Faculty of Art
Department of Fine Art Textiles Course テキスタイル専攻

From traditional dyeing and weaving to novel expressions using cloth and thread

The majority of textiles today are created by weaving threads together into a cloth, which is then dyedin many unique and beautiful colors. These colors and the textures of different materials are what make textiles so attractive.In the Course in Textiles, students use Kyoto Seika’s best-in-class facilities to learn a wide range of techniques that include silk-screening, braided dyeing, katazome stencil dyeing, weaving, felting, and sewing.Taking advantage of our location in Kyoto, we also provide students with opportunities to learn traditional techniques such as yuzen dyeing and Nishijin-ori weaving.This unique course allows students to explore expression through cloth, an integral part of our daily lives, and pursue textile creation as art.By combining original ideas with a wealth of knowledge and advanced techniques, students can also become artists who create new forms of expression.

Subject Highlights

  • Creating works across four different themes to explore the potential of textiles

    [Advanced Studio Art / Year 3]
    Students create works of art under the guidance of instructors who specialize in various techniques that include dyeing, weaving, felting, silk-screening, and sewing.The year is divided into four terms, each with its own theme. The themes, in order, are Communication, Texture, Environment, and Engaging with Society.Through discussions and other activities, students delve into each theme, formulate their own concepts, and finish their work using techniques of their choosing.During the Environment term in the second half of the course, students consider the environmental impact of textiles as they develop their work. In the Engaging with Society term, they continue creating new pieces while thinking about their work's purpose and function in society.Students are free to change techniques for each theme toexplore the potential of textiles and create pieces that represent their own unique forms of expression.

What You Will Study

  1. 1STYEAR

    Laying a solid artistic and creative foundation

    Students take cross-listed courses at the Faculty of Art to improve their observational, critical thinking, imagination, and other skills needed to build a firm artistic and creative foundation.They also learn the basics across all seven courses and start to explore which fields they would like to pursue.

  2. 2NDYEAR

    Acquiring basic techniques

    Students deepen their understanding of basic techniques as well as the history of various techniques, including silk-screen printing and katazome stencil dyeing. Seminars on technique are divided into dyeing, weaving, and sewing.

  3. 3RDYEAR

    Expressing each theme through dyeing and weaving

    Students explore the potential of textile expression by interpreting themes such as Communication and Environment, developing them into their own works, and expanding their creativity and critical thinking skills.

  4. 4THYEAR

    Pursuing a unique expression of your own

    Students work on their graduation projects, making full use of the skills and expressive abilities they have developed over the past four years.They complete the final work of their student career in pursuit of originality and their own creative expression.

What You Will Learn

  • The ability to conceptualize and create three-dimensional works that make the most of a physical space
  • The ability to handle fibers through techniques including weaving and sewing
  • Traditional Japanese dyeing and weaving techniques such as katazome and yuzen

Selected Artwork

Facilities

Our weaving studio is equipped with professional-grade looms.

PICK UP!

  • Our washing area, used after dyeing, was designed for maximum efficiency.

  • A large steamer is used to set or "fix" the colors on fabrics during the dyeing process.

  • Studio for katazome dyeing.In addition to large two-dimensional works, there is also room to spread out and work with yukata and kimono fabrics.

Photo Gallery

Academic Faculty

Careers

Career Opportunities
Textile Designer , Interior Designer , Product Designer , Dye Artist , Artisan , and many more.
 
Major Employers
Clothing Manufacturers , Textile Manufacturers , Kimono Boutiques , Educational Institution , and many more.

Voice

  • IWAI Madoka Current Student

    Fulfilling a long-held dream of learning how to dye

    I first became interested in the world of fabric dyeing as a high school student.My interest was first sparked by Ise katagami, a traditional craft of my hometown in Mie Prefecture.I was drawn to the highly technical, delicate nature of its handiwork and decided to enroll at Kyoto Seika, where I could study traditional katazome stencil dyeing in depth, even without prior experience.Katazome is a technique as precise as kirie papercutting, requiring accuracy at each step of the process.The wave of emotion you feel when you complete a piece is well worth the amount of time it takes.As a beginner, my professors guided me every step of the way, so it was a very welcoming place to learn.I was also drawn to Kyoto Seika because of its location in Kyoto, a city with a rich history of dyeing, including yuzen dyeing.I was particularly impressed by the Practice on Traditional Industry of Kyoto, which allows students to study in the workshops of traditional industries.In that course, I visited a Japanese urushi lacquer workshop for two weeks of hands-on training.I usually work with cloth, so working with wood and lacquer was a totally new experience for me.The unfamiliar materials and processes proved to be challenging, but in the end, I was able to transfer my katazome design to lacquer painting and work on my piece.I think that this environment has challenged me in a variety of ways and broadened the scope of my practice.For my graduation work, which will be the culmination of my four years of study, I would like to use dyeing to recreate the scenery of my hometown in Toba.After university, I will stay in Kyoto and work for a company that specializes in Japanese accessories,but I also plan to continue making textiles even after I graduate.
  • TOBA Mika Academic Faculty

    The meticulous creation of each textile is a “short lifetime”

    Since ancient times, the city of Kyoto has been home to innovations in dyeing techniques.The Course in Textiles preserves and passes on these techniques, and classes focus on studying traditional techniques and creating works using authentic materials.Students make rice glue with glutinous mochigome and use fir trees to make pasteboards, allowing them to experience firsthand the wisdom and techniques of our ancestors.It is important not only to create art but also to understand the history and background of each tool and material that we use.What makes textile production so unique is the depth of the materials and colors used and the precision of the production process.If you avoid taking shortcuts and carefully explore each material and process, the results may surprise you. You’ll discover colors and make art that you’ve only ever dreamed of.I think of this process as a “short lifetime,” the joy of which is like nothing else.Long ago, people first wove cloth to make clothes.But they also wanted to make them more beautiful and began adding patterns and dyeing their fabrics with color.Seeking beauty and abundance is a fundamental human desire, and I believe it is an essential part of life.If you look inward, open your heart, and focus on the work in front of you, you will inevitably create a work of art that inspires and encourages others.