Virtual Event
History Talk
November 21 @ 7:00 pm
Virtual Event
The S. Shobey Silk Store of Yokohama
The S. Shobey Silk Store of Yokohama and its production and export of Western style gowns with fine Japanese embroidery as well as silk accessories from 1859 to the present day
1859年創業横浜の椎野正兵衛商店
Thursday, November 21, 7:00 PM
Speaker: Alex Byrne
The S. Shobey Silk Store was founded by Mr. Shobei Shiino in 1859, the year Yokohama opened as a treaty port. He placed an English sign outside his store on Honcho-dori that read ‘S. Shobey Silk Store’ and started selling silk products such as gowns, smoking jackets, handkerchiefs, neckties, embroideries, and accessories aimed at the Western market in Japan and overseas.
In 1873 he was sent by the Meiji government to the World’s Fair in Vienna to learn about the silk industry in Europe. He then exhibited at subsequent World’s Fairs in Philadelphia (1876), Paris (1878), Melbourne (1880), Barcelona (1888) and Chicago (1893), winning numerous awards for his gowns and other embroidered items.
It could be said that S. Shobey was not only the first Japanese brand in Japan to make and sell Western-style clothing and accessories with fine Japanese embroidery, but was in fact the first global fashion brand.
The talk will be in English and will be followed by a Q & A session. To attend, please complete the form below.