Whilst studying my BA(Hons) Textile Design at Derby University i developed a passion for traditional Japanese textiles. Shibori and Indigo seduced me . Boro cloth created with an ingrained connection to the innate concept of wabi sabi fascinated me. I had to know more. As soon as i graduated in 2014 i booked a flight to Japan . Wide eyed i fell in love with this crazy but beautiful country. Initially i spent 3 weeks with Bryan Whitehead in the Tokyo countryside. Staying in a 100 year old silk mill alongside 8 other women from the far corners of the globe we spent all day indigo dyeing and by night we would sit around stitching and binding our fabric whilst we talked about everything and anything. A few excursions took us to meet an esteemed Katazome master in his indigo house. Sunken earthenware pots immersed deep in the ground held fermented indigo . These indigo pots kept alive in a continuous feed of indigo . This was the first time i was aware of Katazome . The smell of smoky persimmon stencil paper hanging on a line , that held the designs of kimonos passed down through the generations. Shibori, Katazome , Indigo and wine . This was a monumental time that has inspired me to this day . So now after a short break from University life I am now back again studying my MA Textiles. I want to see where i can take my passion for these crafts. Aiming to create an advance practice i will explore different ways i can use weave to take my work to the next level. Watch this space !
