Interview on Commitment to Hat Making
At the Eritate Hat Factory Kurashiki Honmachi Store, hats with intricate details are lined up.
We interviewed the representative director, Mr. Eritate Shigeki, about the thoughts behind making and delivering hats to customers.
Commitment to Hat Making with Design and Functionality
Please tell us about your commitment to making hats.
Eritate (no honorifics)
It is to create hats that have both design and functionality.
Everyone has different head sizes, and there are individual differences in head height as well.
For example, straw hats are hard, so if you wear a hat that doesn't fit, your ears can hurt. However, if the hat has fabric inserted in the middle of the head part, the size can be adjusted to fit the person's head height, making it comfortable to wear.
Also, inserting and sewing fabric between the materials is one of our techniques.
I would also like to hear your thoughts on technology.
Eritate
When an idea comes to mind, the designer creates a design, and it is actually made at the factory in Kamogata. Generally, designs are considered based on what can be done, but we do the opposite. After all, technology improves through making, so we make everything that comes to mind.
Some of our hats may look like ordinary hats at first glance, but upon closer inspection, you can see that there are clever sewing techniques, and we intentionally do things that take time. We create with the idea that design evolves technology.
Things to Keep in Mind During Customer Service
With so many hats available, do many customers get confused?
Eritate
Many people do get confused. Some customers are unsure about what kind of hat to choose.
When recommending to customers, what is important is to convey things beyond just the design. Here, while talking with customers, we ask about what kind of outfits they will wear and when, and we suggest hats that they can actually try on. When we explain the commitment behind each hat and that they are made in Okayama Prefecture, many customers are convinced and decide to purchase.
There is a sewing machine in the store as well.
Eritate
Yes, that's right. In the store, we have brought in sewing machines and hat molds that were used in the Kamogata factory, and the shelves are originally sewing tables. I want customers to experience not just a shop that sells products, but also the atmosphere of hat manufacturing.
In fact, it is easier to convey information to customers by showing them the tools. I want customers to buy good products. We believe that the hats we make ourselves are good products.
If you come to Kurashiki and find a good hat, I hope you will definitely buy it. That is the feeling I have when talking with customers. We continuously create new hats, but I want to continue this way of customer service without changing it.
Conclusion
The Eritate Hat Factory continues to manufacture original hats.
Each hat is crafted with meticulous attention to detail, and listening to the explanations while viewing the actual products brings a sense of new discovery and joy.
There are many hats that can only be purchased here, so please be sure to stop by when you visit the Bikan Historical Area.
Data on Eritate Hat Factory Kurashiki Honmachi Store
| Name | Eritate Hat Factory Kurashiki Honmachi Store |
|---|---|
| Address | 11-26 Honmachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-422-6544 |
| Parking | None |
| Business Hours | Weekdays: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Weekends and Holidays: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Regular Holidays | Tuesday, Wednesday |
| Payment Methods |
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| Website | Eritate Hat Factory |
