午夜剧场

Among the Meisen silk fabrics produced in northern Kanto from the Meiji to early Showa periods, Isesaki City in Gunma Prefecture possessed an advanced technique called Heiyo-kasuri. Its vibrant "Isesaki Meisen" was beloved by women across the country.

However, due to the shift toward Western-style clothing after the war and a shortage of craftsmen, the technology was lost. For over half a century, there has been no one left to produce it.

I was born and raised in Isesaki City and first encountered Isesaki Meisen when I was a junior high school student. I was shocked to learn that such a wonderful kimono existed in my hometown, and I have been captivated by its charm ever since. Since production was already impossible by the time I was born, I had no choice but to accept that fact. However, during my university years, I began thinking that I wanted to revive Isesaki Meisen, and I started traveling to visit craftsmen and artisans across the country to work toward restoring the technology.

In 2020, I launched the culture brand "Ay" to bring Isesaki Meisen back to life for the modern era. Attracted by the modern textile designs of Meisen, I decided to reuse the fabric rather than keeping it as a kimono, developing new clothing through upcycling. Since Meisen is rare, I carefully consider the designs to ensure they look their most beautiful. Each piece is meticulously disassembled, cleaned, and then produced in domestic factories, primarily within Gunma Prefecture. Additionally, through our "Kimono Bring-in Service," we also remake kimonos cherished by our customers into new garments using Ay's designs.

However, relying solely on existing Meisen fabric will inevitably lead to a limit. Therefore, without depending on existing materials, I developed an original textile called "Ai no Nuno," which was revived using digital technology based on Isesaki Meisen patterns. This is not Isesaki Meisen itself, but a new textile created by digitizing characteristic Meisen patterns and adding our own interpretation and design. By combining this with technology, we will continue to create and utilize digital archives.

Moving forward, while conducting research to revive Isesaki Meisen, I will continue to promote digital archiving through upcycling and "Ai no Nuno," connecting the charm of Isesaki Meisen to the future.

*Affiliations and titles are those at the time of publication.