Five questions for Kaval’s lead designer.
From a person who is notoriously private — Kaval’s designer aims not to take interest away from their collectible pieces — we learned more about Kaval’s process and world view. Every piece of Kaval is made in their small factory located in Tochigi, Japan, where they weave and dye their own fabric. Over time, Kaval has mastered the use of ancestral Japanese indigo (Persicaria Tinctoria) to dye and create pieces with a true artisanal artistry. Each piece is sewn by hand and finished using antique sewing machines that lend a particularly romantic, yet intellectual, aesthetic to the garments.
What, or who, is your greatest source of inspiration?
Everyday life, sounds, scents, nature, longing, people, animals.
Technology, skills, folk art, crafts, history, art, and many other categories spring up spontaneously.
What is your process for weaving and dyeing your fabric?
Universe, Infinite, Imagination.
What attracts you to ceramic buttons?
They are made entirely by hand in our atelier. Pottery buttons are not always neatly shaped, and the shape can be subtly distorted. If the glaze is not applied evenly, there can be variations in the finished product. I think this is what makes them unique and attractive, just like people.
What do antique sewing machines offer your creative process that modern machines cannot?
There are many sewing machines that cannot be manufactured today.
There is more to a machine than just human skill.
Even a single buttonhole is different.
It helps me to imagine details, etc.
How do you recommend our clients best care for your pieces?
Varies depending on the material, but hand-washing and sun-drying is recommended.
