Kobayashi Silk Dyeing

workshop visit

Why silk dyeing?

Silk production and dyeing have a long history in Japan, dating back over 1,000 years. Traditional silk textiles were primarily produced in the ancient capitals of Nara and Kyoto (Kyoto city and Kyoto by the Sea). Due to the rise of cheaper synthetic materials, the silk industry, including dyeing artistry, has declined since the Meiji period.  Despite the challenges, traditional Japanese dyeing techniques are continued by dedicated artisans that have given their lives to preserving these cultural heritage arts.

Why silk dyeing in Kyoto by the Sea?

Kyoto by the Sea is THE capital for high-quality kimono silk production, creating 70% of all Japan’s silk fabric. Its not just about the silk-dyeing, but the mmedium that is being dyed. Kobayashi hand-dyes chirimen silk, a fabric with a 300-plus year history of being the country’s best. Artisans in the region are inspired by nature, and Kobayashi has created unique colors that reflect the nature of the region, including the highly sought after “Tango Blue” gradient, a hand-brushed blue gradation that looks like the Sea of Japan.

about our dyer

Not only does Kobayashi-san’s visit include watching him hand brush a color gradation right in front of you, but a look into his world. He will share his wall of brushes, customized for different designs and pattern styles. He mixes all his own colors, a painstaking process that requires excellent eyesight and memory, as all of his “data” as he calls them, are simple color swaths of fabric that he has memorized and recreates over and over again by eye. Visitors can watch him mix colors, and learn about how these work towards creating delicate gradients that he brush-dyes into Japan’s highest quality silk fabric.