Japanese Indigo Fabric refers to the traditional Matsusaka cotton indigo-dyeing technique that has continued for more than 400 years since the Edo period (1603–1868) and has been designated as a prefectural traditional craft by Mie Prefecture.
Matsusaka cotton, used in Japanese Indigo Fabric, is said to have its roots in the fact that this area was once one of the leading spinning and weaving centers in Japan, and fabrics were dedicated to the nearby Ise Shrine.
During the Edo period (1603-1867), the castle area of Matsusaka flourished as a merchant town.
The "Matsusaka merchants," who mainly traded Japanese Indigo Fabric, were among the first to set up stores in Edo (Tokyo) and achieved tremendous sales of over 500,000 tons per year.
Today, only one Matsusaka cotton weaving company continues to produce indigo-dyed fabrics as in the past. The indigo dye process, called "liuchu-shibori," involves repeatedly dipping the threads into an indigo jar dug underground.
The video is a highlight of the process, so please watch it first.
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