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Dye Goods

Cultural Quintessence

Japan In-depth

Japanese Colors

Dye Goods

Dye goods are developed in correspondence to local climates. Regional specialty fabrics were created, such as the brilliantly colored Yuzen dye and the Oshima tsumugi (pongee), which is dyed with soil. People also took notice of the benefits of dye goods. Indigo dye was used for farm work clothing because of its insect repellent properties, while tanned paper dyed with persimmon tannin was used for wrapping paper and umbrellas due to its strengthening and water-resistant properties. Also, there is meaning in colors. The silk cloth used to wrap money and congratulatory gifts is red or purple for happy occasions and navy blue or gray for sad ones.

Aizome (indigo dye)

Dyed with "sukumo," which is created from fermented indigo plant.

Fukusa (silk wrapping cloth)

A cloth that created the culture of wrapping. It's smaller than the furoshiki wrapping cloth.

Shibuzome (tannin dye)

Mainly used to dye paper, such as "Persimmon Paper"