Arakawa's Artisans
Arakawa Ward Traditional Crafts Preservation Society
Artisanal Skills Still Passed Down Today in Arakawa
Artisanal Skills Still Passed Down Today in Arakawa
Mold making
Gluing
tie-dye
Mizumoto
dry
Noren dyeing
Noren dyeing is a technique that uses traditional methods (stamp dyeing) to apply shop names, family crests, and logos to natural materials such as cotton and linen. Artisans meticulously dye each piece by hand on both sides using techniques like “hand-dyeing” and “stencil dyeing,” resulting in a high-quality finish that is highly durable and develops a richer texture the more it is used.
The Work of an Artisan
The Process of Dyeing Noren- [Making the Stencil] Once you’ve designed the pattern you want to dye, carefully create the stencil using a special dyeing template.
- [Applying Paste] Once the stencil is complete, place it on the fabric and apply the dye-resist paste to the fabric. Use a tube to carefully apply the paste to the fine details.
- [Dyeing] Once the starch has dried, the fabric is dyed on both sides. For the fine details of the pattern, a small brush is used to dye the fabric carefully.
- [Rinsing] Once the dyed fabric has dried, apply a color-fixing agent and rinse off the sizing agent.
- [Drying] After drying, check the color, pattern, and text, then sew to complete the item.
Arakawa's Artisans
Akira Katayama
Noren dyeing