Reciving Shibori Branding Heritage for Tomorrow
Guest Lectures
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Date
19 Mar 2026
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Organiser
School of Fashion and Textiles
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Time
15:00 - 16:30
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Venue
V1310, 13, Block V, PolyU Map
Speaker
Mr Hiroyuki Murase
Summary
This sharing session explores strategies for branding Japanese traditional handicrafts like Arimatsu shibori, a technique on the verge of disappearing. It examines what elements to preserve versus adapt to create Suzusan's unique brand positioning and market advantage.
Key themes include transitioning from local to local—fostering human-centred circulation between makers and users — and embracing the efficiency of inefficiency to secure handicrafts' future. Discover how thoughtful changes can revitalize heritage crafts for contemporary global markets while honouring their roots.
Keynote Speaker
Mr Hiroyuki Murase
Creative Director, Suzusan
Suzusan is a contemporary textile and fashion brand founded by Hiroyuki Murase, fifth-generation artisan of the Murase family, who have practiced Arimatsu shibori in Japan for over 100 years. Rooted in the historic craft town of Arimatsu, Suzusan preserves this intricate resist-dyeing technique while reimagining it for a global audience. After studying art and architecture in Europe, Murase established Suzusan in Düsseldorf in 2008, transforming his family’s heritage into a modern design label. The brand applies traditional hand-dyed shibori to luxurious materials such as cashmere, alpaca, and silk, creating scarves, ready-to-wear pieces, home textiles, and lighting. Suzusan is available at over 100 premium stockists worldwide, including Connolly (London), La Garconne (New York), Cocktail Select Shop (Hong Kong), and major Japanese stores like Isetan Shinjuku and Takashimaya Nihombashi.
