Zenbird Editorial TeamItoshiro General Store, a purveyor of reimagined traditional Japanese straight-cut attire tailored to contemporary lifestyles, launched its season of indigo dyeing. Located in Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture, the store prizes its role in crafting products unique to the local area, emphasizing the use of locally-sourced plants for its indigo and botanical dyes. The store’s proprietors, tending to the whole dyeing process, sow and cultivate the plants themselves for indigo dyeing and hand-gather the plants from nearby fields and mountains for botanical dyeing.
Owners reported a profound sense of satisfaction, a deep connection to nature’s changing seasons, and an appreciation for its bounty as they carefully hand-dye each piece of fabric and clothing.
The store has also recently begun offering tours of its indigo dyeing facilities. Visitors are advised to book their preferred dates in advance and are cautioned that the tours may be subject to cancellation due to inclement weather.
Now in its seventh year of indigo dyeing in this region of Itoshiro, the store employs an environmentally friendly method called “ash fermentation,” which utilizes only natural materials to prepare the indigo. This meticulous dyeing process involves a day of rest for every day of dyeing, resulting in an indigo dyeing frequency of once every two days, lending an aura of preciousness to each dyed piece.
The team faced significant challenges this year due to extreme temperature fluctuations, possibly a result of climate change. Even with the aid of electric heating wires to maintain the necessary fermentation temperature of approximately 32 degrees Celsius, obtaining the desired blue color proved elusive. After consulting with indigo dyeing veteran Toshio Minafuto, based in Ono City, Fukui Prefecture, the team successfully implemented a method known as “luring.” This effort led to the eventual emergence of the sought-after blue color in mid-May, signaling the successful preparation of the indigo dye.
