Halfway between a workshop and a laboratory, Ryukyu Indigo Lab was established in 2009 to pass on Okinawa's ancestral know-how in indigo dyeing, known as Ryukyu-ai. Out of the desire to save ancestral techniques which are on the verge of extinction, Yoshinari Kakazu, founder, has restored abandoned farmlands to grow Ryukyu indigo plant seeds with his associate Koji Okuma. The cultivation method requires research, in-depth agriculture management, as well as physical and mental strength to master the hard work involved in the complete production process. It takes hundreds of kilograms of leaves to produce only a small amount of dye.
The texture of the natural deep Ryukyu blue is unique and cannot be reproduced with chemical dyes. Through the craft, Yoshinari and Koji are actively engaged in the development of sustainable and local industries while preserving the natural environment. Koji states that "Crafts are born from the land. Knowing the characteristics of each natural elements and making the most of them is what makes a piece of art. I believe the power of the land will be present in the finished work."
Ryukyu Indigo Lab
