Ayako Izumi
RIRI TEXTILE
Weaver
Tokorozawa, Japan
Creating with peace, passing on joy
- Ayako combines natural dyeing and weaving in her practice
- She believes her own energy is carried into the fabric she weaves
- A personal connection between maker and user is important to her
Ayako Izumi is a textile artisan specialising in handweaving and natural dyeing. From an early age, she loved making things by hand, especially crafts and sewing. This interest led her to study textile design at Joshibi Junior College of Art and Design, where she learned the foundations of dyeing and weaving. After graduating, she continued to refine her weaving skills under the guidance of a former teacher, while developing her knowledge of natural dyeing through workshops and self-study. Using traditional tools and techniques, Ayako creates handwoven textiles for modern life. “I value plant colours as gifts from nature,” she says. Guided by this philosophy, she approaches her craft with gratitude. "I hope to create warm pieces that bring comfort and grow more beautiful with age," Ayako shares.
INTERVIEW
Reading Fukumi Shimura’s story of sakura dyeing in a secondary school textbook was a great inspiration to me. Later, when I was at university, I visited Indonesia, where I saw beautiful ikat textiles dyed with madder and indigo. I was struck by the power of their colours.
I am drawn to weaving because, although it is structured and limited by the crossing of warp and weft threads, it offers endless possibilities through the combination of fibre, thickness, density, colour and pattern. I also love the quiet nature of weaving itself.
For me, it is important to have direct contact with my clients. Handing a woven piece in person to its future owner is very meaningful. Weaving takes a long time, but the finished work will stay with the person who uses it much longer than it stays with me.
I want every piece I make to stay close to people and bring a warm feeling, like being wrapped in a blanket during a nap. To create something with that sense of comfort and good energy, I believe it begins with living happily and peacefully myself.
Ayako Izumi
RIRI TEXTILE
Weaver
Tokorozawa, Japan
ADDRESS
Address upon request, Tokorozawa, Japan
AVAILABILITY
By appointment only
LANGUAGES
Japanese
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