The simple but elegant pattern of this yukata (a kimono in cotton) is created by hand-dyeing more edgy lines on top of the blur-dyed lines. This yukata is simple, yet has a gorgeous feel.
Height 60 cm
Width 60 cm
© Yuya Hoshino
© Takeshi Nakajima
© Takeshi Nakajima
© Akari Kuramoto
Takeshi Nakajima
- Textile dyer
- Kyoto, Japan
- Master Artisan
Contact
Japanese, English
Hours:
By appointment only
By appointment only
Phone:
+81 8040178062
+81 8040178062
© Akari Kuramoto
Blurring the lines
- • Takeshi is a devoted to traditional hand dyeing techniques
- • He has studied in New York
- • His kimonos and interior goods convey a playful aesthetic
Takeshi Nakajima is a Kyoto-based craftsman specialising in "hikizome", the long-established technique of textile dyeing, which involves brushing dye onto tightly stretched fabric while it is still wet. This technique is heavily associated with the dyeing of traditional kimono and casual cotton "yukata" kimono. After years of experimentation, he gradually discovered his unique style, incorporating the imperfect beauty created by human hands and nature into his work. For this reason, colour bleeding, unevenness, and brush strokes, usually hidden in traditional styles, are often visible in his original textile designs. In his own words, “the weather, temperature and humidity add a natural effect to the cloth, making it all the more beautiful and never quite the same.”
Read the full interviewWorks
Photo: © Akari Kuramoto
Neon Lights yukata
Photo: © Takeshi Nakajima
Evening cushion
The orange sunset, the sandy beach and the sea are represented by overlapping three colours to represent the evening hours by the sea in this hand-dyed cushion. By minimalizing the design, Takeshi Nakajima aimed to create a striking pattern that never gets old.
Height 50 cm
Width 50 cm
Photo: © Akari Kuramoto
Neon Lights yukata
The blur-dyeing technique is repeated finely to create delicately dyed layers for this "yukata" (kimono in cotton). This work fully displays the blur-dye characteristic of pull-dyeing to create a gorgeous finish.
Height 160 cm
Width 60 cm
Photo: © Akari Kuramoto
Ichimatsu yukata
A large, bold expression of the traditional "ichimatsu" checkered pattern is used for this hand-dyed "yukata" (kimono in cotton). The pattern is blur-dyed to create a bold and delicate pattern with a calm feel.
Height 160 cm
Width 60 cm
Photo: © Takeshi Nakajima
The Crossing
The name of this piece "The Crossing" is expressed with various lines, showing the intersection, it was commissioned for a café in Tokyo. The depth is brought out by layering several colour bleeds. This work was dyed with an awareness of the balance between boldness, delicateness and negative space.
Height 240 cm
Width 80 cm
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