Elizabethheartz: Hokkaido Crafts Business Meeting

Thursday, 28 November 2019

Hokkaido Crafts Business Meeting - Mizuno Somekojo

I'm a huge fan of Japan, if you do not know. I love travelling to Japan about 1-3 trips every year. Having been to Hokkaido, I really love this city! I love their beautiful Tomiya Lavendar Farm and Furano Cheese Farm the most!

Today, I'll be sharing with you some of the beautiful crafts, all the way from Hokkaido!

Mizuno Somekojo is a shirushi-zome dyeing company based in Asahikawa, a city blessed with the abundant waters of the Taisetsu mountain range.

Blessed with the clear waters of the Taisetsu mountains flowing through 130 rivers and streams within the city, Asahikawa is the ideal location for textile dyeing.

Since 1907, Some no Anbo has been producing traditional Japanese hand-dyed cloths called Tenugui. They are dedicated to introducing the culture surrounding this multi-function towel to the world through their philosophy.

Mizuno Hirotoshi, CEO

Artwork is created by their talented textile designers. Experienced craftsmen dye each tenugui piece by piece, a process aided by the pure water on Japan's northenmost island of Hokkaido.

Some no Anbo Tenugui uses the best quality cotton fabric called chita cotton, produced for more than four centuries in the region of Japan called Chita.

Using very fine threads, the cloth is woven in the traditional manner by a shuttle weaving machine that can create a cotton texture just like that of hand weaving.

Here are some of the lovely tenugui on display during the meeting~ They felt so soft to touch, I want to buy them the next time I go to Japan!

Usually Tenugui are sized 35cm x 90cm but Mizuno's are 35cm x 100cm! It has a clean cut edges, which makes it quick to dry!

Today, “Shirushizome” refers to dyeing “marks” such as shop names , family crests, letters, marks, etc. on fabrics (semi-clothes, kimonos, warmth, flags, furoshiki, towels, etc.). Shirushi-zome products have become a part of daily life in Japan, with noren curtains at business establishments, fisherman's flags, company flags, hanten coats and other festival clothing.

Hey its Megumi Luka! Which reminds me of the convention I was invited at Indonesia, Jakarta!

That's ME!

A crafting DIY for me to try hands on! They also do workshops in SG / LA / NY!

It is NOT easy! You need to brush with strength and precised angle for the colors to go onto the canvas cloth beautifully. Having not being trained, my wrist hurts after completing the small patch~