Wine Dregs Dyed Linen Wine Bag

This wine bag is made from upcycled deadstock linen.

The fabric was woven by Fujii Orimono, based in the Koto region on the eastern shore of Lake Biwa, an area known for linen production. Linen is inherently difficult to work with as it's low in elasticity and prone to thread breakage. The finer the yarn, the more challenging the weaving process becomes. In most cases, water-soluble vinylon is twisted into the yarn to reinforce it during weaving.

This fabric is produced without such reinforcement, woven without sizing. While using vinylon would improve efficiency, it requires high-pressure processing to remove in later stages, placing stress on the fabric. By avoiding it, the mill prioritizes the natural character of the material.

The result is a fabric shaped not by efficiency, but by a commitment to preserving the integrity of the fiber.

Botanical dyeing combines plant-based pigments with synthetic dyes. For this piece, the concept began with its function as a wine bag, dyeing it using the very elements associated with what it carries.

Linking the contents with the source of the dye gives the process a context unique to this item.

The red version is dyed using both grape pomace and red wine itself, extracting pigment from each. The anthocyanins found in red grapes bring depth and complexity to the color. The white version uses only the remnants from white wine production. The result is a very subtle tone, almost undyed at first glance, but with a quiet variation that reveals itself in person.

Rather than simply applying color, the approach connects use and material origin. Combined with the upcycling of surplus fabric, it reflects a way of making that considers both resource and purpose as part of the design.