The Art of Chusen Dyeing in Tokyo: Exploring a Timeless Tradition

Chusen is a dyeing technique that originated in the late Edo period. This method involves resist-dyeing patterns onto fabric using stencils and a paste made from seaweed or clay.

Dye is then poured onto the layered fabric from both the front and back, ensuring even coloration on both sides. Handcrafted, chusen dyeing produces unique characteristics such as blurs and wavers in the outlines, which cannot be replicated with printing.





A Century of Edo Patterns Reimagined

For over 100 years, Marukyu Shouten has created an array of patterns and designs under the name "Shin Edo Some," adding vibrant colors to Japanese performing arts and festivals. Today, Marukyu Shouten continues to reproduce patterns from their vast collection of stencils, creating new designs inspired by traditional motifs and suited for contemporary life.


Tenugui Towels: Merging Japanese Tradition with French Elegance

My introduction to Marukyu Shouten was through the "Edo Tokyo Kirari Project" (sponsored by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government), where I served as a producer.

The ‘Echappées Bleues Collection,’ developed in collaboration with French designer Pauline Androlus, was created for interior decoration. This series includes four designs: Crépuscule (Twilight), Songe (Dream), Quiétude (Silence), and Maintenant (Present).

In January 2023, the collection was presented at the international trade fair "MAISON & OBJET ", France. Inspired by the windows and shoji screens of Japanese architecture, the tenugui, featuring a traditional blue color scheme, captivated many visitors with its unique blurring effect, achievable only through chusen dyeing.




Versatile Art Pieces: The Echappées Bleues Collection

Pauline Androlus envisions the Echappées Bleues Collection not just as towels, but as versatile decorative pieces. When viewing one of the Echappées Bleues items hanging on a wall, you experience a mysterious sensation, as if peering into a tranquil dream world. This collection showcases the new possibilities of tenugui, merging tradition with modern artistry.