November 16th Color Calendar Mulberry Dye (Kuwazome)
November 16th Color Calendar
Mulberry dyeing
"The silence of the ritual is imbued with the memory of the leaves."
Kuwazome is a soft brown-green color dyed with boiled mulberry leaves. It is a color used in ancient costumes and ceremonies, and is a color that represents the intersection of the blessings of nature and human activities. It is not flashy, but it is filled with deep respect and tranquility.
November 16th marks the halfway point of Shimotsuki. As winter passes, the air becomes clear and the leaves begin to fall. Mulberry dyeing reflects this quiet transition of the seasons. It's like the last memory of the leaves before they return to the earth.
This color has a hint of ritual. Opening the hearth in a tea room, autumn festivals at shrines, prayers to ancestors. Mulberry dye has a modest beauty that is appropriate for such occasions. It is a color that evokes the existence of colors in times when people and nature were closer.
"Respect in silence" is an important theme in WABISUKE's philosophy. Mulberry dye is a color that conveys meaning without words. It is a color that leaves space empty while carrying deep meaning.
References
• "Traditional Japanese Colors" by Shikosha • "Japanese Color Handbook" edited by the Plant Dyeing Research Group • "Mulberry Dye" — irocore.com
• "The History of Color in Japan" Yoshikawa Kobunkan