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Ito Some Dye Factory is one of the few companies in Japan that has kept and still uses traditional hand-dyeing technique called “shirushizome” to produce beautiful garments and textiles.

What’s shirushizome?　First, the “shirushi” meaning “design” in English is added to the cloth with dyes and traced over with starch produced from mochi rice. Next the cloth is dyed leaving the areas covered with starch color-free. Finally, the cloth is washed and sun-dried, producing the vivid images that are unique to shirushizome dyeing.

Since its foundation in 1921, the company has strived to live up to its motto to “Create pieces that stir the emotion.” Shirushizome-dyed garments’ robust fabric was and still is perfect to be used to make work cloths in many different industries, including sake artisans and lumber craftsmen and also as matsuri festival coat. Family crests, shop symbols and other designs depicted with shirushizome dyeing have been representing pride for those who own them. Now Ito Some Dye Factory is aspiring to explore a new field of representation for shirushizome dyeing, by creating households’ goods, interiors and others.

【Behind scenes】
Traditional arts and crafts have always played an important role in Japanese culture. However, the last 30 years have seen an increasing number of workshops close down before the artisans have had the chance to pass on their knowledge to the next generation. The Ito Some Dye Factory worked hard to preserve the traditional ways by initiating a collaborative training system with other artisans, thereby averting a serious skills shortage.

*Homaekake work aprons as well as hanten coats, noren and nobori flags are available for custom-made orders. Please contact us for further inquiries.