久留米絣（かすり）とは？

久留米絣とは
心地よい肌触り、木綿の安らぎ、素朴な色彩…絣の美しさは熟練された技術でのみ作りあげる事ができます。そもそも絣の根源を辿れば、古代インドから東南アジアへとさかのぼり、約1400年前に日本に伝わり、全国に広がったといわれてます。しかし、久留米絣だけは他の絣とは異なる誕生と成長をとげるのです。そこには、先人達の飽くなき好奇心と情熱の物語がありました。

What is Kurume Kasuri？
You can find the beauty of Kasuri from the pleasant feeling, the serenity of cotton fabrics, and the simple colors, etc., which are only impossible to be produced without skillful techniques. If the origin of Kasuri is traced, it could go back to ancient India, where it was passed to Southeast Asia and further spread to Japan 1400 years ago. That is when it is said to spread across the country. However, only Kurume Kasuri has the birth and growth different from those of other Kasuri. That is because of the tireless curiosity and stories of passion of our predecessors.

久留米絣のはじまり
今から220年程前、井上伝という少女によって発明されました。ある日、伝は衣服が色あせたところに、白い斑点がついている事に気付きました。その衣服に発想をえて、数々の試行錯誤や“からくり儀右衛門”こと田中久重の協力などを経て、新しい織物が仕上がりました。この織物は所々かすれたように見えることから「加寿利（かすり）」と名付けられました。これが、久留米絣のはじまりです。

The Origin of Kurume Kasuri
It was invented by a girl named Den Inoue over 220 years ago. One day, Den had noticed that there was a white dot on the faded place of her clothes. Inspired by the clothes, she was able to come up with a new woven stuff by countless trial and error and the help of the "mechanical Giemon", Hisashige Tanaka. As this woven stuff looks like cracked all around, it was then name as "Kasuri". This is the origin of Kurume Kasuri.

久留米絣の特徴
一つの絵柄を織り出す十字や市松、井桁などの「たてよこ絣」は、他の産地には見られない久留米独特のものです。その他、経糸だけで表現する「たて絣」、緯糸だけで表現する「よこ絣」、「織締（おりしめ）」という技法で作られる「文人絣」などがあります。30もの製作工程を経て織りあげられる久留米絣は、作業の過程でのズレにより独特な模様を生み出し、熟練の技術と合わさって、美しい布地が仕上がります。

Features of Kurume Kasuri
A "crosswise Kasuri" is a kind of unique textile with patterns like a cross, a checker, well curbs and others brocaded on the same picture and cannot be found in other places. In addition, there is also the "vertical Kasuri" displayed only with warp and the "horizontal Kasuri" displayed only with weft, as well as the "literati Kasuri" made from a special technique called "Orishime". As the producing process has been polished for over 30 years, Kurume Kasuri has generated its unique patterns due to the slippage during the producing process and created beautiful fabrics with its skillful techniques.

久留米絣の制作工程
昭和32年、特定の条件でつくられる久留米絣の伝統技術が、国の重要無形文化財に指定されました。熟練の技術者にのみつくり上げられる事を裏付けるひとつとなってます。その制作工程のなかでも重要なのが「くくる」、「そめる」、「おる」工程です。

Producing Process of Kurume Kasuri
In 1957, as a traditional technique made under certain conditions, Kurume Kasuri had been designated as an important intangible cultural asset of the country. Which was backed up as it was built up only by skilled technicians. The important procedure steps include "Twining", "Dyeing", and "Weaving".