Kasuri is the weaving technique that utilizes the un-dyed parts of the tie-dyed strings and makes patterns by combining the colored and white parts. It is universally referred to as ikat, meaning, “to bind” in Indonesian. The technique originates in India, and is believed to have brought into Okinawa via Kume-jima Island, which was the relay station for trading during the Ryukyu Kingdom period.

The patterns woven in take design motifs from birds, flowers and other animals and plants, objects in the sky such as stars and clouds, or daily commodities such as scissors or coins, and the variation counts up to six or seven hundreds. They are referred to with Okinawan dialects such as tuigwaa or toni, and include subjects taken from the daily life in the tropical island, including humorous ones such as dog’s footprints, pig’s feed tray or human eyebrows, all of which bring smiles to viewers' faces. Such patterns are combined and woven into a piece of cloth.

If you are interested in the textle, please refer to the link below.