It's a mouthpiece made by using cloth dyed with the technique called "katagami dyeing."
Since the process is handmade from pattern making to dyeing, even with the same stencil, each piece has its own character.
If the stencil shakes or the pattern is uneven—such handmade work creates a "vibration" that gives a lovingly warm expression. It is an item that conveys the breath of human hands, something that digital methods cannot express.
※ Because the way the stencil is placed changes depending on the cutting location, the stencil’s position cannot be selected. Please kindly understand.
Comfortable to use and add to daily life
It is large enough to fold snugly in both hands and won’t get bulky even when placed in a bag.
Also, it can hold small items such as lip cream or makeup tools, giving just the right size feel.
Because it has a large mouth opening, it opens and closes smoothly. You can open it with one hand and quickly take out or put in what you need, making it very convenient.
Quality you can feel every time you hold it
The metal fittings use brass, which gives a nostalgic and well-worn atmosphere.
The interior is lined with thick linen fabric, making it a safe and secure, sturdy creation.The contrast with the dyed fabric on the outside is exquisite, and every time you open it, it adds a little bit of charm.
Each one is made with thought and care
Making Gamago uses the "Yotsume Gamago" workshop.
This dye workshop uses traditional Japanese dyeing techniques such as "katagami dyeing" and "tsutsumikaki" to apply patterns to cloth, creating products like Gamago.
Katagami dyeing is used on the fabric of Gamago.
Katagami dyeing starts by making stencils from original paper patterns. These stencils are placed on the cloth, and a paste mixed with rice bran or glue is applied to print the patterns. The parts where the paste is applied do not get dyed, creating white pattern areas.
Once the paste is dry, dye is applied with a brush. If it is a single color, it finishes in one go, but when dyeing with multiple colors, each color is layered like painting.
Finally, when the paste is washed off with water, the pattern clearly stands out, and once dried, the process is complete. By going through this long process, one piece of cloth is completed and shaped into Gamago.
Stencils you can only find here
All stencils used in "Yotsume Gamago" are original. Therefore, this design cannot be found anywhere else.
While based on a Japanese-style motif reminiscent of embroidery, it also conveys a Western-style atmosphere like a check pattern, making it a design that is easy to incorporate even into Japanese-style stencils without indigo dye.
[Product Details]
Size: Approximately 11cm (4.33in) tall × 14cm (5.51in) wide
Material: 100% cotton / Interior lining 100% linen / Metal fittings: Brass
[Handling Precautions]
Since each piece is handmade, there may be slight variations in size.
Because the stencil placement changes depending on the cutting location, the expression of each product you receive may differ. We hope you enjoy the individuality of each piece. Please note that the stencil position cannot be selected. We appreciate your understanding.
Yotsume Gamago (Yotsume Somenonosha)
Yotsume Gamago is a dye workshop mainly using traditional Japanese dyeing techniques such as "katagami dyeing" and "tsutsumikaki" to dye cloth and Japanese paper, producing dyed clothing, handbags, and paper goods.
Designer Mr. Toyo Koichi is the head of the workshop, overseeing the entire process from stencil design to dyeing within the workshop.
Traditional Techniques: Katagami Dyeing and Tsutsumikaki
At Yotsume Gamago, mainly the traditional Japanese techniques called "katagami" and "tsutsumikaki" are used to dye cloth and Japanese paper.
<Stencil Dyeing (Katazome)>
Stencil dyeing is a dyeing technique that uses stencils to dye cloth or Japanese paper.
First, a design is planned, and that design is traced onto stencil paper. Intentionally leaving out lines can also add flavor to the pattern.
<Resist Painting (Tutsugaki)>
Resist painting differs from stencil dyeing; it is a technique where areas not to be dyed are drawn freehand.
A triangular tube is used to apply paste onto cloth or Japanese paper, tying the raw silk, and drawing shapes as you imagine.
The areas where the paste is applied act as a resist to dyeing, just like in stencil dyeing, and remain white.
