It is my intention to revitalize silk stencil dying for generations to come with an advanced technique using newly designed, hand-made stencils that are superimposed onto antique Edo-period (1604-1848) stencils, resulting in dynamic new patterns.

This traditional Japanese stencil dyeing technique, known for tiny, finely detailed patterns, dates back to the 1100s. The large and striking motif patterns applied to samurai armor and equipment in those early years eventually evolved into the small, refined designs we know today.  Beginning in the 1600s, the dye technique was used to adorn the formal clothing of elite samurai, with unique patterns and colors representing each feudal clan that helped establish their clan identity and loyalty. When the Shogun government imposed laws restricting the wearing of ostentatious clothing among the increasingly wealthy merchant class, people avoided the laws by showing off their wealth through the subtlety and impeccable craftsmanship of Edo Komon.  Japanese stencil dyeing profoundly influenced the development of French Silk Screen and European printed textiles.

The Edo Komon process begins with hand-carved stencils from Japanese washi paper that are treated and aged with persimmon tannin to increase their durability and longevity. One stencil can be used to dye up to 20 kimono. A paste made from rice and lime is applied through stencils onto fabric and acts as a resist to the textile dye that is later applied. The fabric is then steamed to set the dye evenly before the excess dye is removed through washing. Edo Komon dyers are known for their impeccable precision in seamlessly dying a 13-meter roll of silk by repeatedly moving the small paper pattern up to ninety times to complete a work,