Archives / familiar materials - hemp
2018.09.14
Glass, rattan, mother-of-pearl... SIRI SIRI jewelry is made from materials found in our daily lives. In the series "A Journey to Materials," we delve into perspectives that create new value while uncovering the origins and characteristics of materials.
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"Familiar material"
This time, I would like to talk about hemp, a material that is said to be the oldest fiber used by mankind and has been widely used in Japan since ancient times.
In Japan, hemp, a type of hemp, is a raw material that grows wild throughout the country, so hemp fabrics have been used for clothing since the Jomon period.
In addition, hemp seeds are used as everyday tools such as cords and ropes, as a raw material for food and oil, and hemp, which grows strongly without needing maintenance, is considered a "gift of the gods" and is used in Shinto rituals. I was.
After that, from overseas, "linen" (made from "flax") with a soft and natural texture, "ramie" (made from "ramie") with a crisp feel, "sisal", "jute", etc. was brought to Japan.
The processing method is almost the same, peeling off the epidermis of the stem, scraping off unnecessary parts other than fibers, boiling it, drying it, splitting it into small pieces from the flat one, and processing it into various tools. was doing.
As a characteristic of hemp fibers and products, although it is not stretchy, it has high breathability and water absorption, and various expressions can be produced depending on the type and weaving method.
SIRI SIRI also has hoop earrings in the ARABESQUE Collection that are wrapped with hemp and woven.
The hemp used for the hoop earrings is the highest grade domestically produced, which is also used for the large "Shimeno" of shrines and the "Shimero" that is wrapped around the waist of Yokozuna.
Domestic ones have long, white, and strong fibers compared to those made in China.
ARABESQUE Earrings HOOP WHT (white) is the same color as linen, and GR (gray) is dyed.
In order to express delicate lines using "hemp", we ask the workshop to be conscious of making it thin.
The torn hemp fiber is wrapped around the ultra-fine wire to a uniform thickness, but it is difficult to finish it beautifully overnight, so we always ask craftsmen who specialize in wrapping.
Since it is a natural product, there may be shades of color, but we carefully select the parts to be used.
Bags woven with hemp ribbons and cords use Lamy georgette ribbons. “Rummy” has an image of being relatively stiff with a crisp feel, but SIRI SIRI uses a ribbon with a soft finish, made by weaving fine fibers into a georgette weave and adding air.
In order to take advantage of its plump texture, the wide ribbons are first woven into three pieces by hand, and then the whole is hand-woven together with the warp cords.
The inner bag of the ARABESQUE Collection basket is also made of "linen" cloth.
Due to the design of the basket, it can be seen in places, so I was very particular about choosing the fabric.
Linen cloth shows a variety of expressions depending on the weave method and the thickness of the thread, but the fabric used in SIRI SIRI is a plain weave, with a soft texture that looks like it has been washed, and has a slight luster.
Linen, which has a natural expression, blends nicely with the warmth of rattan, which is a natural material.
Hemp is durable and has a variety of expressions, so it is highly versatile.
And the more you use it, the more it becomes soft and familiar with things, people, and spaces.
: Hemp Care Notes:
・After using jewelry, remove dust and oil with a soft cloth.
・The material shrinks when washed.
・Please note that dark colors may fade.
・Use a net when washing as it will turn white due to friction.
・Because it wrinkles easily, dehydrate it lightly and dry it while smoothing out the wrinkles.
source:Asa Giken Homepage
Japan Hemp Spinning Association website
Hemp Navi Comprehensive portal site specializing in hemp information