We’ve long loved the look of vintage Japanese fabric (see Design Sleuth: The Japanese Boro), so when we found a company that’s transforming one-of-a-kind antique textiles into new goods for the home we took notice. Kofu, meaning “old fabric,” is the in-house textile collection of New York–based workshop Curious Corners, which seeks to “carry on vernacular heritages” but “translate and update them for what works today.” (We’ve previously taken note of Curious Corners’ traditional shashiko classes.) Here’s a look at what’s currently on offer.
Above: A wide selection of pillows ranges in price from $85 to $150. The fabric of the Katazome pillow (top) was made in Nagano, Japan, with a technique that uses stencils, rice paste, and indigo; $110. The striped pillow (second from top) is made with kimono fabric; $95.
Above: The fabric from another Katazome pillow, also made using the rice paste patterning technique, comes from a men’s haori jacket and is approximately 50 years old; $120.
Above: We love the subtle detail of this patched indigo pillow; $95.
Above: The shijira-ori fabric of the stripe indigo placemat ($40) comes from Tokushima, Japan, “the center of indigo plant farming and sukumo fermented indigo dye.”
Above: An indigo patch pillow, made of 100 percent vintage cotton, has selvedge edges; $95.
Above: A natural indigo table napkin is dyed using the sukumo technique by Japanese workshop Buaisou Brooklyn, then stitched with a silver thread; $78.
Above: Large boro coasters are made of patched vintage fabric; $48 for a set of two.
Above: A vintage pillow gets its textural look from worn Japanese fabric; $85.
N.B. If you are interested in combining this fabric with your own design, Curious Corners also takes custom orders of sheets, napkins, and pillows using found fabric. And if you’re in the New York area, check out their schedule of workshops on traditional Japanese crafts and techniques.
For more Japanese-inspired looks, see our posts:
- Design Sleuth: The Japanese Boro
- Steal This Look: A Scandi-Meets-Japanese Kitchen
- All the Freshness of New York: Katakana Ceramics
Have a Question or Comment About This Post?
Join the conversation