Hello, we are SLOW FABRIC.
Japanese indigo dyers.
The Traditional Color That Brightens Everyday Life
The Indigo Blue Loved by the Japanese
The golden age of indigo was the Edo period.
Though a subdued color, Edo-era people considered indigo-dyed fabrics to be “stylish” because they became richer in character with use. It is said that most fabric items they wore were dyed in indigo.
However, with the importation of chemical dyes during the Meiji period, the use of natural indigo gradually declined.
With the desire to “reintroduce the once-beloved shades of indigo into everyday life,” SLOW FABRIC creates products using traditional indigo-dyeing techniques passed down since the Edo period(1600s).
日常を彩る伝統の色
日本人が愛した藍色
藍の全盛期は江戸時代。
地味な色だが、使い込むことに味わいが出る藍染を江戸の人々は”粋”だと捉え、身に着ける布製品のほとんどが藍色で染まっていたといわれています。
しかし明治時代に化学染料の輸入にともない、天然の藍の色は衰退していきました。
「もう一度、暮らしにかつての藍の色どりを取り入れたい」という思いから、SLOW FABRICは江戸時代から続く藍染の技法を用いた製品を制作しています。
Our dyeing process is made entirely from natural ingredients:
“Sukumo”, a dye derived from the indigo plant
“Lye” (Aku), extracted from wood ash
“Shell ash”, made from burnt shells
“Bran”, the outer layer of wheat
These ingredients are fermented in a vat, producing a deep and rich indigo dye.
The Meaning Behind “SLOW FABRIC” The name SLOW FABRIC comes from:
“Low & Slow” – Taking time to create something with care
“Slow (Food)” – Revisiting traditional (food) culture and passing it on to future generations
Taking the time to create something of true quality, offering people the opportunity to discover the tradition of indigo dyeing, and ensuring that this craft is preserved for generations to come—this is the vision that drives our work.
Currently, we are also cultivating indigo plants in Shiga Prefecture. However, due to limited harvests, we use Awa Ai indigo from Tokushima Prefecture for dyeing. In the future, we aim to expand our cultivation and dye exclusively with the indigo we grow ourselves.
・植物の藍から作られた染料”蒅 (すくも)”
・木の灰からとった”灰汁 (あく)”
・貝を焼いた灰”貝灰”
・麦の外皮”ふすま”
これらのみを甕の中に入れ発酵させることで作る藍の染液は、深い色合いを産み出してくれます。
SLOW FABRICの名前の由来は、
“ Low & Slow ゆっくりと時間をかけて “
” Slow ~ (Food) 伝統的な(食)文化を見直し、後世につなぐ ”
これらの言葉からSLOWの文字をとりました。
ゆっくりと時間をかけてでも良いものを生み出し、それを手に取った人が藍染という伝統を知るきっかけになり、結果的に後世へ残っていく。そんな未来を夢見て活動をしています。
現在は、滋賀県内での藍の栽培にも取り組んでいますが、収穫量が少ないため徳島県産の阿波藍を使用し染色を行っています。今後は栽培面積を増やし、自分たちで育てた藍だけを使って染色を行うことを目標に取り組んでいます。