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Author: Ikuko Inai

She is involved in the entire process of hand-painted Kyo-Yuzen dyeing at Ishida Man Dyeing Factory. She also works on the planning and sales of products that adapt traditional crafts to modern lifestyles under the brand "Gion 359," and handles a wide range of products from custom-made kimonos to general merchandise. She has been selected for the Japan Dyeing and Weaving Artists Exhibition.

About hand-painted Yuzen

Hand-painted Yuzen is the oldest technique of Yuzen processing, and is one of Kyoto's most representative traditional industries, still passed down to the present day. The dyeing technique was originally hand-painted, but in the early Meiji period, stencil dyeing was developed, and then machine printing techniques were developed. The Kyoto Yuzen industry became increasingly independent with the development of dyeing stencils, and the development of specialization has led to the diversification of techniques for each specialized process.

Leather New Product Development Project

Using leather, a by-product of the Wagyu beef we eat every day, as a new canvas, each craftsman brought their own techniques, including glue application, tube painting, and gold leafing, to work on developing leather items. The theme was "cherry blossoms." Each craftsman interpreted the theme in their own unique way, resulting in items with a variety of different expressions. This will be the catalyst for further new initiatives.