Yohji Yamamoto: Yuzen

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The kimono - they need several steps to dye once and again, again, again. Then go to the embroidery phase and maybe come back to finish then send it back again. This is the kimono process for clothing. We had to reduce, to go a simple way. You put on the back side, only for the part he is working on now.

Q: What is the ink made from?

It's not made from plants, but it's a chemical product. And, of course, he mixes the colours to make the special colour for the kimono.

Q: How long has he been doing this for?

38 years.

Q: So how old was he when he started doing this?

He was 18.

Q: OK. And why did he decide to do this?

It was natural because his father was doing also that.

Q: And his father, did he follow his grandfather?

No, his father started, so he's second generation.

Q: Has it changed since his father was doing it?

No, they are keeping the same way, but of course it depends on era ... periods, if changing a motif, they are changing, so he adapts ...

Q: Does he worry that this is something that is dying out or does he see it ... does it have a future?

Nobody is taking his business after this moment - nobody. He works ten hours (a day) at least, sometimes more to finish the kimono, because it take four dys.

Q: Working ten hour days?

Yes. As we see, he starts with a red colour to complete the kimono. He finishes one motif to go to another motif. He tries to put the red colour on all parts of the kimono to not have a difference of colour for one kimono.

Q: So it's all free hand?

Yes. Completely. That motif, the small parts, already he puts a glue ... on the space to not have colour - he does not want to put colour on that part.

Q: You can't correct a mistake ...

He has to be quick to dry, to put another colour on. The company is very strict with the colour balance - so each time it's done, he has to remake again. This is a very big piece for the women who will have ... a very big ceremony - this is a kimono for that. It's going to be very gorgeous and something very important for the life of women.