WHAT’S NEW

  • Visiting Iris Button Factories

    In June, the ApparelX Insight team had the opportunity to visit Iris, one of Japan’s leading button manufacturers. Known for producing all of their products in-house—from raw material development to design, production, and final sales—Iris operates several domestic factories. We visited three out of their five Japan-based facilities, all located in Gunma Prefecture. Nitta Factory…

  • Top Japanese Fabric Manufacturer: Masuda

    Last week, ApparelX Insight had the opportunity to attend the Masuda Seminar, where we gained deeper insight into the brand and its product offerings. Founded in 1927, Masuda boasts nearly a century of history—98 years of excellence in fabric manufacturing. Today, the company offers more than 200 stock fabrics in an impressive 3,500 color variations.…

  • On ApparelX: Sewing notions and apparel accessories

    Yes, ApparelX is known to have fabrics and trims on the site but did you know that you can find sewing notions and other apparel accessories and even custom tailored formal wear as well? Let’s go through some categories! Yes, ApparelX is known to have fabrics and trims on the site but did you know…

  • We are now accepting apparel OEM requests!

    We were getting requests to find factories by our global customers. While apparel OEM was an unofficial service that we were providing, we have made it an official service! Check out this page for details ー The information I’m sharing here in this blog is information pulled from our apparel OEM page. With a focus…

  • What is RACCAGNI zipper?

    ~ Introducing zipper features and ordering methods ~ I’ll be introducing raccagni zippers in this blog. What is RACCAGNI? RACCAGNI is a high-end zipper manufacturer founded in Italy in 1983. It is used by many fashion houses and high-end brands in Europe and the United States, including Dolce&Gabbana, PRADA, MaxMara, GIVENCHY, and Burberry. RACCAGNI zippers…

  • Recommended for autumn and winter! Special feature on warm fleece and sheep boa fabrics

    In this article, we will explain about warm fleece and boa fabrics that are recommended for the coming autumn and winter. What is fleece fabric? Fleece is a fabric that is becoming a staple in winter wear. It is now used in many everyday items such as hoodies, outerwear, the inside of pants, blankets, and…

  • 【2025 Trend】Recommended Patchwork Fabrics

    Recommended Patchwork Fabrics

  • Visiting an Apparel Factory 

    Have you ever visited an apparel factory?  To build on my recent training at Yamamoto Co., Ltd. (ApparelX is run by Okura Shoji Co., Ltd., and Yamamoto Co., Ltd. is within the same parent company, EXCY) on order-made suits and custom formal accessories, I was given an opportunity to visit Tex Tech’s (formally, Gents) factory.…

  • Japanese Fabric Manufacturer: Japan Stretch

    This time, we would like to introduce Japan Stretch to you, a Japanese fabric manufacturer carries a wide range of stretchy fabrics. Japan Stretch As the name suggests, Japan Stretch Co., Ltd. develops and sells stretchy fabrics and products. Stretch materials that utilize 40 years of commitment to materials and know-how in planning, proposals, materials,…

  • What does it mean when YKK zippers are arranged for factory or processing orders?

    When ordering zippers, there are two main ways to place an order: factory order and processing order. We are often asked about the difference between the two, so here’s a brief explanation of how YKK zipper orders are typically handled. Factory Order When placing a zipper order, you specify the zipper type, element color, tape…