Stole / Kurotani Washi / Indigo Blue

Product Description : Why is it so EXPENSIVE?

Product Story

General Product Information

This stole is made by cutting Kurotani washi (Japanese Paper) into thin strips and weaving twisted paper threads together with silk threads.
The raw material used for the washi is mainly Kouzo (paper mulberry). By processing it by hand, the natural strength is not lost, and each sheet of washi is carefully handmade in the traditional way, making it strong and supple.
Please note that there may be slight differences in color and shape because each piece is made by hand.

The strongest paper in Japan!?
Kurotani Washi is very strong and has the feature of being hard to tear even if you put a lot of force on it. Strong and tear-resistant, and suitable for long-term preservation.
This tough washi is indispensable in daily life and has been used for lanterns, Japanese umbrellas, shoji screens, and packaging since ancient times.
It has been recognized by the government as the strongest paper in Japan.

Cautions for washing
Because it is handmade washi, it is subject to color fading and thread breakage when washed. If washing is necessary, please use a neutral detergent, separate from other items, and soak and wash at room temperature to 30℃ for a short time.
Please refrain from rubbing and tumbler drying.

 Product History

When did these crafts start to craft?：800 years ago / 1200AD / Azuchimomoyama period in Japan

The history of Kurotani washi dates back to around AD1200, when defeated samurai of the Heike clan, left the capital and established a hidden village in the Kurotani area.
The Kurotani area is not suitable for growing crops due to the short hours of sunlight, but the mountains are home to kouzo (the raw material for washi) and the Kurotani River provides the cool, clear water necessary for washi making.
Kurotani washi has been a source of livelihood for people in this region, which is well suited for paper making. The village has long flourished as a paper-making village, with almost all villagers involved in paper making.

Paper making, which began as a small business to be passed on to descendants, achieved great development during the Edo period.
Many measures were taken to encourage paper production, and because of its proximity to the capital of Kyoto, many types of paper were produced, including price tags and shibu-gami related to Kyoto kimono, as well as umbrella paper, shoji paper, and fusuma-gami (sliding door frame) paper.
In 1895, the paper-making technology of Tosa (other region in Japan) was adopted, and the production of large-size paper and thick paper also became possible, which led to an increase in production volume.

Craftsman Story

Craftsman Profile

Kurotani Washi
Kurotani Washi preserves the traditions and techniques of papermaking that have been handed down over 800 years in the Kurotani region. Kurotani Washi is recognized by the government as the "strongest paper in Japan," and a variety of products are produced using this characteristic. Among them, scarves made from washi are light, strong, and comfortable to the touch, and are highly recommended.

 

Craftsman Passion

"We make honest paper."
Throughout our long history, we have always kept this thought in mind. We make and finish each sheet of paper by hand, putting our heart and soul into it.
We do the obvious things carefully, step by step. This attitude has never changed and will never change.
We have always been uncompromisingly committed to honesty and authenticity.

Achievement

Designated as Intangible Cultural Asset by Kyoto Prefecture
Recognized by the government as "the strongest paper in Japan

 

Your Contribution to Craftsman

Customer Voice

Due to the market structure (link for full articles are attached bottom), craftsman have not known who the customer is and how customer reacts to their work. We made a “Message to Craftsman” box at purchase page. We will deliver all message to every craftsman. Our review will be also shared to craftsman so please leave your comment and evaluation on review section!

Income for Craftsman: Craftsman get only less than 10% of selling price?

As written above, craftsman have not controlled last phase of sales channel that resulting in selling price is set by third-party without craftsman’s recognition. There are some cases that only less than 10% of selling price is given to craftsman. We promise with our customer / craftsman that we offer the fair trade with craftsmen in our contract!

We made an article about above problem and our challenge. Please have a read from below link.
Current state of the Crafts Market / Benefits brought by Suigenkyo

Measurement

width : 35cm
Length：194cm
Weight：65g

Material & Caution

Materials

Japanese paper
Silk

Caution

Individual Difference

Each piece is handmade, so there are individual differences even in the same series. We hope that you will understand the change by handmade.

Delivery Date

Please note that it will take about two months for delivery if we do not have the item in stock.