The fabric dyed using the "katazome" technique is made with a gourd mouth.
Since the entire process from stencil making to dyeing is done by hand, even the same stencil has its own unique character.
If the stencil shakes or the patterns are uneven—such handcrafting creates a “shaking” effect that somehow brings out a warm and gentle expression. This is an item where you can feel the breath of human hands, something that cannot be expressed digitally.
* Because the way the stencil appears changes depending on the cutting position, the position of the stencil cannot be chosen. Please understand this in advance.
A comfortable usability that you want to add every day
It is large enough to be folded snugly in both hands and won’t be bulky even when put in a bag.
Moreover, it can also hold small items such as lip cream and makeup tools, giving a just-right feeling of size.
Because it has a gourd mouth, the opening is large and smooth to open and close. You can easily open it with one hand and quickly take out or put in what you need, making it very convenient.
A quality you feel every time you hold it in your hand
The metal fittings use shin-chrome, giving a nostalgic and polished atmosphere.
The inside is lined with thick fabric and finished carefully, creating a secure and reassuring feel.
The contrast with the dyed fabric on the outside is superb, and every time you open it, it adds a little sparkle.
Each piece is crafted with thought
Making the gourd mouth is done with the “Yotsume dyed fabric pouch.”
In our dyeing workshop, traditional Japanese techniques such as “katazome” and “tsutsuekaki” are used to stencil the fabric, and products like the gourd mouth are created as finished items.
For the fabric surface of the gourd mouth, “katazome” is used.
Katazome starts with making a stencil of the original design. This stencil is placed on the fabric, and rice paste or glue is applied to create a resist. The areas where the paste is applied do not get dyed, resulting in white patterned parts.
Once the paste dries, dye is applied with a brush.
If it is a single color, the process finishes in one go, but for multi-colored finishing, each color is dyed layer by layer as if painting a picture.
Finally, when the paste is washed off with water, the pattern clearly appears and drying completes the process.
In this way, a long process is taken to complete one piece of fabric, and the shape of the gourd mouth gradually takes form.
Stencils found only here
All stencils for the “Yotsume dyed fabric pouch” are original. Therefore, this design is available only here.
Patterns combining circles, fans, straight lines, dots, curls... many shapes come together to cover the small canvas called the gourd mouth.
With handcrafted “shaking” designs and hand-dyed delicate expressions, the carefully combined shapes add a layer of cuteness.
【Product details】
Size: Approximately 11cm (4.33in) × 14cm (5.51in)
Material: 100% cotton fabric / 100% inner lining / Metal fittings: shin-chrome
【Handling precautions】
Since each piece is handmade, there may be slight differences in size.
Because the way the stencil appears changes depending on the cutting position, the expression may differ for each product. We hope you enjoy these unique characteristics as part of the charm. Please note that you cannot choose the stencil position. Thank you for your understanding.
