"The important thing is to brush thoroughly. When you get home, brush the fabric with all your might from the bottom up, and once the dust in the fibers is out, brush from top to bottom to smooth the nap before putting it in the closet. It will make a difference in the shine of the material," explains Kazuo Ishikawa of ISHIKAWA Clothing Brushes, as he brushes the knitwear and scarves of customers who stop by. A clothing brush making demonstration and sales event will be held at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 8th floor = Isetan Men's Residence from 11am to 6pm on Saturday, June 18th and Sunday, June 19th.

Because it's a good brush, you can brush your hair thoroughly.

"There's no brush anywhere that you're supposed to brush with all your might," says Kazuo Ishikawa of ISHIKAWA . "I tell people to brush with all their might because I want to properly transfer the rebound force of the brush bristles to the fabric, but everyone gets scared. Brushing clothes is to return the fabric to its best condition, and if you don't transfer the rebound force of the bristles, the dust won't come off."

As he said this, Mr. Ishikawa continued making brushes, saying, "Some brush makers explain that you should brush gently and softly, turning your wrist...it sounds good, but that won't remove dust. You need to sweep out the dust from deep within the fibers to restore the shine and deepen the color. Our brushes don't have handles because we want to apply firm pressure."

Why did you focus on the hair of a calligraphy brush?

What surprises people unfamiliar with ISHIKAWA is the difference in the sheen and texture of the fabric before and after brushing. While many inexpensive clothing brushes use boar bristles, ISHIKAWA uses horsehair from the tail side, which combines firmness and softness.

"The long hairs on a horse's tail are called 'main hair,' while what we use are the downy hairs growing at the base of the tail—the 'tail hairs,' which are auxiliary hairs. It's like the difference between feathers and down. Main hairs are thick, stiff, and long, and are used for things like violin bows. Tail hairs are used to make calligraphy brushes, and are used in high-quality brushes."

After extensive research, Mr. Ishikawa focused on the tail hairs because of their unique properties: "They are originally soft and fluffy, but they can absorb plenty of the sticky liquid of ink, allowing for precise control—holding, flicking, and pressing—and they return to their original state after washing." "They were the only hairs that met the seemingly contradictory requirements I was looking for: softness when brushing and firmness."

A brush to keep up with the evolution of fashion

"We tried many different types of wool, but wool that was just soft lacked body and didn't pick up dust. Stiff wool did pick up dust, but it damaged the fabric. Another point is that the fabrics that fashion designers prefer to use are becoming more delicate year by year," says Ishikawa.

"In the days when clothing fabrics were coarse and there was a lot of dust and dirt in the streets, a stiff boar bristle clothes brush might have been fine, but those days are long gone. For example, tweed is now about a third of what it used to be. For today's clothes, which are thin, light, and soft, and whose fibers themselves are finer, a brush made of tail hair that is soft but has good resilience is ideal."

A clothing brush suitable for wool suits and coats costs 54,000 yen, while a higher-end brush that can be used for cashmere knits, silk stoles, kimonos, and even fur costs 108,000 yen. The lineup also includes even more luxurious brushes for vicuña, hats, and shoes. "Our brushes are all handmade, with each individual tail hair individually implanted. Because the bristles are fine and of high quality, we can't rely on machines, which is why they're expensive. You'll notice the difference after just one use, and they're popular with people suffering from hay fever and other allergies; they last a lifetime."

"Many people struggle with daily care because the fabric is so delicate and fine. When they send it to the dry cleaners, the fabric loses its texture, becomes thin and stiff, and comes back smelling of petroleum. I highly recommend trying a brush made of tail hair. It will leave the fabric smooth while preserving its texture, allowing you to cherish and wear it for a long time."

ISHIKAWA 's clothing brushes gently care for your precious garments, preserving their original texture and luster without damaging the fabric. Start your daily care routine with just one brush.

View ISHIKAWA clothing brush product list on the Isetan online store.


inquiry
Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 8th Floor = Isetan Men's Residence
03-3352-1111 (main representative)
For inquiries via email, please click here.