Japan Blue Day – Talks and networking on natural indigo dyeing, and the Japanese textile art of Shibori in Bordeaux

Shibori / conférence / Japan Blue Day / Bordeaux / japon

Sunday 7 September, 10:00

A day dedicated to indigo dyeing, and Japanese textile art, featuring talks, networking, matcha tasting

Discover and try out Japanese craftsmanship

Japan Blue Day is a unique event in Bordeaux dedicated to natural indigo dyeing and the Japanese textile art of Shibori.
The program features three exceptional talks:

• Kenta Watanabe, one of the last five producers of Sukumo (fermented Japanese indigo) and a master artisan from Tokushima, Japan, will present the ancestral Sukumo dyeing process and share his vision of indigo.

• Caroline Cochet, author of La Magie de l’indigo, will unveil the secrets of this age-old dye through her research and hands-on experience.

• Françoise Carayol, a French dyer specializing in traditional fermented woad dyeing, will introduce the European perspective.

• These presentations will offer a dialogue between traditions, fostering discovery and cultural exchange.

The day continues with a roundtable gathering the three speakers, joined remotely by Julia Tabakhova, author of Inside Indigo, for a discussion on the links between cultures, techniques, and know-how around natural dyes.
The event will be hosted by Cornelia Buttmann-Scholl, Shibori artist and president of the European Shibori Lovers Association (ESLA).
Visitors can enjoy exchanges with enthusiasts, artists, and craftspeople in a warm setting decorated with indigo-dyed works by Kenta Watanabe. There will be sales of Sukumo kits to dye at home like in Japan, dyeing materials brought from Japan by Kenta, books by Caroline and Julia (with signings), and creations by Françoise.
The day ends with a complimentary matcha tasting. Food options are available on site, and you are welcome to bring your own picnic.
Japan Blue Day is the perfect opportunity to dive into the fascinating world of Japanese indigo, meet those who keep it alive, and leave inspired, equipped… and with indigo-colored stars in your eyes!