In collaboration with Faux, Mariko Jesse, one of Hong Kong’s most successful commercial artists, has designed a beautiful toile series in fine bone china and other products. Mariko Jesse’s Japan toile is based on a traditional Toile de Jouy, made with contemporary illustrated Japanese elements. The illustration has been created in watercolour and pen and ink to give a soft, yet modern feel. Its indigo hues pay homage to traditional Japanese dyes Since the Edo Period (1603-1868), when brighter colors were reserved for the higher social classes. The lower classes were also banned from wearing silk which left cotton as the only option, so aizome and cotton made a durable and wonderful combination.

Indigo has been one of the most commonly used dyes in Japan. Japanese Aizome (indigo dyeing) is characterised by a deep blue colour that is also called “Japan blue” because of its beautiful hue. In Japan, indigo dyeing is known as aizome, and its popularity dates back to the Edo period (1603- 1868), at a time when brighter colors were reserved for the higher social classes. The lower classes were also banned from wearing silk which left cotton as the only option, so aizome and cotton make for a highly durable blend. Faux’s Japan toile features world-famous Japanese icons, such as sakura blossoms, Mount Fuji, ramen, and the Tokyo Skytree Building as well as the artist’s favourite things in Japan that are perhaps less-well known including a drink’s vending machine, Godzilla, a summer windchime, and snow monkeys sitting in an onsen. Each of the items in the design has been chosen with care.