Kurume Kasuri is woven on retro belt-driven power looms from the Showa era, with twenty looms operating from a single motor. Founded in 1948, the mill continues to produce one of Japan's most representative yarn-dyed textiles. The fabric is known for its soft, handwoven-like texture. Because many of the processes are done manually, production involves more than thirty steps and takes two to four months to complete. This textile is ideal for those who wish to create special pieces rooted in traditional Japanese craftsmanship. This fabric features tatekatsuri, a type of kasuri pattern created solely from the warp yarns. It is also known as itagatsuri. The grid-like design is woven using a specialized loom called the"four-head loom" (yoncho-shokki). Small, finely spaced motifs are known as *arare*. When arranged irregularly across both warp and weft, the arare pattern forms unexpected overlaps and intersections - sometimes crossing like tiny plus signs, other times shifting past one another. This unpredictability gives the pattern its charm. Versatile and easy to use, it works well for both clothing and accessories. Fabric thickness: standard + soft Warp yarn: 40/2 Weft yarn: 20/1, 40/2 Chemical dye 100% Finished with hot-water washing and natural drying, shrinking the fabric by about 10%. Ready to cut and sew immediately after purchase.
