What is Kurume Kasuri?

What is Kurume Kasuri?
The comfortable texture, the comfort of cotton, and the simple colors... The beauty of kasuri can only be created with skilled techniques. It is said that the origin of kasuri can be traced back to ancient India and Southeast Asia, and it was introduced to Japan about 1400 years ago and spread all over the country. However, Kurume Kasuri is the only Kasuri that has a different birth and growth than other Kasuri. There was a story of insatiable curiosity and passion of our predecessors.

What is Kurume Kasuri?
You can find the beauty of Kasuri from the pleasant feeling, the serenity of cotton fabrics, and the simple colors, etc., which are only impossible to be produced without skillful techniques. If the origin of Kasuri is traced, it could go back to ancient India, where it was passed to Southeast Asia and further spread to Japan 1400 years ago. That is when it is said to spread across the country. However, only Kurume Kasuri has the birth and growth different from those of other Kasuri. because of the tireless curiosity and stories of passion of our predecessors.

The beginning of Kurume Kasuri
It was invented by a girl named Den Inoue about 220 years ago. One day, he noticed white spots on his clothes that had faded. Inspired by the clothes, after a lot of trial and error and the cooperation of Hisashige Tanaka, also known as "Karakuri Giemon", the new fabric was completed. This fabric was named "Kasuri" because it looks faded in places. This is the beginning of Kurume Kasuri.

The Origin of Kurume Kasuri
It was invented by a girl named Den Inoue over 220 years ago. One day, Den had noticed that there was a white dot on the faded place of her clothes. Inspired by the clothes, she was able to come up with a new woven stuff by countless trial and error and the help of the "mechanical Giemon", Hisashige Tanaka. As this woven stuff looks like cracked all around, it was then name as "Kasuri". This is the origin of Kurume Kasuri.

Characteristics of Kurume Kasuri
“Vertical and horizontal kasuri”, such as crosses, checkered patterns, and ridges that create a single pattern, are unique to Kurume and cannot be found in other production areas. In addition, there are “vertical kasuri” that is expressed only with warp, “horizontal kasuri” that is expressed only with weft, and “bunjin kasuri” that is made with a technique called “orishime”. Kurume Kasuri is woven through 30 production processes, creating unique patterns due to misalignment during the work process.

Features of Kurume Kasuri
A "crosswise Kasuri" is a kind of unique textile with patterns like a cross, a checker, well curbs and others brocaded on the same picture and cannot be found in other places. with warp and the "horizontal Kasuri" displayed only with weft, as well as the "literati Kasuri" made from a special technique called "Orishime". For years, Kurume Kasuri has generated its unique patterns due to the slippage during the producing process and created beautiful fabrics with its skillful techniques.

Production process of Kurume Kasuri <br>In 1957, the traditional technique of Kurume Kasuri, which is made under specific conditions, was designated as an important intangible cultural property of the country. It is one of the proofs that it can only be created by skilled technicians. Among the production processes, the most important are the ``wrap'', ``somer'', and ``roll'' processes.

Producing Process of Kurume Kasuri
In 1957, as a traditional technique made under certain conditions, Kurume Kasuri had been designated as an important intangible cultural asset of the country. Which was backed up as it was built up only by skilled technicians. The important procedure steps include "Twining", "Dyeing", and "Weaving".