History of the Sanbi Production Region
The areas comprising modern-day Fukuyama City in Hiroshima Prefecture and Ibara City in Okayama Prefecture have boasted thriving cotton cultivation and weaving industries since the Edo Period (1603–1868). During the subsequent Meiji Period (1868–1912), major growth was seen in Sanbi's textile industry, which produced Bingo-gasuri dyed textiles and Bicchu Kokura-ori woven textiles, among other products. In addition, the area that now comprises Okayama's Kurashiki City has long thrived as a producer of tabi traditional socks and more contemporarily school uniforms and workwear, all rooted in local industry which revolves around Sanada-himo braided ribbons, Kokura-ori woven goods and similar products made possible through cotton cultivation dating back to the Edo Period.
As a reflection of this history, the Sanbi production region has developed rich technologies and techniques related to thick-fabric weaving, sewing, indigo dyeing and other such processes for many long years. These, in turn, have facilitated the development of sophisticated techniques required for jeans and other denim products in the fields of spinning, dyeing, weaving, sewing and beyond. Today, Sanbi is home to many companies involved in the production of denim and jeans, having evolving into a production center with technologies and techniques that garner global acclaim.