Dialogue - iai -
"iai" is a craftsmanship studio based in a quiet mountain village in Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture, where grass is picked, cloth is dyed, and each piece is sewn by hand and with a sewing machine.
The couple works on their 100-year-old house, cultivates the fields, raises goats, and makes clothes as the seasons change.
"During the production process, there are split-second decisions that cannot be shared with anyone. Those decisions are influenced by one's daily life," says Isao Daiki.
It's been about a year and a half since our last conversation . What changes has having a child brought to her state of mind, lifestyle, and work? We spoke to Isao on the final day of the exhibition.
What I thought "for my wife and children" was also connected to my own good
During her childcare leave, she did not participate in any exhibitions, but instead spent a year closely watching her child grow up. When asked about any changes in her mindset, Isao said, "I felt a stronger desire to cherish my life even more." At the center of her days as she makes clothes for each season is always her family. This hasn't changed even after her child was born.
Before her children were born, she had no time constraints, so there were days when she would devote herself to making clothes.
During her childcare leave, her production rhythm also changes, with her making clothes in the morning, spending the afternoon with her child, and then resuming making clothes in the evening.
Rather than simply looking after children, this may be closer to enjoying life together with the children in a living, breathing place.
Isao : When my daughter was born, I started sewing clothes for her as she grew up, and making clothes became a very joyful job. Making clothes for my children became natural, and I realized that my life is directly related to my clothes.
Life is about being yourself, not about how others see you
She never stopped making clothes even during her childcare leave. For her, making clothes is at the center of her life.
To my beloved villagers, tailoring and mending clothes is one of the important things I continue to do.
As the saying goes, "actions prove your thoughts," and Isao's clothing conveys the care he takes in his daily life.
"What's important to me in my daily life is to do what my heart desires. Cherishing every moment, like the flowers I see on a walk, the colors of the evening sky, and the time I spend with my family, is what it means to be alive, and I feel that this is connected to making clothes."
In the past, when she found herself in a situation that irritated her, she would feel embarrassed and wonder, "I want to have a more gentle heart, so why do I get angry so much?"
Iso : Seeing children expressing their emotions as they are, I realized that it is unnatural to think like that, and I learned the importance of accepting emotions as they are, rather than denying myself. I pay attention to every moment of my daily life and accept all the feelings I have at that moment. I also began to express my honest feelings in the form of clothes, without twisting them.
True clothing
The "iai" garments are one-of-a-kind pieces, with every step of the process, including cutting, sewing, dyeing and knitting, being done by Iai herself.
Each garment is carefully crafted using high-quality natural fabrics that cannot be produced mechanized, such as scarce organic cotton, hand-woven ramie, and waste silk cocoons.
"When I make clothes, I always want to remain calm. When I'm emotionally unstable, I never make clothes," says Iai.
He says that this sentiment is conveyed to the person who wears the garment.
The clothes that Iso makes, which remember the daily scenes of life in the village, are strongly imbued with evidence of life there.
The reason we can believe in our clear sensitivity is because of our thoughts about daily life.
Isao : I value the people I see being filled with smiles. Above all, I think about time and act accordingly throughout the day so that I can spend my time as comfortably as possible with my family. If I want to make clothes and my wife wants to work in the fields, then I will do that during field time. I don't want to stick to routines, and I want to cherish the everyday life that is right next to me on this land, being affected by the weather. I play instruments, sit in the sun on the soil, and run around on the grass with goats and dogs. I believe that the feelings I have towards nature and the sensations I receive in my heart will lead to clothes that are full of freshness and emotion.
Breathing new life into stranded fabrics
This was the third exhibition at Utsushiki, and dozens of garments were lined up, made from scraps, old fabric, and frayed cloth that had been carefully sewn together to elevate each garment's individual character.
What would have originally been discarded as a defective item that should never have been released into the world, seems to have a life of its own when you pick it up, put it on, and wear it.
And each and every piece that was created during his daily life is filled with Isao's very life.
Isao : Wrinkles, holes, stains, sewing errors - even if they are minor issues, it's such a waste to have clothes that can't be put out into the world and end up being discarded. I wanted to take the feelings of the people who created them and those who don't want to throw them away and turn them into clothes. I have a strong desire to turn my attention to what I have now and make use of it. The concept for the theme of the exhibition is also based on what I'm interested in at the time. I want to capture the changes in the "reflection" as I am at that time and express to the best of my ability what I can in this space. 
After this conversation, I came to the conclusion that living a rich life that is in line with one's means is not about "not aiming high" or "giving up." It is about being cheerful and at ease in one's feelings. It doesn't matter where you live, it's something anyone can do if they put their mind to it. Listening to Iai's stories and wearing his clothes reminds me of the importance of enjoying everyday life and following my inner feelings. I wonder what changes he will absorb and create in his clothes. I can't wait until the day I can wear his clothes.
Interviewer and writer: Yoshiaki Ono
>iai Art Exhibition "Waste Life"
Receiving the thoughts of people from ancient times and the present that rise from the surface of their bodies (clothing)
Handicrafts are everywhere, creating a living garment
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Fabrics that have been loved since ancient times, everyday clothes, rough clothing, scraps, waste threads, factory waste, leftover fabrics, and even moth-eaten fabrics are picked up within reach and included as part of the clothing as a unique feature.
Just like eating whole vegetables from the field on the table, the plants that have been used as dyes turn to ash, and we live on the earth, and even the trash shines with our clothing.
