(522) Iyo kasuri cloth

A brochure of ArtLabo KASURI

  Iyo-gasuri is a brand name of kasuri made in Matsuyama. Kasuri is cotton cloth, the design of which is made by dyeing the threads with Japanese indigo before weaving. Kasuri cloth is woven from cotton tread on a loom.

A loom at ARTLabo KASURI 2020.12.19

  Iyo-gasuri began about 200 years ago when KAGIYA Kana, a woman of Imazu weaved Imazu-kasuri, the original kasuri of Iyo-gasuri, after struggling on her own.

Shoko-Do 頌功堂
Octagonal Hall honoring KAGIYA Kana's achievements

  Because of its durability, it was particularly used for women's everyday kimono. Matsuyama (Iyo) was one of the three major kasuri producing areas of Japan in the early 20th century. Kasuri used to be to the Japanese what blue jeans are to the Americans.
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