2020 Spring - Summer NATURE DYE 菜の花 #02 2020 Spring - Summer NATURE DYE 菜の花 #02

NATURE DYE- 菜の花 2020 Spring - Summer NATURE DYE Nanohana #02

天然染料と草木染め
NATUREDYEのプロダクトと上野さんの草木染めに共通する「天然由来」の原料。草木染めについて話を聞いていると、上野さんから「神農」という言葉がでてきた。

神農とは今から4000〜5000年前に古代中国に存在した農業と医学の創始者のこと。人々に農耕や医薬のあらゆる知識を与え、生活を豊かにした神である。薬草を口に加え、草木を身にまとっている姿から『病は食物で治す(内服)、それでも治らない場合は着て治す(外服)』と言い伝えた神農の精神が現れている。

Natural Dyes and Plant DyeingNATURE DYE products and Mr. Ueno’s plant dyeing have a commonality in that both are “natural origin” raw materials. As I talked to Mr. Ueno about plant dyeing, he mentioned “Shennong,” who was the originator and inventor of agriculture and medicine that have existed in ancient China since 4,000-5,000 years ago. Shennong is also revered as a god who has given all kinds of agricultural and medical knowledge to the people, enriching their lives. Mr. Ueno continued to talk about Shennong’s genius concerning the internal and external use of herbs, that “illness is cured through eating herbs (internal use), and, if that does not work, it will be cured by affixing them to yourself (external use).”

Mr. Ueno applies Shennong’s words to his own plant dyeing, meaning that you can be “cured by affixing them to yourself (external use),” and this seems to consist of the theory that waves from plants. When affixed to cloth, it will repel bad bacteria. Just as indigo-dyed clothes have the effect of keeping the body from cooling, the effects also depend on the raw materials that are used. Effects from plant dyeing are also said to be more effective for clothes that are close to the body, such as socks and undergarments.

草木染めの原料は自家栽培した素材の他にインドから取り寄せたウコン、アムラなど十数種類がコレクションされていた。余った染色液は畑の肥料として使われ、ここでも自然の循環が生まれている。

In addition to homegrown plant dyeing raw materials, he also had more than a dozen kinds of turmeric and amla, all ordered from India. Excess dyeing solution is used as a fertilizer for the fields, creating a naturally circulating cycle.

収穫した菜の花が染料になったのは初めてのことと話す上野さん。染色においても植物(菜の花)と動物(メリノ)の相性はいいそう。人間が本来持つ自然治癒力を引き出すように、上野さんも自分自身が身体にいいと思うものを選ぶようにしている。

Mr. Ueno said that this was the first time that his harvested nanohana became a dyeing ingredient and that there seemed to be good compatibility between the plant (nanohana) and animal (merino wool) materials, even in dyeing. Mr. Ueno tries to choose things that are good for his own body so as to draw out the natural healing powers of human beings.

澄んだ空気の中、のびのびと育つ菜の花。近くには日本の棚田百選のひとつ、鴨川大山千枚田も見え、豊かな自然が広がっていた。
鮮やかで温かみのあるNATUREDYEの色彩は、この風土に根差された美しい自然が映しだされている。

The nanohana grows well in the clean air, and Kamogawa Oyama Senmaida, one of Japan’s 100 best rice terraces, can be seen nearby as verdant, abundant nature spread all around us. NATURE DYE’s bright and warm colors reflect the beautiful nature rooted in this climate.

2020年5月24日(日) May 24, 2020

写真: ナタリー・カンタクシーノ
映像：小丸直樹
文章: メディアサーフコミュニケーションズ株式会社

Photographer: Nathalie Cantacuzino
Cinematographer: Naoki Komaru
Text: Media Surf Communications Inc.

次の記事 Next Post

2020 Summer Merino - Sho Yoshida 2020 Summer Merino - Sho Yoshida

Summer Merino - Sho Yoshida 2020 Summer Merino - Sho Yoshida

突如やってきたおうち時間に、「食」の大切さを再認識させられた。旬のものを手に取り、丁寧に調理をして、器に盛って味わう。レシピの難易度とは無関係に、ただ、時間をかけて食と向き合うのはこんなにも楽しい体験だっただろうかと、スピードや効率を優先しがちなそれまでの生活を度々反省しながら手料理を口に運んだものだ。

With all the time that we have been spending at home recently, we have rediscovered the importance of food: picking up seasonal items, carefully cooking them, serving them on a plate, and then savoring them. We have taken the time to reflect on our lives until now over home-cooked meals. ....

2020年8月28日(金) Aug 28, 2020

前の記事 Previous Post

2020 Spring - Summer NATURE DYE 菜の花 #01 2020 Spring - Summer NATURE DYE 菜の花 #01

NATURE DYE- 菜の花 2020 Spring - Summer NATURE DYE Nanohana #01