#aizome

Even our waste is good for you, states the campaign for this year's most unique beauty product. The Japanese-German textile start-up AIZOME in partnership with German branding and advertising agency Serviceplan Innovation has launched WASTECARE™, a premium skin care product made from the wastewater of its textile dyeing factory...

こんにちは。 この地に引っ越してきて半年、もうすぐ秋になろうとしています。

まだまだ暑い日は続きますが（日本の夏は本当に暑い！）、柿渋の染まり具合を見ていると秋が近づいている事を実感します。

Hello. It's been 6 months since I moved here and it's almost fall.

Although the days are still hot (Japanese summers are really wet & hot!) ), I can feel that autumn is approaching when I look at the dye process of the persimmon tannin.

My lovely friend purchased a my works' gown made of linen and dyed with persimmon tannin.

These are called myoga, Japanese summer herb, eaten pickled in vinegar. It can also be eaten raw.

私は本当に柿渋染めの色が大好きなので、布をどんどん染めなくてはと焦ります。 そしてこちらは最近の制作風景。柿渋が鉄と反応すると黒くなる事を利用して模様を描いています。

I really love the colors of persimmon tannin dyeing and I am in a hurry to dye more and more fabric.

And these pics are recent work in progress. I draw patterns using the fact that persimmon tannin turns black when it reacts with iron.

The deep black charcoal color, which is not just black, is very beautiful.　And it seems to have a very strong water repellent effect. さて、展示に向けてラストスパート！ 国内ではこちら。

MAMEDORI LABO. solo exhibition

「いままでも、これからも」10/7~10/27

ギャラリー水巣 新潟県柏崎市松波３丁目3-3-28

Next my exhibition in Japan is

その後、イギリスのセレクトショップ Beautiful fashion freal lab. さんへたくさんの作品を送ります。Beautiful fashion freak lab.とMAMEDORI LABO.の限定コラボ商品も制作中。 イギリスの皆様、何卒よろしくお願いいたします。

Aizome, the “Mystic Blue of Japan”

Aizome (藍染め) or “indigo dyeing” is characterized by a deep blue color that is also called “ Japan blue “ as it is known and appreciated in the world due to its beautiful hue. It has been treasured by the Japanese since ancient times and is now used for modern items such as jeans or sweaters, among many other products. Discover the charm of Japan’s mystical blue!

Ai (indigo) is a dye harvested from the leaves of the Japanese indigo plant ( Persicaria tinctoria ). Its bright , deep blue color has attracted people since ancient times. Indigo dyeing has been developed in various parts of the world; it is said to have been introduced from India to Japan via the Silk Road and there are records of indigo plant cultivation from the 6th to the 7th century.

At the beginning, it was only used for aristocrats or samurai . However, around the 17th century, it spread to common people as well, and various household items began to be dyed with indigo, including kimono , hand towels, and bedding . Since indigo has antibacterial and insect repellent effects and is also effective in preventing odors, Aizome clothing was appreciated as a remedy for skin problems or eczema.

There are several methods for extracting the dye from indigo leaves. The most used method and that has been transmitted to the present day is the fermentation of the leaves . Indigo leaves are dried and fermented to make “ sukumo “ which contains a concentrated dye component and is then mixed with lye, lime, and other substances and then fermented again. Currently, most sukumo is produced in Tokushima Prefecture in Shikoku, known as “Awa-ai” and produces high-quality colors.

先日のアンティークマーケットに来られた方（嬉しいことに私の作品を見てくださっている女性）が、友人で織りの先生と一緒にまた来てくれました。

写真中央がブライアン・ホワイトヘッドさんです。

彼はカナダ人で、現在は日本に住み、藍染めや織りをしています。また、蚕の飼育や生糸の紡績も行っています。 お二人とも、とても素敵な方です！

A visitor(the woman who to see my work,so I am glad) to our recent antique market came again with a friend and weaving teacher.

In the middle of the photo is Bryan Whitehead.

He is a Canadian who now lives in Japan and works as an indigo dyer and weaver. He also raises silkworms and spins raw silk. Both of them are very nice!

彼はカナダ人で、現在は日本に住み、藍染めや織りをしています。また、蚕の飼育や生糸の紡績も行っています。 お二人とも、とても素敵な方です！

ブライアンさんを「日本文化の担い手」「日本人より日本人らしい」「日本語が上手」とは言いたくありません。 布を作ること、自分の服を作ること、糸を紡ぐこと、植物から色を取ることは、国境や人種とは関係がないからです。 ブライアンさんのインタビューを読むと、私が考えていたことと同じことを言っていました。 宮大工になろうと思っていたこと、さらには、広告のデザインをしたり、絵を描いたりしていたこと！(私は現役のグラフィックデザイナー、イラストレーターです。)

ブライアンさんのインタビュー記事

ブライアンさんのスタジオのブログ

話は戻りますが、お二人は我が家の納屋を隅々まで見て、いろいろと買ってくださいました。 自分が使いきれない糸や道具が、形にしてくれる人のところへ行くのは、本当に嬉しいことです！

二人の方に言われました。あなたも織ったらどうですか」と言われたんです。

私はとにかく何かを作るのが好きで、古布で服を作ったり紙でステイショナリーを作ったりしています。 畑では野菜やハーブを作っています。廃油で石鹸を作ったり、ハーブでお香を作ったり。私の作品にまつわるもので作っていないのは、紙と布だけかも笑。 今作っているものを極める事で、今回の人生は精一杯。 誰かが作ってくれた素敵な布や紙を、精一杯活かせるように精進します！

I don't want to say that Bryan is a "bearer of Japanese culture" or "more Japanese than the Japanese" or "speaks good Japanese.  Because making cloth, making your own clothes, spinning yarns, and getting colors from plants have nothing to do with national borders or race. When I read the interview with Bryan, he said the same thing I had been thinking. It is the same thing that I was thinking of becoming a palace carpenter, and even the same thing that I was thinking of doing, designing advertisements and drawing pictures! (I'm an active graphic designer and illustrator)

Bryan’s interview

Bryan’s studio blog

Back to the story, the two of them looked at every inch of our barn and bought many things. I am so glad that these threads and tools that I can't use in my life are now going to people who can give them shape!

Two people told me. They told me, "Why don't you weave too?