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SUMOTO JP Why are we enchanted by Sally and Junichi? Perhaps because they remind us how love, creativity, and a shared passion for Japan Blue can shape a life.
Sally Hancox, an illustrator from England, and Junichi Okada, a graphic designer from Hyogo, met at an art event in 2010 — while Sally was in Japan on a working holiday. They fell in love, married, and moved to London.
When Sally became pregnant with their first child, the young couple returned to Japan in search of a place to raise a family. They eventually settled in Sumoto on the island of Awaji. Today, they have three children and run AiAii, their indigo business.
Our OCT26 Blue Japan Indigo Tour visited Sally and Junichi at AiAii. In their dyeing studio, Sally and Junichi shared their own story, as well as their indigo story — from growing indigo plants to creating naturally dyed textiles.
Sally, a true innovator, has developed new styles of shibori to create distinctive patterns on cloth. Most surprising, she has extracted a pale mauve dye from indigo leaves. Who knew?
Junichi, equally inventive, has been making indigo paint to create art works in wood.
Our travelers were captivated by Sally and Junichi's story and their work. Questions kept coming as everyone sought to learn more about their indigo journey, techniques, and ideas.
The magic continued in AiAii's little shop. It was filled with delightful indigo clothing, jewelry, textile hangings, and more. The credit card machine went ka-ching, ka-ching as our travelers found many treasures to take home. By the time we left, the walls were stripped of almost every piece!
It was a joy to introduce our tour members to the next generation of indigo artisans. The future of Japan Blue is in thoughtful and dedicated hands. 
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ABOUT US: Okan Arts, a petite family business, is co-owned by mother-daughter duo Patricia Belyea and Victoria Stone. Patricia and Victoria import vintage Japanese textiles, host in-person and online creative quilting experiences, and lead textile tours to Japan and the UK.
FOLLOW OKAN ARTS ON INSTAGRAM @okanarts
