THE STORY 21 FALL WINTER

The mellow light of sunset-red, the sharp midnight moonlight. Entering through the blinds surfacing were extending straight shadows. Staring carefully at the shadows, the edges were blurry, gradations of the shadow dimly spreading.

Expressing the vaguely delineated edges and colors, are tie-dyeing techniques from Central Asia dating back to the Nara Period. In particular, a technique from 400 years ago called Itajime Shibori, a shaped-resist dyeing technique is used, which are also seen in Ukiyoe from the Edo period.

Fabrics are folded in screen-like fashion, then sandwiched between two pieces of wood, which are then held in place with string. The shadowed stripes painted by blinds are dyed, by folding the fabric vertically elongated, the boards resist dye except for the fold.

With adjustments to the strength when tighten the string, to which the fabric’s dye is decided, the technique of each craftsman brings out a one in only pattern. Slight differences or unexpected patterns appearing is the beauty of Itajime Shibori.

Different use of colors, line weight, or fabric brings out a sense of antiquity in Itajime Shibori. This season the fabric chosen for this technique was polyester, unfamiliar to Itajime Shibori. The shadows the moonlight paints or the bright orange afternoon sun dyed in a delicate line, expressing a faint gradation of light and shadows of our daily balance.