The roots and aesthetic sense of "katae-zome"

About the "Stencil Dyeing Exhibition"

We will be holding a "Stencil Dyeing Exhibition" at Kimono Kureha, which will bring together works by artists active in the field of "Stencil Dyeing."

Original "stencil" designs. A wide-ranging worldview. Even by the same artist, the taste varies greatly depending on the "stencil." We hope that you will experience the profound charm of the stencil dyeing category through this exhibition.

At the venue, you will be able to see the stencil dyeing works of several artists, and we will also be accepting orders for works. For orders, we will work with you to create a wonderful piece while taking into account your wishes. Don't miss this opportunity to create a piece that will become your own treasure.

Main exhibiting artists (in alphabetical order)

Mariko Arakawa, Takashi Okamoto, Hiroko Okamoto, Miyuki Ozawa, Teiji Kojima, Mihoko Seki

Exhibition

Stencil dyeing works by various artists (mainly Nagoya obi)
Artwork order consultation session

Co-hosted

Various woven fabrics suitable for stencil dyeing (such as Sansaiyama Tsumugi)

Date: November 25th (Sat) - 27th (Mon), 2023
10:00 - 18:00 (until 17:00 on the last day)

Location: 2F Velvia, 3502-1 Chino, Chino City, Nagano Prefecture
Inside Kimono KUREHA

*Our store is located in the "Belvia" building at JR Chino Station, two hours from Shinjuku Station on the Azusa Limited Express. It is easily accessible from within Tokyo and is visited by many customers. If you are coming by car, there is an underground parking lot at Belvia (free for three hours).

Mariko Arakawa 9-inch Nagoya Obi "Ranman"

What is katae-zome?

There are various dyeing techniques that use stencils, such as Edo Komon and Kyo Yuzen techniques that use Ise stencils. In stencil dyeing, like Ise stencils, many of the stencils are made by cutting out layers of Japanese paper.

While most stencil dyeing techniques involve division of labor, stencil dyeing is a highly personal process in which the artist designs the stencil and even dyes it (in some cases, they even cut out the stencils themselves).

Therefore, the main feature of works known as " katae-zome" is that the artist's worldview is freely expressed using the fabric as a canvas.

Mihoko Seki, 9-inch Nagoya Obi "Flower-eating Bird"
This is what our customers wear

Aesthetic sense continuing from "Mingei"

The term "kataezome" itself was first given to the Living National Treasure, Serizawa Keisuke. Around 1940, during the Mingei Movement advocated by Yanagi Soetsu, Serizawa Keisuke encountered authentic Bingata dyeing and developed his own style.

Serizawa Keisuke was greatly influenced by Bingata, and the works he currently produces are dyed with pigments rather than dyes, and the techniques used have their roots in Bingata.

Currently, artists who studied under Serizawa Keisuke are active in the arts, and this is one of the fruits of the Japanese aesthetic sense that has continued since the Mingei movement .

Coordination of stencil dyeing

Matching a stencil-dyed obi with a tsumugi from the region is a combination I really like, as it brings together the hand-dyed dyeing and weaving. During the event, we will be showcasing coordinations centered around "Mitsusaiyama Tsumugi," which is woven in the same Nagano prefecture as our store.

Miyuki Ozawa 9-inch Nagoya Obi "Poppy"
Sansaiyama Tsumugi, plant-dyed fabric, small checkered pattern

We look forward to your reservation

There is a joy in simply having a kimono in your hands and admiring it, as well as the joy of wearing its beauty. I also think it would be wonderful if such a kimono (for example, the obi) could be customized with your own personal taste (essence). I hope to be able to help you with this order event.

Of course, we will have not only custom orders but also other attractive pieces on display, so please feel free to come and take a look. However, as we are a small store with only a few staff, please let us know if you plan to visit. We look forward to seeing you there.

During the exhibition, we will also be accepting online business meetings via our official LINE account. Please feel free to contact us. (Please make a reservation in advance.)

Phone: 0266-75-2908

Visitor reservation form: Please proceed here

Official LINE: