IAAZAJ Holdings from Toyama Strengthens Knitwear Contract Manufacturing by Welcoming Suzuknit, Expanding New Consultations with Integrated Proposals

IAAZAJ Holdings Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: 11 Aoshima, Shogawa-machi, Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture 932-0398, Representative: Hirofumi Oda, hereinafter: IAAZAJ Holdings) has welcomed Suzuknit Co., Ltd. (Location: 197-1 Nojiri, Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture, Representative: Kiyoshi Kawabe, hereinafter: Suzuknit) into its group, strengthening its contract manufacturing system (order and production system) in the knitwear sector.

This is the first M&A for our group that involves overlapping functions, specifically to "further strengthen" existing knit flat knitting capabilities, unlike traditional M&A focused on "complementing lacking functions." Centered on Suzuknit's cultivated "thorough quality" and "meticulous responsiveness," and in collaboration with our group's core functions of dyeing and processing (Daiichi Amimono and AZ),

we will promote a "proposal-based" manufacturing system that integrates everything from knitting to dyeing, processing, and sewing.

Background and Positioning

The textile industry is highly segmented by process, and the traditional structure where "work comes if you wait" no longer applies.

Oda: "Work won't come if we just wait with our mouths open. Our company is trying to solve this problem by creating an integrated system through M&A."

Kawabe: "While Suzuknit has operated as an OEM (BtoB) until now, that alone is no longer suitable for the times. We need to proceed with new proposals while maintaining an integrated approach, even if it means becoming more compact."

This initiative is based on Toyama's manufacturing foundation, aiming to reduce the coordination burden that often arises in a fragmented structure and strengthen a "system" that bundles processes to create value. In line with the Toyama Prefectural Textile Association's goal of "developing the prefectural textile industry," our company will also promote the establishment of a system that anticipates the circulation of technology and human resources as a production area.

Aim of this Project

Oda: "This M&A with Suzuknit is our first M&A that overlaps with existing functions. The primary goal is to further strengthen knitwear, and to increase order and production volumes."

Our company will expand its service range in the knitwear sector and establish a system capable of responding to client challenges with a "proposal-based" approach.

Promise to Clients: "As always" and "Better than ever."

M&A is a phase where anxieties easily arise, such as "will conditions change?", "will the contact point change?", or "will quality and delivery times fluctuate?". IAAZAJ Holdings will first prioritize maintaining "as always," and then create "better than ever" through its system and response.

Oda: "We want to continue with build-to-order production as before, and provide better service, better manufacturing, and better responsiveness than ever before."

Through the collaboration of our group, we aim to expand options for process design, enhance the reproducibility of quality standards and delivery times even in mass production, and create a system that clients can trust with peace of mind.

Kawabe: "Rather than just a 'transaction,' I want it to be a 'collaboration' as much as possible."

Aligning objectives for each project, clarifying roles, and proceeding with a "partnering approach" centered on continuity and quality – this is the common policy of both companies.

Value Provided by this Project

・Reduction of coordination effort: Proposing an integrated approach from knitting to processing to sewing, reducing communication and arrangement burdens between processes.

・Stable quality and supply: Enhancing the reproducibility of quality standards and delivery times even in mass production, leading to a system that can be trusted with peace of mind.

・Expansion of proposal scope: Broadening the service range in the knitwear sector, providing proposal-based support from specification consultation to prototyping and mass production.

Suzuknit's Strengths

Kawabe: "Suzuknit's strengths are thorough quality and meticulous responsiveness. There is a DNA in the field to respond sincerely. We want to pass on these good qualities to the next generation."

IAAZAJ Holdings will leverage this on-site capability as its core, refining its meticulousness in specification finalization and its quality perspective as a system, thereby expanding "reliable manufacturing" that directly solves client challenges.

Background of Joining the Group

Mr. Kawabe stated that he had been considering M&A for several years, also against the backdrop of the company's 50th anniversary and the challenge of a lack of successors. He explained that the major motivation for this decision was the desire to continue the employment of 31 employees and create a sustainable environment.

Consultations We Want to Increase in the Future

IAAZAJ Holdings welcomes the following types of consultations in the knitwear sector:

・OEM/ODM of knit products (from specification consultation to prototyping to mass production)

・Manufacturing that emphasizes quality standards and requires meticulous attention

・Projects that aim to reduce coordination burden across processes (e.g., bundling knitting, processing, and sewing)

Oda: "It would be interesting if we could increasingly introduce products to the market where white fabrics knitted by our company are processed by us, cut and sewn with unique processing only we can do, and then shipped out as complete products. We aim for a form where everything produced by our company is developed under other brands."

Kawabe: "The world is overflowing with goods, but I feel that there are surprisingly few 'truly desired items.'

That's why we aim for manufacturing that precisely fulfills customer needs and desires with high quality and deep technical expertise. To achieve this, it is crucial to 'select' materials, processing, and production techniques (knitting, sewing, seamless, etc.) and 'combine' them optimally. If we have a system that can handle everything from knitting to dyeing, processing, and sewing in an integrated manner, we can delve into consideration and verification to that extent. As a result, I believe it will lead to the pursuit of added value."

Company Overview

【IAAZAJ Holdings Co., Ltd.】

Location: 11 Aoshima, Shogawa-machi, Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture 932-0398

Business Activities: Dyeing, raising, printing, and finishing of textile products, and design/development related to these processes.

URL: https://www.ichiamiaz.co.jp/

【Suzuknit Co., Ltd.】

Location: 197-1 Nojiri, Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture

URL: https://www.suzuknit.org/

Contact Information

https://www.ichiamiaz.co.jp/contact/

*Please mention "Knit Project Consultation" in your inquiry for a smoother process.