The Ginza Apron Exhibition, a collaboration between Anything, a store specializing in traditional Japanese workwear called aprons, and Itoya, a long-established stationery store in Ginza, is being held at the Itoya Ginza main store until Thursday, November 13th.

Aprons were created to protect workers' waists and protect their clothes from dirt and scratches. The current form was established during the Edo period, and in the Meiji period, they began to be dyed with the name of a merchant's shop as a uniform or for advertising purposes. Functional beauty and Japanese aesthetic sense are embodied in the simple structure of thickly woven cotton fabric and a red and white waist cord.

Anything is a brand that carries on this apron culture into the present day. They continue to weave each apron carefully, one by one, using a Toyota/Suzuki shuttle loom, which was built about 100 years ago in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, a region famous for its apron production. Their durable, soft texture and timeless appearance have earned them high praise not only in Japan but around the world, and they are sold in over 30 countries worldwide, primarily in Europe.

At this event, three aprons featuring Itoya motifs and three apron bags with red and white waist straps as handles will be available.

Also not to be missed are the aprons made in collaboration with seven long-established stores that are symbols of Ginza: Ginza West, Kimuraya, Senbikiya, Kuya, Tsubame Grill, Fujiya, and Matsuzaki Senbei. The aprons, dyed with the logos and motifs of each store, will be on sale only during the period.

These maekake (Japanese aprons) are made from woven fabric that has been passed down through the generations through artisanal techniques, and feature symbols of Ginza dyed into them. They can be worn as an apron in your everyday life, or as work clothes when moving or doing a major cleaning. Why not try out this piece that embodies the wisdom and aesthetic sense of our ancestors?

Ginza Apron Exhibition
[Event Period] Now until Thursday, November 13, 2025
[Hours] Weekdays 10:00-20:00 Sundays and holidays 10:00-19:00
[Venue] Ginza Itoya Main Store, 1st floor, Ginza Street side event space (2-7-15 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo)