The KURA gallery at ISSEY MIYAKE KYOTO presents KURA Exhibition “GLOSSY LINEN.”

From the textiles of HaaT, we introduce GLOSSY LINEN, a series that highlights craftsmanship and texture.

The Enshu region of the Shizuoka Prefecture is known as one of Japan’s prominent cotton textile producing regions. In recent years, this region has been blessed with the abundant waters of the Tenryu River and a moderate climate, allowing for linen production to thrive as well. Using linen thread spun in Kyoto and woven in Enshu, GLOSSY LINEN uses different colour threads for the warp and weft, to create a beautiful iridescent sheen that changes appearance depending on how the light reflects off of it.

The durability of linen thread varies since it has little stretch and is prone to breaking, thus weaving this thread requires a high level of skill and attention to detail. GLOSSY LINEN is made by skilled artisans gently controlling the speed of the loom, carefully weaving it in order to create a delicate and beautiful finish. Finally, the fabric is tumbler-washed to further highlight the rich three-dimensional texture unique to linen.

This exhibit introduces GLOSSY LINEN through the charm of the fabric as it is woven. The visuals shown in the exhibition are taken by photographer Yuriko Takagi. Come experience the depth of the colour and subtle feel of GLOSSY LINEN.