The Yamamura family were the last to still weave traditional 100% natural indigo cotton kasuri (ikat) on Kyushu island. This style of weaving was used to create everyday work clothes as well as some casual kimono, but now it is a dying art. Yamamura san does everything from processing the indigo, to dying the yarns, working out the pattern and weaving.

Indigo was traditionally used because it was believed to be a natural insect repellent. Kasuri weaving uses one yarn dyed into multiple colours to create the pattern, so the finished fabric is also thin and lightweight - perfect for the Japanese climate.

Unfortunately, now the Yamamura's have retired and we will no longer be able to find such a rich blue cottton.