Akane-kage

Signature

A silk leno-weave stole in which red and black drift quietly together.
The red here is not fiery, but deep and calm, holding a soft light within its shadow.

Black absorbs light, while red holds warmth within itself.
“Akane-kage” traces the meeting point where these two presences cross, becoming a one-of-a-kind work of red and black shaped by both movement and stillness.

Background

In earlier works, weft threads were composed of silk filament yarn, high-twist silk, and hand-spun mawata silk. For “Akane-kage,” we added a new element: threads drawn from 1,000 cocoons. A single luminous thread becomes a deeper sheen when repeated a thousand times, and here that light is adjusted carefully so that it is neither too restrained nor too assertive.

We also used threads made from Koishimaru cocoons raised in our studio this year, threads that give off a fine and quiet light. Where gentle threads and strong threads meet, this textile carries both softness and strength.

Leno weave allows air to pass between the threads, holding light and creating transparency and depth when worn. In “Akane-kage,” red and black sway quietly within that structure, leaving a different expression each time it is seen.

As with naturally dyed textiles, subtle changes may appear over time with light and friction. This, too, is part of how the cloth continues to live. We recommend hand washing separately with a neutral detergent and drying it in the shade.

Availability, price, and opportunities to view the work in person can be shared upon request. Even after the work has found its home, this page will remain as part of the yamamayu record.