About Thread— The Line That Begins a Textile

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Cloth begins with thread.
At yamamayu, we work with different kinds of thread: hand-spun mawata thread from our own cocoons, reeled silk thread sourced from a twisting workshop in Hachioji, and future fibers such as cotton and kudzu that we are beginning to explore.

As the thread changes, so do the light, softness, tension, and warmth of the textile.
This page introduces the threads that support yamamayu’s making in a simple and approachable way.

Hand-Spun Mawata Yarn
Reeled Silk Thread
Tensan Silk
Future Threads
Thread and Sustainability
Gallery
FAQ

Hand-Spun Mawata Yarn

Material: cocoons from domesticated silkworms raised in the studio, and imperfect cocoons that are not reeled into silk
Process: boil cocoons → open into mawata → spin by hand
Character: soft, light, warm, breathable; its expression changes depending on the amount of twist
Uses: stoles, kimono cloth, mawata bedding fill, and artwork

Reeled Silk Thread

Source: custom-ordered from a twisting workshop in Hachioji
Role: brings strength, precision, and expressions that hand-spun mawata alone cannot provide
Dyeing: colored in the studio with both plant-based dyes and lower-impact chemical dyes

Tensan Silk

Material: tensan cocoons raised in our studio and in Iwate
Character: rare, strong, and marked by a pale jade-like natural luster
Uses: special works such as high-end stoles and exhibition pieces

Future Threads

Cotton: we are experimenting from trial cultivation toward ways of spinning and weaving it into cloth.
Kudzu: we are exploring how a locally growing plant fiber might become thread.
Aim: to move a little closer to self-supported materials and deepen our dialogue with the gifts of nature.

Thread and Sustainability

Reuse: leftover threads are tied and used again
By-products: pupae and used dye plants are returned to compost
Tools: treadle looms and old weaving machines are repaired and used for many years

Thread is something received from natural cycles and, in time, returned to them.
→ Read Sustainability

Gallery

Silk thread dyed in the studio — Reeled silk thread dyed in the studio

Reeling tensan silk at a silk factory in Okaya, Nagano

Mawata thread with zenmai fiber — Hand-spun mawata yarn wrapped with zenmai fiber

Thread made from tied leftover yarn — Thread made by tying together leftover hand-spun mawata yarn

FAQ

Q. What is the difference between hand-spun mawata yarn and machine-made silk thread?
A. Hand-spun yarn is softer and more expressive, while machine-made silk is more even and stable.

Q. What makes tensan silk special?
A. Its pale jade-like luster, strength, and rarity.

Q. What kinds of dyes do you use?
A. We use both plant dyes and lower-impact chemical dyes, depending on the purpose.