Welcome! What's New? Mystery of the Pink!
There is a curious story when it comes to natural dye from the Japanese Sakura Tree.
This rare dye does not come from the pretty blossoms. It does not come from the leaves or the roots or the bark. In fact generation after generation of plant-dye artist in Japan tried but failed to extract the pretty pink from the tree itself.
Until Mr. Komuro and Mr. Maito (picture) the secrets of the Sakura pigment remained well hidden. This 3-layer silk Whisper scarf is dyed using 100% pigment from the Japanese Sakura tree. You find this Sakura Silk Stole here. And you can read more about the mysterious Sakura Tree here. A unique, quality gift from Japanese Craft-Dye Artists!
Featured Design Collections
Living Color Tumbler Sets | Horie
Colors from light alone! Metal Crafter works magic with Titantium!
Whisper Plant-Dye Silk Scarf | Maito
Can vivid colors be coaxed from nature? Japan Dye Artist says "Yes"!
Pearly Luster of a Tree | Authentic Urushi Lacquer Bangles
Conceived by designer R. Sakamato: ancient tradition in contemporary form.
Urushi Lacquer Earrings | Urushi Sakamoto
Traditional Urushi lacquer. A 9000 Year-old craft - contemporary design.
Handcrafted Bamboo & Metals Collections
Japanese Bamboo Basketry | Suruga Guild
Perhaps to pause at curves and diamond spaces dressed in morning’s light.
Ikebana Mini Wall & Table Vases | Momentum
Japan metal-coloring atelier creates patina colors for contemporary walls.
Hand-Crafted | Copper Coffee Pot & Canister | Shimakura
A morning's aroma! Hammered over 100,000 times, craftwork beauty for use.
Hand-Hammered Blue-patina Copper Vases | Shimakura
Dimpled and shaped by hammer and hand, brings joy and wonder to life.
Some of Japan's best "hard-to-find" Contemporary Crafts and Designs:
You probably already know that Japan has amazing traditional crafts. Some, like Urushi Lacquer, boast origins dating back 9000 years! Yet traditions are only part of the current, contemporary story of craftsmanship and design in Japan.
At Alfan Select we offer that which is authentic, rarely available, or even known outside Japan: some familiar in a traditional sense, others unique, unexpected, and many with historical or even curious backstories -- such as the metalworker who perfected how to color with light! So discover something new about Japan, explore, read and shop and Welcome to Alfan Select!
Blog | Imagine Japan: Trends in Craft-Arts and Design
Japan | Nature's Inspiration Becomes Creation | Bamboo Craft Art →
Sakura | Craft Art from the Japanese Cherry Tree →
