Why Hagoromo Chalk Is So Expensive | So Expensive | Business Insider

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Published 2024-07-27
Hagoromo has been described as "the Rolls-Royce" of chalk." The formerly Japanese, now Korean brand's chalk is known for its smooth consistency, vibrancy, and being nearly dust-free. But the brand almost disappeared in 2015, which sent its loyal fans into a frenzy, buying up lifetime supplies before the factory shut down. Luckily, Shin Hyeong-seok, a Korean schoolteacher and former seller of Hagoromo chalk, formed a relationship with the company's president, Watanabe Takayasu, and decided to take over. The transition wasn't easy, but Hyeong-seok's dedication to Takayasu's original formulas and methodology kept the brand alive. But is that enough to ensure its future? We visited Sejongmall, where Hagoromo chalk is made, to find out.

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Why Hagoromo Chalk Is So Expensive | So Expensive | Business Insider
All Comments (21)
  • @KamiCorp2953
    I actively use this chalk daily for work. It does cost 5x more than many other brands, but it also: - Produces less chalk dust - Doesn't rub off onto your hands - Easily cleans off with one or two passes of a wiper, rather than most others that need to be washed off with water and stick around for ages - Has a richer, brighter colour and is easier to see. All of those reasons is why I use it and never regret paying the premium for it.
  • @kwaaaa
    I just love it when people geek out on the gear they use. It's appreciation of the tiniest details for the tools you use and how it impacts your art/craft.
  • @CreativismeOfficial
    Imagine studying all your life to become a math professor, only to be interviewed about chalk
  • @fableagain
    I like how the cutting machine leaves traces on the end of each stick of chalk and squishes them a little. It really gives it a more artisenal feel.
  • @nurulabidahnajihahjaini9317
    I heard about that hagoromo chalk-craze in 2015 because the only factory will be close. Glad that it came back. These chalk really is good!
  • @edantas
    Damn the narrator has the pronunciation of these foreign words on point
  • @GenRN
    I have zero need for chalk but now I want some. 😂
  • @shizuxo
    the story of the chalk being passed is indeed special, I hope they do well
  • @gt-zq5cm
    Imagine being a Japanese kid just drawing on the sidewalk with this chalk and you just get jumped by a bunch of american math teachers for your chalk rofl.
  • @eldibs
    I mean, I pay extra for good pens because the cheap ones don't perform as well. I bought a nice mouse for my PC for the same reason. If you spend a lot of time using a chalkboard, paying extra for nice chalk just makes sense.
  • @chae01111
    tasted a piece of Hagoromo chalk today and it tasted okay! 😋
  • @Xanderviceory
    that "secret liquid" looked exactly like liquid starch by color and viscosity, used to stiffen clothing after washing. and it would made sense as it would be a non-toxic binder yet be just flexible enough to allow it to not chip and lay smooth lines.
  • @RFC3514
    The answer to a lot of these videos seems to be: "Because (especially west coast) Americans will pay extra for anything Japanese", in much the same way that Brits will pay extra for anything French. 😉
  • @Haya12234
    it is so expensive because it is named after the sage of 6 paths
  • @veenab1343
    Great big stories were first to report about the chalk