Ryukobo has produced a pouch decorated with kumihimo with the aim of making kumihimo items more popular in daily life. In the modern era, wide kumihimo may be unfamiliar, but the sash worn by Prince Shotoku in his portrait is a type of kumihimo called "andagumi", and it is of the maximum width that can be braided with a work stand. Assuming that the pouch will be used as a cosmetic pouch as well, the inside is coated with enamel, along with a stain-resistant finish. The ribbon can be removed.
※Due to the popularity of this product, we are currently experiencing a number of pending orders. Therefore, it may take approximately one month from the time of order to delivery.
Ryukobo
http://ryukobo.jp/
Ryukobo is the only kumihimo atelier in Tokyo that carries out the entire process from beginning to end, starting with the making of threads that match kumihimo, through the entire process of design, dyeing, and braiding. The atelier is led by Master Takashi Fukuda, who has been certified as a “traditional craftsman” by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and his son Ryuta. Ever since its establishment 132 years ago, Ryukobo has passed down authentic kumihimo-making techniques as a family business. Confidence in Ryukobo’s artisanship runs deep, and it is appreciated and loved by many luminaries in tea ceremony circles, kabuki actors, and the Imperial Family, who all prize quality.
Kumihimo are made using specialised work stands, called maru-dai (round stands), kaku-dai (angular stands), ayatake-dai (patterned bamboo stands), and taka-dai (high stands). Beautifully dyed silk threads are woven deftly by craftspeople employing dozens of different techniques. The result is high-quality braids that have just the right elasticity, making them easy to tie, but difficult to undo. This can only be achieved by a skilled craftsperson who, with great concentration, braids the cords with subtly graded tension. The work on kumihimo with complex patterns progresses very slowly, at a rate of just a few centimetres per hour.
Recently, Ryukobo, with Ryuta as its centre, is actively developing new products by evolving kumihimo into something modern that can be worn with Western-style clothing as well as traditional Japanese costumes. Ryukobo's fashion-oriented approach starting with bracelets and the collaboration of umbrellas with "utilitarian beauty", and their initiatives to expand the possibilities of kumihimo are attracting attention both inside and outside Japan these days. Braiding technology, which has been carefully handed down over the generations, is set to evolve into new shapes.