History of woven textiles
For many centuries in ancient Japan, hemp was commonly used to weave clothing. Around 2,000 years ago, when many people from China and the Korean peninsula came to settle in Japan, they brought with them the technology of sericulture and silk weaving. These techniques soon spread and developed throughout Japan, and by the Heian period (794-1185), woven silk garments unique to Japan had appeared. Near the end of the 16th century, the use of cotton clothing became widespread, initially being worn by samurai for their uniforms, before spreading to the common folk.