About Ueda Tsumugi
Ueda tsumugi is a silk tsumugi textile produced in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture. A representative tsumugi of Shinshu with a history from the early Edo period, it is known as such a durable silk textile that the saying goes 'Ueda tsumugi gets better after three washings.' The original production method involves hand-drawing threads from mawata (silk wadding), dyeing with plants, and hand weaving, boasting superior durability along with a rustic texture. Craftspeople in Ueda City continue to preserve traditional techniques today, producing kimono fabric.
Techniques & Materials
Craft terms are shown in the original Japanese — these are proper names with no standard English equivalents.
Techniques
手紡ぎ（真綿糸）草木染め手機織り
Materials
絹糸（真綿糸）草木染料
Where to see & buy
Workshop names are in Japanese; links go to their official sites.
- 小岩井紬工房 hands-on experience