Weave　(p. 88 )

1. Produced in Iida City, Nagano Prefecture.

2. Characteristics: Silk fabric, hand woven with pre-dyed threads, dyed with plant dyes.

3.Uses: Clothing.

4. History: The origin is the home made Tsumugi in this area. A woman living in Tomita, wove thin silk fabrics with hand spun threads from double cocoons in 1816. It was marketed as "Tomita Ginu" and became popular in Kyoto where it is dyed with the design of plum blossoms. In the Taisho Era, weaving machines were introduced and produced various items. However, only hand woven Tsumugi and white plain fabrics are produced.

Dyeing Method

Threads are dyed with plants which grow wild in the basin of Tenryu River, containing such mordant as iron, wood ashes and alum. The dye plants are apples,persimmons,"Ume"(plum,Japanese apricot),chestnuts, "Yomogi"(mugwort, Artemisia indica), "Shiso"(beefsteak plant, Perilla frutescens crippa), "Hinoki"(white cedar, Chamaecyparis obtusa), maple, eggplants, sweet potatoes, and so on.