FABRIC: RECYCLED KIMONO SILKS

Regions: Japan

Fabric Name:
Recycled kimono silks

Origin:
Silk

Who made our dye:
Kamiko -a women’s collective of licensed kimono makers in Tohoku Japan

What makes this so special:

This mini quilt was crafted from recycled antique kimono silks used for traditional Japanese jackets known as haori and hanten. Designed by Tsuyo Onodera, a master kimono maker, with her daughter Maki Aizawa, this family team collaborates with sewers and embroiderers in the Tohoku region of Japan. Recycling old fabric remnants follows the Japanese indispensable concept of mottainai or not wasting precious cloth when one can prolong the fabric’s useful life through recycling and reuse.

“Ki” 着 means to wear. “Mono” 物 means things.”

— Maki Aizawa/Recycled kimono silks

Maki Aizawa

Maki Aizawa, an artist deeply rooted in Japanese traditions, was raised in her parents' kimono-making school, surrounded by the rich cultural tapestry of Japan. Inspired by the 2011 disaster in Sendai, she dedicates herself to revitalizing traditional arts through collaborations with master artists. In 2021, Maki founded "Kamiko," merging modern design with the essence of kimono-making, showcasing a contemporary twist on this revered tradition. Based in Sonoma, California, and Asuka, Japan, she travels globally for exhibitions and is actively developing projects to preserve and modernize Japanese heritage, including a book collaboration and an artist residency program in Asuka.