Analysis of a Traditional Japanese Textile Dyeing: Shibori

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Analysis of a Traditional Japanese Textile Dyeing: Shibori
Colorfully worn fabrics with intricate designs are manufactured on different variety of techniques such as weaving, embroidery and dyeing. These textile arts are been treasured for centuries regardless of country or religion. Intriguingly, all of these techniques are often used in one cloth to achieve an even more splendid design. Japan is one of those countries that have different textile production techniques that use culturally unique aesthetic patterns. In Japan, weaving and decorating fabric is a very ancient art form. Many of these ancient Japanese textile arts involve the process of dyeing fabric (Przybylek). Dyeing fabrics usually involve the process of preventing the dye to reach some parts of the cloth to make unique designs (Laurien 33). This technique of dyeing is called resist dyeing (Cybulska and Drozdz 33). One traditional resist dyeing technique used by the Japanese is called Shibori (Fig. 1). As described by Hanes, shibori is a traditional process of dyeing fabric that includes the process of tightly binding the cloth with thread or yarn (3). Added by Hanes, the tight binding will be involve in securing the patterns that the cloth will have (3). Also, other ways of accomplishing the different designs includes wrapping, folding and stitching the fabric before the application of the dye (Wada 100; 108). In modern times, the usage of rubber bands to bind the cloth, which usually results in a radiating ring pattern, is the most common technique to mimic the shibori process (Hanes 3). Learning the shibori develops an appreciation to the cultural Japanese dyeing tradition of textile arts by exposing them to different areas that might not be otherwise encountered. Although, there are other traditional Japanese textile art used in ancient times such as Sashiko, a Japanese quilting style, and Kasuri, another Japanese dyeing technique (Hanes 1); this paper greatly explores the -476251590675shibori dyeing technique found in the Japanese textile dyeing tradition.
Fig.1 Stephens, Cassie. “Multiple Shibori Patterns.” Heddels, 23 July 2018. 2 April 2019
History of Shibori
Dating back to the pre-historical records of Japan, shibori was known to be one of oldest Japanese dyeing technique. As described by Cybulska and Drozdz, shibori has been used since 8th century Japan some 1,300 years ago beginning in India, then in China, and lastly, in Japan (34). In these different countries, the use of pattern dyeing is treated as a form of art where sometimes the process of textile design and manufacturing is part of spiritual and social life (Cybulska and Drozdz 34). Added by Cybulska and Drozdz, the name of the resist technique was originally adopted from the Chinese word xie, as mentioned in some 5th century historical documents (qtd. in Wronska 34). As time progress, the term shibori was derived from the Japanese word “Shiboru” which means to wring, squeeze, or press that describes the physical characteristics of the process (Jones). Among all these methods, the fabrics are generally bound tied, sewn, compressed, twisted and folded to form sections of uniquely patterned design that r...