Not only Japan but also many other countries have traditional techniques which should be handed down.
For example, pierced earrings made of glass beads and made by craftsmen in Maharaja, India. They are also regarded as products of fair trade.
We often tend to think that such traditional products of fair trade are expensive, but we are able to get them with a price same as not fair trade ones. And by using the products we can feel connection with people who make them. But the traditional techniques have been disappearing because you consider how you produce efficiently in the society of mass production and mass consumption. Now, we can protect our culture and the environment at the same time by looking back on traditional techniques and feelings a special attachment to products.
I will explain "indigo
dyeing". Indigo has been used for about 8000 years, so it is the oldest dye in the world
.
The plants of material or the way to make dye is different from area to area.
Tade-indigo was first brought to Japan from China from the Yamato era to the Nara era. First, the workmen made "sukumo" by having its leaves ferment. Next, they dyed clothes by using "sukumo". After that, they have dyed clothes touch air, "indican", which is the components of indigo, becomes blue.
Indigo dyeing became common in the Edo era, at the same time as cotton was spread. Indigo has a variety of abilities which are deodorization, antibacteria, disinfection, ultraviolet rays cut, repel insects, and so on. Indigo were used for dyeing work clothes because they didn't change color if sweat touches them. Japanese called the shop of dyed clothes "konya(紺屋)" because of indigo dyeing.
However, making "sukumo", which was performed flourishingly in the Edo era disappeared because scientific dyeing has spread. So there are only two who work making "sukumo" mainly in Japan now.
Tade-indigo was first brought to Japan from China from the Yamato era to the Nara era. First, the workmen made "sukumo" by having its leaves ferment. Next, they dyed clothes by using "sukumo". After that, they have dyed clothes touch air, "indican", which is the components of indigo, becomes blue.
Indigo dyeing became common in the Edo era, at the same time as cotton was spread. Indigo has a variety of abilities which are deodorization, antibacteria, disinfection, ultraviolet rays cut, repel insects, and so on. Indigo were used for dyeing work clothes because they didn't change color if sweat touches them. Japanese called the shop of dyed clothes "konya(紺屋)" because of indigo dyeing.
However, making "sukumo", which was performed flourishingly in the Edo era disappeared because scientific dyeing has spread. So there are only two who work making "sukumo" mainly in Japan now.
