20. MIZUHASHI Saori
Saori Mizuhashi’s love for kimono was inherited from her grandmother. At a junior college that offered training in crafts, she thought that yuzen textiles, which were only discussed in the classroom, with no hands-on training, were remarkably attractive. After graduation, she studied at a technical school that provided comprehensive education about the kimono. There she tackled her first yuzen project. Among the processes involved in its creation, adding color to a pattern is called “yuzen.” At the moment of the pigment with which the brush is filled permeates the silk ground, Mizuhashi’s heart was stirred “Could there really be something this lovely?” “It appeared, glowing.” Her memory of that moment is the attraction that directs Mizuhashi to creating, even now.When we asked her what part of the process she liked the best, she said, without hesitation, “Applying the lines of paste.” The delicate white lines that you see in her creations are where the paste resist prevented the dyes from reaching the fabric. The outlines that shape the Pokémon impart a vibrant, carefree feel, and the synergy that they create with the skillfully gradated colors richly expresses the world of Pokémon × Yuzen.