Suzusan
For more than 100 years, the Murase family behind Suzusan – now in its fifth generation – has been refining the traditional shibori technique in the Japanese town of Arimatsu. It wasn’t until 2008, however, that Hiroyuki Murase founded Suzusan to place Japanese craft through a contemporary lens. The sensitive process, which translates to ‘wring’ or ‘twist’, sees parts of the textile tied, sewn or folded before they are dyed. Such careful manipulation results in flowing colour gradients and three-dimensional structures. Yet, this fine art is declining rapidly; while there were once 10,000 artisans working in Arimatsu, today there are less than 200. Its revival is paramount to Suzusan, as seen in the constant development of innovative procedures, materials and dyes.
For more than 100 years, the Murase family behind Suzusan – now in its fifth generation – has been refining the traditional shibori technique in the Japanese town of Arimatsu. It wasn’t until 2008, however, that Hiroyuki Murase founded Suzusan to place Japanese craft through a contemporary lens. The sensitive process, which translates to ‘wring’ or ‘twist’, sees parts of the textile tied, sewn or folded before they are dyed. Such careful manipulation results in flowing colour gradients and three-dimensional structures. Yet, this fine art is declining rapidly; while there were once 10,000 artisans working in Arimatsu, today there are less than 200. Its revival is paramount to Suzusan, as seen in the constant development of innovative procedures, materials and dyes.