Why do kimono lovers want to visit production areas?
The other day, I went to the Arimatsu Shibori Festival.
(It's about 20 minutes from Nagoya Station by the Meitetsu line.)
I usually work as a freelance kimono dresser in Yokohama,
helping clients get ready.
An event I had been curious about every year is
the "Arimatsu Shibori Festival."
One day, I asked a kimono-loving friend,
"Would you like to go to the Arimatsu Shibori Festival with me?"
and invited them along.
Before I knew it, it was fully booked within a few hours.
Including the organizer, we had eight participants.
After that, we looked into transportation,
decided on sightseeing spots,
and booked our accommodations.
Before I realized it, it felt more like a school field trip than a kimono trip.
But,
why do kimono lovers
want to visit production areas so much?
Arimatsu Shibori is famous among kimono enthusiasts.
If you love yukata,
I'm sure you've heard of it at least once.
・Vivid use of color
・Unique three-dimensional texture and functional beauty
・Each piece has a different expression.
I myself
thought,
"It's cute," or "It's such detailed handiwork."
I had thought that.
But when I actually went to Arimatsu,
My interest was not limited to
the desire to purchase a yukata.
How is it made?
Why does it have this pattern?
Who is making it?
I wanted to know the background behind it.
As a kimono dresser by profession,
I come into contact with many kimonos.
From my clients,
I often hear things like,
“This is a kimono I inherited from my grandmother,”
or “This is an obi I had made for a celebration.”
Although a kimono is fabric,
it is not just any fabric.
It is layered with people's memories and history.
Perhaps that is why kimono lovers
cannot be satisfied with just looking at the finished kimono.
They want to see
the place where the fabric was born,
the artisans,
and the local climate.
Culture.
History.
The desire to touch upon their roots.
That is why
I did not go there
just to buy a yukata.
I wanted to feel the atmosphere of that land.
And I wanted to know
why I am drawn to Arimatsu shibori.
A journey to visit kimono production regions
is perhaps not just a journey to find the roots of the craft,
but also a journey to explore
the reasons why I love it
myself.
What kind of kimono moves your heart?
In this magazine,
I intend to record
the places I want to visit, while researching the production regions and cultures that kimono lovers are drawn to, little by little.
I will record
the places I actually want to visit.
Starting with Arimatsu shibori,
next I would like to research Ise cotton.
≪ Future Research Schedule ≫
Ise cotton
Awa indigo
Kaga yuzen
Ushikubi tsumugi
Bashofu
↓↓ ※Research requests accepted
Ina Tsumugi
Ueda Tsumugi
Gujo Tsumugi