Meet the Artisan

Japan
Kanai Kougei Studio
In a land renowned for its craft culture, the Kanai Kougei studio has been perfecting the ancient art of mud dyeing which has existed for over 1,300 years. There are only a handful of skilled artisans who still practice Kanai Kougei’s distinctive vegetable and mud-dyeing process.
Textiles are dunked in a mud pit, where the iron-rich soil creates a unique colour that can only be produced in Amami. The combinations of mud-dyed grey and vegetable-dyed colors including indigo give textiles an expressive depth. The dedication to tradition and passion of these artisans is inspiring people around the world to rediscover these ancient techniques.