product named "Okurifumi". Jan. 1999 Completion of new warehouse Start of additional sales of 100 denier FS yarn (white, black) March 2000 50th anniversary memorial conference May 2000 CLARE declared withdrawal from rayon industry. July 2000 Started R&D for increase of FS yarn Started investigation and analysis of information network project.