Art of Shibori

Shibori - literally to squeeze - is considered to be one of the oldest indigo dyeing techniques in Japan. One of the earliest written description of shibori dates to 238 CE, where it was recorded in a Chinese document that Queen Himiko gifted the Emperor of the Wei Dynasty over 200 yards of ‘spotted cloth’. The earliest surviving example of shibori-dyed cloth dates back to the mid-8th century, donated to the Todai-ji Buddhist temple in Nara pref. in 756 CE by Emperor Shomu.

Shibori is one example of a process knows as resist - dyeing, a traditional method of creating patterns with dye by somehow preventing dye from permeating the entire piece of fabric. There are a number of techniquest to acomplish this where the fabrics are manipulated in different ways, ranging from stitching, clamping and crumpling to folding and twisting. Each of these techniques creates different shapes and patterns. However, with all of them, when the process if completed, a pattern in the color of the original fabric emerges against the background dye color.

- Miura (my maiden name:) ) Shibori - looped binding
- Kimo Shibori - pleat & bind technique
- Nui Shibori - stitched shibori
- Arashi Shibori - pole wrapping
- Itajime Shibori - shape resistance

Creating Shibori is ceratinly a form of art and some of the techniqudes do rquire silkked craftmanship, but it is also accessible to ordinary people. One of the reasons why it has endured through the centruies is that anyone can use the simpler techniques to add a unique twist to clothes. So why not try it yourself at home? Click herhe for Shibori Collection Shibori