To commemorate the publication of the picture book "Indigo Dyeing Apolenka" (Kyuryudo), we will be exhibiting and selling by the meter 13 types of lovely fabric with animal and plant motifs from Viorka, a brand that introduces traditional Czech indigo dyeing to Japan.

1. Raindrops

The pattern is made up of small, irregularly-arranged raindrops, and gives a glimpse of the stylized natural phenomenon found in the typical "hail" pattern of komon (small patterns) dyed using dyeing stencils such as Ise Katagami.

2. Snail

A beautiful pattern created by connecting the round dots on large and small brass pins into a spiral shape, creating a very simplified representation of a snail shell.

3. Waterwheel for grinding flour

This is a design of a waterwheel in a flour mill shed that rotates smoothly as it receives water. It is very similar to the "Tomoe" pattern, which is commonly said to be a design of wave crests and has a long curved line from a round head to a tail.

4. Little Flowers of Vienna

The floral pattern is named after the city of Vienna, which was the capital of the empire until the founding of Czechoslovakia in 1918. It may reflect the spirit of the Austrian and German era in the first half of the 19th century, when people aspired to a simple and comfortable life.

5. Small wreath

A pattern of small flowers strung together in a regular pattern. Circular and circular wreath patterns are motifs that symbolize the sun, and have been used by people as decorative patterns to brighten up their lives.

6. Wheat

Wheat and other grains have been symbols of fertility and prosperity since ancient Rome, and baked goods were already indispensable for celebrations in ancient Rome. Czech people also baked sweets using white flour instead of potatoes or brown bread on holidays and special days.

7. Caterpillar

This cute pattern depicts a caterpillar growing by eating the small leaves of a twig, and perhaps represents the mystery of life as it eventually transforms from a chrysalis into a beautiful butterfly.

8. The Little Flower of Olszenice

Named after the town of Olszenice where the workshop was located, this floral pattern was the most popular in the region and is the workshop's signature pattern. It is a design of flowers and curved lines with vines growing from the flowers. This modest yet gorgeous pattern has been loved by many women up until now.

9. Snake

This pattern depicts a snake twisting its body through the grass on a warm spring day. Small plant leaves are placed here and there. The snake motif was used by people as a talisman against evil.

10. The Lord's Prayer

This design is a stylized version of the rosary, a rosary used in the Catholic Church, and is named after the Lord's Prayer, the most representative prayer in Christianity. After the Thirty Years' War, Czechoslovakia came under Catholic influence, and the faith took deep root in people's lives.

11. Slugs

Other workshops also have wooden molds with a pattern that is said to represent the young branches that grow out from the trunk of a large tree in spring, but here they are called "namekuji" (slugs), presumably referring to the winding trail that resembles a slug crawling.

12. Dove

It is a very complicated and delicate pattern with very fine brass pins. In the small dots, two doves flapping their wings close together are depicted. Doves symbolize sincerity, loyalty, and chastity.

13. Small flowers and hem decorations

This is a combination of a crossed floral pattern and a hem decoration pattern. Indigo dyeing was often used to make skirts and aprons, so many strip-like patterns were made to decorate the hems. The prototype was the bobbin lace hem decoration seen on the embroidered aprons on display at the venue.