What does Saori Mean?

Saori garment at Saori no Mori, Osaka

“Ori” is weaving in Japanese. A little word that means so much.

For me the essence of Saori is simplistic beauty drawn from the action of weaving. In my view this beauty is:

the process of weave and how we relate to the threads and woven rows building the cloth. In Saori this is emphasised to include your human uniqueness and it’s ability to be incarnated as a physical textile object.

The potential of the cloth to create something such as clothing that can be enjoyed, worn, used – in life.

And lastly the interesting  ‘interwoven’  relationship and respect that is built up by the weaver with the ingenuity of the actual Saori loom. The loom is very much part of the process. Its development by Kenzo Jo – a great inventor and innovator – represents ease in every way. The loom allows the mind to focus on the enjoyment and experimentation of the textile being woven.

What’s next….my way of exploring these elements in my craft….more on Saori.