Japan

Kyo
to

City of Honour 2019

For our festival, Silk in Lyon is paying tribute to the city of Kyoto and its know-how.

With a history dating back thousands of years, Kyoto is characterised by its traditional culture known as “Miyabi” or “Culture of Elegance”. It is commonly associated with traditional tea ceremonies, the art of flower arranging, Noh and Kyogen theatre (a comedic form of traditional Japanese theatre).
These traditional, living arts were first established at the Imperial Court and continue to influence everyday Japanese life, while their advanced techniques have driven and inspired the industry. The “kimono”, a traditional Japanese garment, is the perfect example. During the exhibition, the city of Kyoto will showcase silk brocades produced in the Nishijin and Tango districts.

Nishijin is Japan’s largest silk fabric production region for kimonos. The textile industry in Nishijin is known for its advanced technology and creative designs.

Another historic silk district is Tango, where weaving dates back more than 1,300 years.
In 711, the then Emperor sent weavers all over the country to learn how to weave silk.
In 1720, the Chirimen weaving technique, formerly used in the Nishijin district, was imported in Tango.
Tango Chirimen silk was thus born and has been produced ever since.