In Love with Drowning
Wow has it really been seven days since I updated this thing? Time is just burning by like all gets out. To be honest, nothing truly spectacular has happened in the past week. Buisness as usual. On Thursday we went to a few sites such as Kyo Mizu Tera which had a gorgeous view of the surround area though the place was mobbed with sightseers. The nerve of some people. We also went to a part of the Kyoto nation museum and it was pretty interesting despite the buildings rather bland architecture. The place looks like it could double as a highschool science department.
The highlight of the week actually occurred today when I went with Chris to what turned out to be an incredible fabric dyeing shop. "Wait, the highlight of your week is that you went to a FABRIC DYEING STORE?!" Hey fuck you man. FUCK YOU. This place was amazing. They specialize in a Japanese process of natural fermenting pure indigo dyeing that dates back at least 1500 years. Because the dyeing process, involving the fermentation of an actual microorganism bacteria from the indigo plant, actually strengthens the fabric into which it is fixed there have been articles of clothing dated back to the 700s that have not faded in color. The color, "Japanese Blue" as it's nicknamed, is such a deep indigo you're almost scared to get near it without some sort of adequate flotation device.
This shop, called Aizenkobo, is run by a single small family, the Utsukis. The father is actually considered like a living national treasure because the actual process he has mastered is in danger of being forgotten forever and only a few people in Japan posses a similar talent. Many companies instead carry out the cemical version of the process but the color quickly fades to a greyish blue or green. Kenichi-san, the head, has been invited to give talks all around the world and has done so at places like Princeton and Colombia University
The things they have in this store are almost mindblowing. His wife is a fashion designer and some of the clothes Kenichi-san showed to us were stunning. This stuff being all meticulously hand made, the dyeing can take up to 50 days for just one article, it also isn't particularly cheap. However I am getting close and closer to making a purchase using the money I saved up this summer that some might consider foolish and others might just hit me. There's something about the process and the resulting unique color that has attatched itself firmly to my brain. It's so fascinating and beautiful.
I only have about a week to make my decision so I guess we'll see how crazy I am. I need sleep now; tomorrow we're going to climb Mt. Hiei and sees some extra dop fly shit supreme. check it.
The highlight of the week actually occurred today when I went with Chris to what turned out to be an incredible fabric dyeing shop. "Wait, the highlight of your week is that you went to a FABRIC DYEING STORE?!" Hey fuck you man. FUCK YOU. This place was amazing. They specialize in a Japanese process of natural fermenting pure indigo dyeing that dates back at least 1500 years. Because the dyeing process, involving the fermentation of an actual microorganism bacteria from the indigo plant, actually strengthens the fabric into which it is fixed there have been articles of clothing dated back to the 700s that have not faded in color. The color, "Japanese Blue" as it's nicknamed, is such a deep indigo you're almost scared to get near it without some sort of adequate flotation device.
This shop, called Aizenkobo, is run by a single small family, the Utsukis. The father is actually considered like a living national treasure because the actual process he has mastered is in danger of being forgotten forever and only a few people in Japan posses a similar talent. Many companies instead carry out the cemical version of the process but the color quickly fades to a greyish blue or green. Kenichi-san, the head, has been invited to give talks all around the world and has done so at places like Princeton and Colombia University
The things they have in this store are almost mindblowing. His wife is a fashion designer and some of the clothes Kenichi-san showed to us were stunning. This stuff being all meticulously hand made, the dyeing can take up to 50 days for just one article, it also isn't particularly cheap. However I am getting close and closer to making a purchase using the money I saved up this summer that some might consider foolish and others might just hit me. There's something about the process and the resulting unique color that has attatched itself firmly to my brain. It's so fascinating and beautiful.
I only have about a week to make my decision so I guess we'll see how crazy I am. I need sleep now; tomorrow we're going to climb Mt. Hiei and sees some extra dop fly shit supreme. check it.
posted by David at 11:11 AM
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