Be One hobbyist 
Introducing the man who started a cotton product workshop at “Galabo(ガラ紡)”.
Summary
古澤敦氏は、カンボジアのバッタンバン州でオーガニックコットンを栽培し、地域経済の再生に取り組んでいます。彼は、元NHKディレクターという経歴を持ち、内戦の名残が残る地雷散布地帯を有効活用しています。使用されるコットンは全てオーガニック認証を受けており、農薬や殺虫剤を使わずに栽培されています。収穫された綿は、明治時代に日本で開発された伝統的な紡績技術「ガラ紡」を復活させた機械で加工され、地元の貧困層の女性たちに新たな雇用機会を提供しています。これらの女性は紡績から製品の完成までの全工程を手がけ、高品質なオーガニックコットン製品を製造しており、その製品は国内外で販売されています。
Product Features
カンボジアで栽培される綿は、オーガニック農法で栽培され、農薬や化学肥料を使用せず、環境への影響が低減されています。選ばれる種類は地元の気候に適応しており、天然の風合いと耐久性を持ちます。
古澤敦氏が生産する綿は、カンボジアの農家と協力して栽培されたオーガニックコットンで、地雷の残る地域の安全な利用を通じて地域社会に貢献しています。この綿から紡績される糸は高品質で、国内外の市場で高く評価されています。
ガラ紡は、明治時代に日本で開発された手法で、主に小規模生産に適しています。この技法では、綿を円筒形の容器に棒状に詰め、回転させながら引き伸ばして糸を紡ぎます。特に糸の太さを微調整でき、柔軟な質感が特徴です。カンボジアで古澤敦氏がこの技術を復元し、地元の気候や湿度に適応させています。この取り組みにより、伝統的な技術を保持し、地元の女性たちに独特のスキルを提供しています。
ガラ紡による糸は手作業で紡がれ、糸の太さや質感に自然な変化があります。これに対し、機械で紡がれる綿糸は均一で精度が高いですが、ガラ紡特有の温もりや独特の質感は少なくなります。
Self-Taught Method
古澤敦氏は元NHKディレクターであり、報道業界でのキャリアを活かしてカンボジアで新たな挑戦を開始しました。彼は現地での綿産業に関する知識や技術を独学で学び、地元の農法や気候、社会的条件を深く理解しました。この理解を基に、カンボジアの課題に対処するため、地元の伝統技術を復興させる目的でガラ紡を導入しました。カンボジアの農村部では特に女性の雇用が必要とされており、ガラ紡は小規模でも効率的に運営でき、地元労働力を活用するのに適していると考えられました。
ガラ紡はその独特の生産プロセスと製品の質感が特徴で、生成される糸には個性があり、高品質なテキスタイルを生産することができます。これは高級ファッション市場での需要が高いため、カンボジア製のオーガニックコットン製品を高付加価値商品として市場に打ち出す戦略的選択となりました。また、ガラ紡の機械は木製や金属の基本的な部品で構成されており、シンプルな構造のため、一般的な工具での加工や組み立てが可能です。このため、カンボジアのように工業部品の供給が不安定な地域でも修理やメンテナンスが容易に行えます。
Processes
Products
https://shop.cambodiacottonclub.org/en#
Amazing cotton scarves. The dye is high quality. Love the natural dye. Definitely check out.
Cambodia Cotton Club CCCThe organizer, Atsushi Furusawa, learned about CCC after it was featured on a TV show called “Gutto Chikyubin.”When I bought a stall to show my support, I received a thank you note from Mr. Furusawa, and I was impressed by his friendly personality and his message, “We are converting landmine sources into cotton fields in order to recover the human resources lost in the genocide and civil war.” I was completely captivated by this initiative.In the face of adversity, we employ local women, develop human resources, provide literacy education, and do a variety of other things. I also feel happy when I think that the happiness that goes beyond just turning a minefield into a field begins with one Japanese person in Battambang.I would like to visit Battambang and tour the workshop.
Cambodia Cotton Club.I met the organizer, Atsushi Furusawa (former NHK producer), through spinning and dyeing.His humanitarian aid is beyond measure. Always smiling.No matter how painful it is. respect.From a minefield to a cotton field.By nurturing local people rather than providing financial supportThe next generation will also grow.Pesticide-free cotton from the rich nature of Cambodia A new attempt at traditional Japanese gala spinningCotton leather pieces made from cottonEverything is made of human hands, thoughts, and the blessings of nature.It’s something you can feel.I also use gala spun yarn and cotton leather bags. In Japan, we also hold exhibitions at department stores.Please come and have a look at the warm Cambodian Cotton Club products.I’ll go again 😆
It’s gentle on your skin, and the more you use it, the more you’ll get used to it.Everyone’s atmosphere is also very good.it’s recommended!
