Launch of Furoshiki Project Combining Upcycled Materials and Kyoto Dyeing Techniques on July 14 (Tue)

YMPI (headquartered in Kyoto, representative: Kyoshi Minatani), a participating member of the General Incorporated Association Upcycle (headquartered in Osaka, representative director: Hiroshi Morihara), will launch the 'RE:DYE PROJECT'—an initiative to produce new furoshiki by combining 'TSUMUGI,' a paper yarn made from post-consumer paper resources and thinned timber, with Kyoto's traditional dyeing techniques.

Preserving tradition while connecting it to modern values for the future

This project aims to fuse upcycled materials with Kyoto's artisan craftsmanship to bridge Japanese culture and contemporary sustainable values, creating new everyday products that resonate with modern lifestyles.

The furoshiki launched today utilize traditional patterns passed down in Kyoto, reimagined as innovative products by integrating upcycled materials. Four distinct designs have been created:

Ume Michinaga

During the Heian period, nobles used 'Tsugigami'—a beautiful cultural practice of layering Japanese paper with different colors and patterns—to write poetry and stories. This elegant motif eventually evolved into a formal design.

This design combines that refined Tsugigami pattern with the 'ume' (plum blossom), a symbol of vitality and prosperity, reinterpreted with modern aesthetics. It is a furoshiki imbued with the wish to layer meaningful connections and happiness, much like stacking individual sheets of washi paper.

Tsuru Kame

Cranes and turtles are iconic Japanese auspicious motifs symbolizing longevity and marital harmony. The facing crane and turtle express the hope for a lifelong, harmonious, and happy life together. The background features lucky patterns such as 'shochikubai' (pine, bamboo, plum) and 'takaramon' (treasures), expressing wishes for happiness and prosperity. Finished in vibrant colors, this furoshiki brightens everyday life.

Marutori Komon

A geometric Edo-period pattern, passed down through generations, has been reimagined with a modern circular design. Though seemingly simple, the pattern reveals delicate details and depth upon closer inspection. Offered in two versions—one with bold, modern coloring and another with a subdued, natural-dyed palette—this furoshiki harmonizes tradition and modernity.

Ichimatsu Komon

Born from a collaboration with a long-established dyeing factory in Tokyo, this furoshiki gathers traditional flora and fauna motifs and reinterprets them into an irregular rhythm of Ichimatsu checkered patterns. Depending on how it is wrapped, the animal expressions change, offering new discoveries with each use. Playful and engaging, it suits both celebratory gifts and daily use.

By combining the unique lightness and soft texture of fabric made from paper yarn and cotton with the delicate expressions achieved through Kyoto's dyeing techniques, these furoshiki are designed to easily integrate into modern lifestyles.

Product Overview

Furoshiki combining Kyoto's traditional dyeing techniques and upcycled materials

Product Name

Size

Price (excluding tax)

Composition

Country of Origin

Ume Michinaga

68×68 cm (Ni-haku)

¥2,680

75% cotton

25% non-classified fiber (washi paper)

Japan

Tsuru Kame

88×88 cm (Ni-yon-haku)

¥2,980

75% cotton

25% non-classified fiber (washi paper)

Japan

Marutori Komon

68×68 cm (Ni-haku)

¥2,680

75% cotton

25% non-classified fiber (washi paper)

Japan

Ichimatsu Komon

88×88 cm (Ni-yon-haku)

¥2,980

75% cotton

25% non-classified fiber (washi paper)

Japan

*This product is manufactured via OEM, with dyeing and processing done per roll of fabric.

Minimum Processing Lot

- Ni-haku size: in batches of 65 pieces

- Ni-yon-haku size: in batches of 50 pieces

*Custom designs are also available (mold fee applies separately).

This project goes beyond simple upcycling or material reuse. Under the concept of 'reconstructing as new value,' future initiatives will include corporate OEM, promotional goods, international expansion, and cross-industry collaborations—introducing new proposals that merge Japanese culture with sustainable materials.