Allie Yaeko Kitahara, based in Japan. I began learning traditional Japanese embroidery techniques in 2003, completed the Master Instructor Training Course in 2021, and am currently exploring new embroidery techniques
Right after I graduated with a degree in information and communication engineering in 2001 and initially embarked on my career as an engineer, I was captivated by the lustrous quality of silk used in Japanese embroidery [1].
Since 2003, I have been learning embroidery techniques at Kurenai-kai [2]. I obtained a teaching license certified by Kurenai-kai in 2021.
My first encounter with Japanese embroidery happened when I was 5 or 6 years old. I have a vague memory of seeing it at an exhibition in a department store in Chiba, a suburb near Tokyo. About twenty years later, when I was around 27, I rediscovered Japanese embroidery while looking for a Japanese-style wedding dress. Among various kimono options, I selected one decorated with Japanese embroidery. Since kimonos have minimal darts or gathers, wearing one felt like donning a piece of art – a living canvas where each stitch tells a story. Standing in front of a mirror, I was mesmerized by how the silk embroidery's luster added depth, creating an almost three-dimensional effect. In that moment, I was inspired to learn embroidery techniques and create my own pieces.
When I searched online for embroidery classes, I discovered Kurenai-kai, an organization that teaches Japanese embroidery techniques to both artisans and the general public. Remarkably, it turned out to be the same organization whose work I had admired as a child.
Since then, I have been learning and creating embroidery.
[1] Japanese embroidery is primarily used on kimonos – traditional Japanese garments made with silk and metallic threads. While the designs follow no strict rules, traditional patterns are often employed.
[2] Kurenai-kai: One of Japan's largest organizations dedicated to Japanese embroidery, offering instruction from master artisans to the general public.