Traditional Japanese green cotton apron, MAEKAKE MATCHA

Traditional Japanese cotton apron Sake, MAEKAKE SAKE, Made in Japan

The maekake is a traditional style Japanese apron, tied at the hips and worn by the craftsmen and the staff of certain shops. Maekake has been favored by workers since the Muromachi period of the 15th century. The name maekake comes from mae, which means before, and from the verb kakeru, to hang.

The story of a classic Japanese garment
The origins of the maekake date back to the 15th century, when fishermen of the Muromachi era cut aprons of old sail cloth to tie around the waist. The full and formal name of the garment is ho-maekake, or canvas apron. In Japan, as elsewhere, the need has led to the reuse and remodeling of used materials. The popularity of maekake peaked in the 1950s and 1960s. Most maekakes were made in the city of Toyohashi in Aichi Prefecture, some 300 kilometers (185 miles) from Tokyo. During the dramatic expansion of the Japanese post-war economy, maekake production exploded and aprons printed with a store or company name spread among sake breweries, stores selling rice , miso, soy sauce and fertilizers, and food manufacturers across the country.