Member introduction vol.2 Mari Furuta
-When did you start working at Ishiteshiro Clothing Store?
I first came here as an intern in May 2017. The following year, I started dyeing part-time. I live in Mino City, so I commute to Itoshiro, about an hour and a half away, during the dyeing season.
-What do you feel when dyeing with Itoshiro?
In Itoshiro, the water and air are clean and the plants are vibrant. It feels so fresh. When I first started coming here, I thought it was great to be able to dye using such abundant water from the river.
The scenery when the dyed items are hung out to dry is also beautiful, with the surrounding area filled with green plants.
-Please tell us about the appeal of plant dyeing.
With plant dyeing, the color and atmosphere will vary depending on the plant, the season, the year, and the location. There is no set color that will come out, and it will be different from the color of the plant that you can see with your eyes.
It's human, and it makes me want to know more about it, as if I'm interacting with a real person. It feels like they have something completely different, and that's what makes them so interesting.
-Indigo dyeing is also different from plant dyeing, right?
Indigo dyeing is fun, not just the act of dyeing, but the process itself. At first, the moment of dyeing was fun, but then I got to see the indigo grow and adapt to its changes, and it was fascinating to watch the life of the indigo.
There are so many things that make me wonder, "Why?" and there are so many things I don't understand. I continue to feel like I want to know more! It makes me feel like I can't fully understand it.
I'm excited by the idea that there are beings far more amazing than myself, and a completely different world. Once you know everything about it, you want to control it, right? Instead, because I don't know, I want to make the most of what I don't know.
- The colors of the plants that you dyed are very gentle. And the indigo color is dignified, that's how I feel about it. Please give a message to those who wear dyed clothes.
I hope everyone will enjoy wearing clothes dyed with the bounty of Itoshiro's rich nature.
Mari and I have been working together on indigo dyeing and plant dyeing since our first indigo dyeing session in 2017 , and she is a strong friend who I always consult with when I'm in doubt or worried. It's no exaggeration to say that we can produce the colors we dye because of her. I want to continue learning so that I can continue to produce dye colors that are unique to Itoshiro!