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Artist-Designed Tenugui Hand Towel /Vase #2

Artist-Designed Tenugui Hand Towel /Vase #2

$37.00 USD
$37.00 USD
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INSTANTANÉS [Vase #2 ] 

Tenugui has been used by Japanese people since ancient times. This is because of the convenience and many benefits this towel offers.
It can be used for wiping, hanging, wrapping…and many other purposes.

 

Chusen dying is known for its use in hand towels and yukata. Here in Tokyo, Chusen is also recognized as a traditional industry, and even today, craftsmen still glue patterns onto the fabric by hand and dye the fabric by hand.
The most distinctive feature of  Chusen  is that the dye is poured over the layered fabric, so there are no two sides to the dyed fabric.

 

Artist-Designed Tenugui Hand Towel

The “INSTANTANÉS” collection is a collaboration between Paris-based designer Jacques Averna and Marukyu Shoten.

INSTANTANÉS means “snapshot” in French 

Instantanés
Instantanés is a series of textile dyed with Chusen technique, and representing snapshots through drawings of objects in a fleeting moment: a melting candle, a dripping tap, a flower vase…
These sketches function in symmetry, taking advantage of the ability of dye to colour both sides of a fabric.

Each of the figures created from Jack’s story is like a playful painting, and the unique forms and hues all work together to create a unique and wonderful work of art.

 

Features

INSTANTANÉS [Vase #2 ] 

Size :  40.5″ x 16.5″ (103 x 42  cm)
Cotton 85% /Linen 15% 
Made in Japan

French designer: Jacques Averna
Japanese manufacturer (Tokyo): Marukyu Shoten
Japanese brand: Shin Edozome

<Design description>

I love vases with several mouths to hold flowers.
This painting looks like a unique character holding a hand made of flowers!   -Jacques Averna-

Jacques Averna Designer

Jacques Averna designs objects and spaces. He offers creative solutions that combine low-tech, playfulness, and sustainability. He sees objects and spaces as signs that need to be made accessible for understanding and use. His work has been exhibited in Europe and won several awards.
Website jacquesaverna.com

　1) Friction-resistant, durable fabric

The fabric used for general Tenugui is woven in a basic weaving technique called “plain weave,” in which the warp and weft yarns are interlaced alternately.

That plain-weave fabric is not very elastic. However, since there are many threads crossing each other and the threads are not slippery, it is resistant to friction and can be used for a long time, even for Tenugui towels that are wiped or rubbed.

The fabric is a cotton linen slub fabric mixed with 15% linen. The fabric is woven in places and features transparency.

Each textile is unique and is the handiwork of the artisan who shaped it.
The transparency of the fabric can be enjoyed, allowing its weave and elegant delicacy to emerge.

2) When folded, it is thin and compact!

Because this fabric is woven in a plain weave, the fabric is thin and compact when folded, making it highly portable.
Therefore, Tenugui is very convenient to carry as a towel, sunshade scarf or eco-bag to make your travel luggage more compact.

 

 

 

About Marukyu Shoten

Marukyu Shoten was established in 1899 in Nihonbashi, Tokyo as a wholesaler of Chu-sen products.

Chu- sen is a dyeing technique that originated in the Meiji era (1868-1912).
It was mainly used for yukata (light cotton kimono) and towels and was a part of people's daily life at that time.

Marukyu continues to offer yukata (summer kimonos) and towels that can only be made with Tokyo Chu-sen dyeing.

Marukyu has added color to Japanese arts and seasonal festivals by producing many patterns and designs under the name "Shin-Edo Dyeing".

Today, the production of Chu-sen is not limited to its use, but is part of the Chu-sen dyeing culture.

Read More about Marukyu

EDO Tokyo Kirari Project
TOKYO Teshigoto

What is Chusen Dyeing?

 1. Paper Patterns

The Chusen paper patterns apply a dyeing resist paste to the fabric in  order to create a pattern. 

This product method is charactaized by pattern length of around 100cm.  Marukyu Shoten has an immense quantity of paper patterns made from tanned paper that we have been collecting since we fist began operating  in the Meiji Era (1867- 1912).  They utilize these patterns as a resource to design, produce, and present Chu-sen products that meet modern needs. 

 2. Stencil printing (on cloth)

Using a paper pattern, the fabric is dipped in dye-resistant glue. 

The process is repeated: first a pattern is applied, then a long piece of fabric is folded over, then another pattern is applied, and so on. There may be 20 to 40 layers.

The areas covered with anti-staining glue do not allow dye to enter, so the pattern is dyed using this mechanism.

3. Dyeing

The dye is poured from the top of the fabric, which is folded into a bellows, into a narrow spouted kettle.

Then, a special machine is used to reduce the pressure from below and inhale the dye. The dye passes through the layered fabric from top to bottom at once, and the fabric is dyed.

The fabric is then turned inside out and the same process is repeated so that the dyed fabric has no back and is dyed in exactly the same way.

4. Washing

The dyed fabric is washed in water to remove excess paste and dye.

After dehydration, the fabric is hung on a 10-meter-high outdoor drying rack to dry in the sun.

This process is an emotional scene that is unique to the traditional dyehouse.

5. Finishing

If it is a hand towel, we cut it in the specified length and pack it.

Precautions

  • All of Chusen's processes are done by hand by specialized craftsmen.
    Therefore, even if the dyed products look the same at a glance, the expression and texture may differ from piece to piece, and even the same design may differ from period to period.
    Such instability, which could be a demerit, is in fact the most lovable aspect of Chu-sen as an element of "fluctuation" and "playfulness.
  • Due to the dyeing characteristics of the fabric, please note that the color may migrate due to perspiration or friction at the beginning of use.
    When washing, please hand-wash separately from other items.
  • Please note that there may be slight individual differences in size, uneven dyeing, and crushed patterns.
  • Please note that since this product uses an old pattern, it may be discontinued or changed without notice due to damage to the pattern.