Ikeuchi Yuzen is an itome-yuzen studio in Arashiyama, Kyoto.
With the theme “Color, Grace and Harmony,” they create kimonos and other products using fabrics they dye using traditional techniques.
The itome-yuzen dyeing method was invented during the Genroku Era (1688-1703) in the Edo Period by Yuzensai Miyazaki, a Kyoto ougi-e (folding fan) painter. A technique called “*norioki-bosen” enabled artists to paint delicate and elegant patterns on fabrics. After three-hundred years, the simple monyo-zome (patterned) technique still exists today as a unique Japanese dyeing technique. Yusen dyeing was developed while a sophisticated artistic culture was flourishing in Kyoto and it has remained a symbol of elegance and beauty since the time it was invented. At Ikeuchi Yuzen, they are always striving to modernize yuzen dyeing while also placing importance on tradition.
They are one of the few shops which continue to create itome-yuzen products.
They create special items—including informal or formal kimonos, obi belts and kimono accessories—to meet each customer’s needs.
Their studio is not large but they believe there are things they can do well because of their size. They have more time to listen to their customers and work one-on-one with them to understand exactly what they want. Try one of their Kyoto yuzen products which they make in a small studio near Arashiyama.
*Norioki-bosen
This is a technique where patterns are outlined with glue in the “sashi-yuzen” dyeing procedure to prevent smudges. When drawing patterns on fabric, there are two types of “norioki” techniques to prevent smudging: “itome-norioki” to outline the patterns with glue to prevent smudging and “fuse-norioki” to adhere glue to prevent the inside of the patterns from being colored. The areas where glue is placed will not be colored, so it works as a barrier to prohibit adjoining colors from mixing and can also allow specific portions of a fabric to remain white.