本稿の課題は，近代日本の綿織物産地の成長過程を，製品転換と工業化に着目しながら解明することである。泉南産地は，明治期に全国に先駆けて白木綿からタオル製品へと転換し，輸出市場を開拓することで発展への道を拓いた。第一次大戦ブーム期には，有力機業家は力織機工場を設立し，産地を組織化することで競争力を高めた。泉南産地は，今治や三重のタオル産地も含めた全国的な生産統制をおし進めることで，タオル業界全体の成長も牽引したのである。
The purpose of this paper is to clarify the growth process of modern Japan’s cotton textile production areas, with a focus on product transformation and industrialization. During the Meiji period, the Sennan area became the first in the country to shift from producing white cotton to manufacturing towels. During the World War I boom, prominent industrialists established power loom factories and organized the region’s production system to improve competitiveness. Sennan also played a leading role in the overall growth of the towel industry by promoting nationwide production control efforts, which included other towel-producing regions such as Imabari and Mie.

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