Fabric woven using weft yarn made from shells

This is a technique developed by our company in which the “raden (mother-of-pearl)” craftwork technique of cutting out thin layers from the inner shiny surface of shells and sticking them onto a lacquered substrate has been applied to weaving. Shells are characterized by their glossiness and the different colors they give off depending on the angle from which they are lit or seen, resulting in a dazzling appearance.
“Raden” foil is made according to the pattern that is to be woven into the fabric by sticking 0.4 mm, thinly sliced pieces of shell, cut in accordance with the pattern, onto “washi” paper with gold or platinum leaf pasted onto it. This “raden” foil is then cut into thin strips and woven into the fabric as weft yarn. Weaving the strips into the fabric while maintaining the orderliness of the patterns requires advanced skills, so the work is carried out by experienced weaving technicians.
Much of the work, from designing to making the foil, and weaving the fabric requires advanced skills, and the number of weavers’ workshops capable of using this technique is limited, so the fabric is only made at several locations.