The Maker & the Craft

kaoriyatsumoto is a slow textile practice rooted in the ancient Japanese art of Shibori — the resist-dyeing technique that transforms cloth through folding, binding, and immersion in a hand-tended indigo vat.

Origin

Founded and led by Kaori Yatsumoto, the practice bridges two textile traditions: the meticulous craft heritage of Japan and the raw, honest materiality of Irish linen. Each piece is made in small batches, by hand, with intention.

The Shibori Process

Every garment and textile begins with an organic indigo fructose vat — a living dye bath maintained through care, temperature, and time. Cloth is folded, clamped, or bound before being submerged, and the resulting patterns are never entirely predictable. That unpredictability is the point. No two pieces are the same.

The indigo oxidises on contact with air, shifting from yellow-green to the deep, saturated blues kaoriyatsumoto is known for. The process is slow, physical, and deeply meditative.

Materials

I

Kaori works primarily with Irish linen and bamboo-linen blends — natural fibres chosen for their ability to hold indigo beautifully, their breathability, and their durability. These are cloths made to last, and to soften further with every wash.

Upcycling & Provenance

Alongside new cloth, the practice embraces upcycling: vintage kimono, obi, and antique French textiles are given new form through dyeing, cutting, and quiet reconstruction. Each piece carries the memory of its previous life.

Sustainability

Working with natural dyes, plant-based fibres, and found or vintage cloth is not a trend — it is a commitment. Kaori produces in limited quantities, with minimal waste, and with a deep regard for the environmental and cultural weight of making.

Recognition

kaoriyatsumoto has been shown at London Craft Week and continues to exhibit at select events and pop-ups. The work is held by collectors and worn by those who value craft as a form of meaning-making.

"Cloth holds memory. Indigo holds light. Together, they make something that outlasts the making."