Founded in the 1880s, Yushisha is a workshop located in the Tango region of Kyoto prefecture, dedicated to revitalising the ancient art of weaving called fujifu. The craft employs wisteria fibres, which are hand woven into a supple and textured material. The meticulous process involved in making fujifu begins with harvesting and drying the wisteria vines, followed by splitting the fibres, and spinning them by hand into yarn. This is thought to be the oldest known fabric in Japan, dating back to prehistoric times. Once used for everyday clothing for ordinary people, wisteria weaving was slowly abandoned with the spread of cotton at the pre-modern Edo period.
Yushisha blends wisteria fibre with silk, Japanese paper, or even metallic yarn to craft intricate, durable textiles that showcase the material's distinctive character. Committed to environmentally-friendly approaches, the atelier incorporates other parts of the wisteria plant in its processes, such as the seeds and leaves. Today, by presenting wisteria fabric not only as a traditional craft but also as an art form rich in cultural significance, Yushisha promotes community engagement through workshops and events, preserving and sharing the natural elegance and deep heritage of this ancient weaving tradition.
Yushisha
