[Press Release] Itoshiro Clothing Store to exhibit at "Art Without Heroes Mingei", the UK's largest ever exhibition dedicated to Japanese folk art
~Itoshiro Clothing Store will be introduced as an "eco-conscious brand" that symbolizes modern folk art~
Itoshiro Clothing Store is located in Itoshiro, Gifu Prefecture, a small mountain village 700 meters above sea level that has existed since the Jomon period. The store continues to create products every day in order to pass on to the next generation the "beauty of utility" and "beauty of form" of straight cuts that leave almost no waste in the fabric, which has been passed down for use in agricultural work, as well as the spirituality that lies within them.
This time, products from Ishiteshiro Clothing Store will be featured in "Art Without Heroes Mingei," the largest ever British exhibition dedicated to folk art, held at the William Morris Gallery, a museum dedicated to the life and work of British Arts and Crafts designer and early socialist William Morris. Based on the theme of "Three Generations of Mingei," the exhibition will introduce brands from the 19th century, which influenced Yanagi Soetsu and his friends, the 20th century, when the folk art movement led by Hamada Shoji and Kawai Kanjiro became active and cultivated the soil of folk art, and the 21st century, which questions the state of folk art today and reinterprets its core values in a modern way.
Itoshiro Yohinten will be introduced in the 21st century section as an eco-conscious brand that symbolizes modern Mingei. In this exhibition, the principles of Mingei are environmentally friendly sustainability, careful and slow manufacturing, natural materials and traditional techniques, responsibility and connection to the community, and unknown craftsmanship. We are pleased that you have chosen Itoshiro Yohinten in light of this.
It is a very enriching feeling to create things while paying respect to the land of Itoshiro, feeling the change of the seasons, and being grateful for the blessings of nature. With these feelings in mind, we carefully and lovingly dye each piece of cloth by hand. We are grateful that our craftsmanship has been shared, and we will continue to work hard on our craftsmanship.
The gallery also has cutting diagrams on display, which show the beautiful patterns created with straight, streamlined cuts.
[Exhibition Overview]
Period: March 23rd to September 22nd
Venue: William Morris Gallery
Lloyd Park House, London E17 4PP. To navigate, press the arrow keys.
Admission fee: Free
Official Press Release
In conjunction with this exhibition, Ishiteshiro Clothing Store will also be featured in the official guidebook.
Please make reservations and purchases via this URL .
■About Ishitoshiro Clothing Store
Itoshiro Clothing Store reproduces the traditional work clothes (tatsuke) that have been passed down since the Jomon period in the Itoshiro area, a small village in Okumino, Gifu Prefecture, and produces clothes with designs that suit modern lifestyles. They also collect local plants, dye them with natural materials and use indigo dyeing to create clothes. In recognition of their efforts to revitalize the region through manufacturing, they won the runner-up prize at the 12th Regional Revitalization Awards sponsored by Kyodo News and others.
[Upcoming domestic exhibition information]
<Tokyo>
Date: March 20, 2024 (Wednesday/Holiday) - March 24, 2024 (Sunday) 11:00-18:00
Venue: Mizunosora
Address: 5-25-2 Nishiogikita, Suginami-ku, Tokyo (10 minutes walk from Nishi-Ogikubo Station)
<Nagoya>
Dates: Saturday, March 30, 2024, 11:00-18:00, Sunday, March 31, 2024, 10:00-17:00
Venue: ferme studio
Address: 1-8 Issha, Meito-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture (5 minutes walk from Issha Station)
inquiry
e-mail: info@itoshiro.org,
TEL/FAX: 0575-86-3808 (Weekdays 10:00-16:00)
