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By Patricia Belyea
OKINAWA JP I had hoped to weave a kasuri coaster at the Ryukyu Kasuri Hall in Haebaru Town. The appointment had been iffy. Sure enough, an instructor was unavailable due to preparations for a festival the next day.
With the tropical sun beaming outside, I took a walk along Kasuri Road.
Paved with faded colored tiles laid out in geometric kasuri patterns, Kasuri Road meanders through a historic area filled with old homes. Trees lining the road are used for natural dyes.
At the bottom of the hill, I visited a large kasuri workshop. Just inside the door, I spied well-used indigo vats.
The pristine shop was filled with products made from kasuri-woven textiles.
At the top of the stairs, a man was unbundling indigo-dyed yarn in preparation for kasuri weaving.
"Tok tok." The sound of looms from the big studio next door signaled the presence of busy weavers.
I look forward to returning to the area as I missed more than just the coaster weaving experience. The nearby buildings house weaving workshops, small kasuri shops, and even a loom maker.
ABOUT US: Okan Arts, a petite family business, is co-owned by mother-daughter duo Patricia Belyea and Victoria Stone. Patricia and Victoria sell Japanese textiles online, host creative quilting experiences, and lead quilting & textile tours to Japan.
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