I’m working on a new exciting project! A few months back, I applied to participate in a creative contest through an online Japanese market place named creema. To take part in the selection process you need to be a creator who designs and makes items using traditional Japanese crafts from Kumamoto prefecture. Textiles was an easy category, since as you know, I make clothes. If chosen, the creator would make something using fabric, designed by Ms. Akemi Takatsu. Her fabrics are made using a method called “Rouketsu Zome” (candle wax dye). She draws patterns on fabrics using hot melting candle wax. After allowing it to dry she dips the fabric in a dye bath. After this she remove the wax. You can see the examples of her original wax dye fabric below (Left and middle).

Her fabrics are bright with strong geometrical lines, inspired by Aso mountain and unique flowers that only grow in the south of Japan.

I was thrilled when I found out I was selected! Like many sewers in the community, I am addicted to collecting fabrics and finding fabrics that are unique, regardless of I actually need them or not. Fun textures and colors make me happy. As you can see from my recent works, I have been enamored with kimono fabrics recently. So the idea of traditional dye from this context also attracted me. Traditional craftsmanship is often forgotten or easily dismissed in Japan. With the aging population of skilled crafters, these techniques are slowly dying. I hope to be able to present their work in a way that is accessible to a younger generation!

Originally, I applied with Brazilian style panties using Akemi’s fabric. But, after talking to her and her associate at her gallery, we decided to make wrap dresses and drawstring bags as well. Below is a sample.

They will be sold at a department store in Kumamoto, called Tsuruya Hyakkaten, as well as at creema’s event at Tokyo Bigsight.

What also thrilled me about this opportunity was to be able to travel! It has been a long time since I got on an airplane. Even though it was a domestic trip, I was thrilled being able to see a different part of Japan. Kumamoto has a mascot which represents the prefecture… named Kumamon. It’s a bear. Kumamoto’s “Kuma” means bear in Japanese. I got to taste Kumamon shochu drink, raw horse meat(!), and manjyu called “Bikkuri Manjyu”, where there is steamed sweet potato and red bean paste inside. Yummy!