Introduction

It is a mystical world wrapped in the passion of artisans, passed down through generations. Japanese crafts are not only layers of skills built by predecessors but also carry thoughts and philosophies for the future.

The excellent skills and techniques of Japanese crafts have continued to inspire countless artists and designers. What thrives here is respect for the blessings of nature and a deep consciousness for sustainable crafting. I can't help but be strongly attracted to Japan, which continues to preserve its unique cultural and craft heritage.

My connection with Japan feels instinctive, as if I've been Japanese in a previous life—such a mysterious feeling. I'm drawn not just to the ritual-like gestures in weaving techniques and dyeing work but to the "meticulous spirit" rooted in the entire culture. The simplicity embedded in Japan's everyday life, stripped of waste yet containing profound meaning. Even before I first visited Japan in 2017, I somehow felt nostalgic about these elements' existence.

New Experiences

My deep involvement with Japan began during my university days. Participating in an internship as a student from India wasn't an easy journey, but this experience became one of the most valuable events in my life.

At Kyoto's "JoiRae Textile Studio," I had the opportunity to learn about felt-making and plant dyeing as an apprentice designer, while also encountering the subtleties of Japanese customs and culture.

My interest in Japan was initially sparked while pondering globalization. This concept heavily reflects Western influence, but the question "Why can't Eastern culture become the world's focal point?" popped into my head. For instance, I imagined the cultural heritage of Japan and the Silk Road spreading worldwide with innovative ideas for the future. This led to a growing interest in Japanese culture and crafts, eventually connecting to academic research.

Although my stay in Japan was limited, a bond with the culture and textile traditions was deeply engraved in my heart. After returning to my country, I immersed myself in researching Japanese textiles, clothing, culture, art, and crafts.

That passion once again led me back to Japan. In the fall of 2023, I secured a fellowship from the Japan Foundation to deepen my understanding of Japanese textile culture further. The fellowship allowed me to advance my research focusing on Yuzen dyeing in particular.

My encounter with Yuzen, a unique technique, likely stemmed from my fascination with the existence of kimonos. My design practice originally involved challenging the creation of kimonos using distinctly Indian threads. The thread used was called "Kala Cotton," hand-spun organic cotton cultivated with rainwater by India's artisan communities, an eco-friendly material.

Throughout the creation process, using delicately hand-spun threads and collaborating with local hand-weaving artisans, I explored the potential of design based on the concept of "mottainai," or "zero waste."

Kimonos have a structure that utilizes the fabric width without waste, a principle akin to traditional Indian clothing creation. This framework of maximizing limited materials felt like a symbol of sustainable design.

Within this, I became deeply interested in techniques that express art on fabric through hand-painting. When I learned about "Yuzen," a method allowing dye to penetrate deep within fibers to achieve delicate painting-like expressions, I was captivated by its deep essence.