Art to dye for

There's something about bright colors and patterns that helps make the hot days of summer a little more bearable. These students created magnificently colored "te-nugui", (literally "hand towels"), by using methods passed down as family tradition at the Izutsu Tie-dye Workshop in Kyoto.

First students chose one or two colors and what type of pattern they desired, whether a snowflake or flower type pattern. Then they got geared up and dipped their new-to-be creations into hot dyes, followed by a good rinsing in cold water. Follow it up with good old fashioned ironing and elbow grease, and voila, a beautiful tenugui is born!