Japan holds a deep respect for crafts and the artisans who continue traditions and I think that’s great. Japanese crafts are amazing: refined, beautiful, expressive and varied. It is something Japan should be proud of. My business, AiAii, grows indigo from seed to leaf, through drying and fermentation to make artworks and products. Indigo dyeing in Japanese is called “aizome”. As someone from the outside (UK) who has gone deep into a Japanese craft culture, “aizome”, I’d like to share a few thoughts and impressions.

At the heart of it I really appreciate the connection of traditional Japanese crafts with nature and the raw materials. From handmade washi paper, bamboo basket making, to ceramics or woodwork, high quality raw materials found in nature are the vital starting points. For me, growing our indigo from seed is really special, and because the farming and fermentation process is hard work and time consuming, when it comes to dyeing it really helps us value the indigo in a way that buying it for any sum wouldn't do.