Nishijin Textile : Yumi Nakao (Tsumekaki Hon Tsuzure-ori)

After graduating university, where I studied painting, I devoted myself to handweaving as an artisan of "Tsumekaki Hon Tsuzure-ori", Nishijin-textile. Literally meaning "nail-scratching tapestry weave," it is a technique where artisans use their fingernails - which have been filed to create serrated edges - to "scratch" together weft threads that create a pattern. 

Using a design as a guide, I choose beautifully dyed silk threads and intertwine them with the weft, creating multi-coloured threads that are then meticulously woven into fabric. Day after day, I strive to improve my abilities to express pictures, combining the elegance of silk threads and the gorgeous gold threads and taking advantage of the woven fabric's unique texture.