Rie Sasaki

Style

I wanted to make textiles that take advantage of the characteristics of my hometown Fukui ever since I started making textiles. Chikushi (bamboo film) is made of Echizen Washi (traditional Japanese paper) made from 50% bamboo fiber, 25% gampi (species of a flowering plant), and 25% paper mulberry. I cut the bamboo film thinly and twist them into thread. I mix them with plant dyed silk threads to weave textiles with a unique texture.

Biography

• 1963
  Born in Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture
• 1984
  Graduated from Jinai Women's College, Department of Home Economics
  Studied and worked on restoration of "Ishidajima", a cotton textile made in Sabae until the early Showa period (1940s) while in college
• 1989
  Presented "Echizen Ishidajima" based on "Ishidajima" where bamboo film (chikushi) is woven into the the cotton textile
  Continues to produce the textile from this year onward
• 1999
  Becomes in charge of production of pulp cloth products as a part of the Tannan Industrial Exchange Program (– 2009)
• 2008
  Provided technical support on the establishment of Sabae Fiber Association Ishidajima Handweaving Center
  Works as weaving instructor (– 2013)
• 2009
  Started producing obi sashes made of bamboo film textiles
• 2011
  Selected for the 45th Textiles Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for the first time
• 2014
  Selected for the Japan Folk Crafts Museum New Works Competition and Exhibition for the first time
• 2015
  Echizen Ishidajima designated as Fukui Prefecture's Local Handicraft
• 2017
  Selected for the 64th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for the first time

Awards

• 2007
  Received the Fukui Prefecture Cultural Encouragement Award