Kukuri, Nishijin-gasuri

Nishijin-ori is a characteristic Japanese woven fabric, made in Kyoto. There are 12 different types: this one, using pre-dyed yarn, is called “Nishijin-gasuri”. Although textiles woven with pre-dyed yarn (kasuri-ori) are produced all around Japan, Nishijin-gasuri stands out for its colourfully dyed silk yarn.

Kukuri is a resist-binding process vital to the making of kasuri patterns. Cotton thread, water-proof paper, or rubber tubes are used to cover sections of the yarn not to be dyed, which have been marked using the sumiuchi process. These resist materials are worked around the yarn so as to facilitate quick removal immediately after dyeing.