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 — Urea Button Production
This facility specializes in eco-friendly urea buttons and is the home of Iris’s Oeko-Tex Standard certified product line. Although Iris also operates factories outside Japan, the urea button lines—especially the sustainable options—are exclusively made in this domestic facility.
We discovered that product codes differ between factories. For example, on ApparelX, the popular buttons PRV35 and PRV100 come from different production lines.
The warehouse at Nitta is truly impressive, filled with stock items and a wide array of custom buttons made for major fashion houses, complete with laser-engraved decorations and other unique features.
Ojima Factory — Polyester Button Production
The Ojima facility handles polyester buttons, all of which meet Oeko-Tex Standard certification. Favorites such as the VT49 and shell-like BNP004 are produced here.
Interestingly, Iris doesn’t just manufacture buttons. The factory also houses advanced technologies used to create high-precision components for automotive applications, machine parts, and even small items like pen caps and remote control buttons. Due to confidentiality, photography in this section was not permitted.
As a special gesture, we received samples of raw materials and buttons as souvenirs!
Iris also manufactures local specialty items such as souvenirs and “Omamori” charms for nearby shrines in Gunma. These items are made with the same level of care and creativity as their fashion products. We learned that Iris offers custom novelty goods, keychains, and souvenirs in small quantities—starting from just a few hundred pieces—crafted from various materials with nearly unlimited design possibilities.
Yajima Factory — Metal & Die-Cast Button Production
At the Yajima Factory, we observed the entire process of metal button production—from raw metal sheets to the final product, including buttons with multi-layered patterns.
In addition to buttons, the factory also manufactures other metal-based fashion accessories such as pull tabs, hooks, and buckles. While much of the process is automated using advanced machinery, certain tasks still rely on the precision of skilled artisans.
We were particularly impressed by the wide range of metal finishes and shades available.
Conclusion
Our visit to Iris provided a deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship, innovation, and technology behind something as seemingly simple as a button. Whether it’s high-fashion custom orders or locally cherished souvenirs, Iris’s commitment to quality and creativity truly stands out.
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