Pressed, not dipped.
Since the Edo period, Japanese people have embraced indigo as a familiar color worn in daily life. In the early Meiji period, it was even called “Japan Blue,” and in recent years, indigo has been used for the uniforms of the Japan national football team, becoming a color that represents Japan. Traditional indigo dyeing is generally done by dipping fabric into dye, while indigo stencil dyeing uses the Kyoto Stencil Yuzen technique to apply patterns onto fabric. This allows for delicate lines and subtle gradations that were previously impossible with indigo dyeing alone. SOU・SOU’s textile designs, created solely through variations in indigo tones, are truly one of a kind.

Since its founding in 1933, Fujitasenen has been a Kyoto-based dyeing workshop dedicated to preserving the designs and techniques of Kyoto Stencil Yuzen. Its most remarkable achievement is “Ainasen (Indigo Stencil Dyeing),” a one-of-a-kind technique developed through years of experimentation. Artisans blend natural indigo with a plant-based resist paste specially formulated in-house, then apply traditional Kyoto Stencil Yuzen techniques to dye each color individually. This process has made it possible to achieve expressions once considered impossible with indigo, including delicate gradations, subtle textures, and fine lines. Beyond simply preserving tradition, Fujitasenen continues to share the possibilities of natural dyes with the world.