In person / Talk / Dyeing
In this lecture, Matsuzaki will delve into the history of indigo dyeing, cultivation methods, the process of making sukumo (fermented indigo leaves), and dyeing techniques, incorporating scientific insights along the way. This talk will be a rare opportunity for those who wish to deepen their understanding of indigo—or even try cultivating it themselves.
Note: On September 28, at Loop of the Loom-Dumbo studio, there will be a combined program of both workshop and lecture. If you wish to take the workshop, register 'Living Kyō-ai Indigo & Beeswax Resist Dyeing Workshop'.
Riku Matsuzaki is an indigo artist and craftsman who revived “Kyo-ai,” a lost Kyoto indigo dye tradition that had vanished for over 100 years. At age 22, he was struck by the term “Japan Blue” while in New York and chose to pursue dyeing after returning to Japan. He apprenticed under Yukio Yoshioka, the fifth-generation master of a 200-year-old Kyoto dye workshop. After Yoshioka’s passing, Matsuzaki began cultivating indigo on a 350 sqft plot of land using traditional, chemical-free methods. He practices a sustainable cycle where even waste dye is returned to the soil. In 2024, he was named one of Forbes JAPAN’s 30 Culturepreneurs and collaborated with Valextra, a high-end Italian leather brand.