I visited Cambodia Cotton Club with my family and enjoyed learning about the process of how cotton leather is made, as well as the different types of natural resources used to dye the cotton for weaving. The staff were friendly and welcoming. We purchased some very nice products and are looking forward to returning for the experience program they offer, which includes making some items ourselves. We’ll be back!
The trial and error of the Cambodian Cotton Club so far has been*Turning a minefield into a cotton field:The project is being developed in Cambodia’s Battambang province, which has the most residual landmines in the world. Human resources have been lost due to the genocide committed by the Pol Pot regime and the civil war between ethnic groups. Battambang province is a cotton producing region in Cambodia, and traditional crafts using cotton existed, but they have disappeared😢*Employ women:We employ rural illiterate women, single mothers, and women who are willing to pursue higher education. This is because men tend to go to Thailand to work, and women are at an overwhelming disadvantage in areas where there is no desk work. (I’m not treating men poorly 😅) We educate them on cotton cultivation and product manufacturing techniques from scratch.*Sustainable agriculture: We are trying to turn minefields into cotton fields and revive lost industries. We grow cotton using Japanese cotton seeds that are never contaminated with genetically modified organisms. After witnessing a series of suicides among farmers in India and other countries where “seeds” that originally did not belong to anyone became the intellectual property of private companies, he decided to create chromosomes that could not be contaminated by genetically modified organisms. We use different numbers of Japanese cotton. It is economically disadvantageous because the fibers are short and the yield is low 😅 On the other hand, it has a strong vitality, so it will grow naturally even if you leave it alone without any care 😊*Human resource development with emphasis on education:The most important objective is to “regain human resources lost in genocide and civil war.” Many people learned the basic attitude of working at CCC. And then we were successfully picked up by another company😅. Although this is a big loss for CCC, it is contributing to the development of human resources for Cambodia as a whole. Although some of our staff members are unable to read or write, we provide Cambodian language tutors. I am sorry that I did not have the opportunity to receive school education.*Independently operated: We do not rely on donations or aid, and operate with revenue from product sales. I would like to say this, but people who sympathize with CCC are purchasing it🙇However, I wonder if there is anything more necessary than this, so CCC is studying science while making things. This is my style of learning math and mathematics, so I am still asking myself these questions. In today’s developed countries, things are overflowing and the garbage problem is a more serious social problem, which is troubling.*Local reputation:After receiving an award from King Norodom Sihamoni of the Kingdom of Cambodia for the revival of the textile industry in Battambang, the neighborhood no longer viewed us as “Japanese people who don’t really know what they’re doing.”😊*Product features:We use cotton grown in Battambang province to make stoles dyed with plants from nearby areas. However, there are literally too many cotton products in the world to throw away, so we spent four years creating a new material, cotton leather, which is completely plant-based and uses completely new cotton. It’s all handmade, so we can only make small quantities, but since it’s all made from plant materials, all the staff worked hard on that part😊
From early days of Cambodia Cotton Club in 2000’s, I know (and slightly support) this true/pure grassroot NGO by one Japanese founder/former journalist and their activities to eliminate poverty under today’s excessive capitalism. Their step by step the manufacturing hand-made cotton products boost not only their quality of life also their new culture. CCC creates two meaning of the states of art; one is the art of life; another is the art of humanity comprehensively.Beyond many hardships (still now going on), they are just establishing their original products by local female staffs who were found their potentials by the second-generation female superintendent/nurse. One example is “cotton leather” made by wild foundation seed without any chemicals and artificials during the process.No need for my explaining anymore, ask them and go to there directly at first. You must find hope now in progress on minefield. With their matured philosophy for humanity education and future-oriented manufacturing development, Cambodia Cotton Club is walking forward from now on.Takuma Naitoh, ;an industrial/craft designer.
Felt Products bought in Mongolia – Wool is the raw material
Slippers bought in Mongolia – Wool is the raw material
Wallet I bought in Mongolia – Mongolian nomadic embroidery design
About “Takasaki Daruma”
Maintaining production with a large number of processes
The revival of Japanese swords, which take time and capital investment to make