Discovering NUNO

A few weeks ago a friend, who is a knit designer and a fabric lover herself, introduced me to a mecca of experimental fabric. If I'd have known about NUNO (布, literally meaning "cloth") and the fact that it is located only a ten-minute walk from my office before, I'd have spent all my lunch breaks (and probably my salary) there!

A mixture of tradition and modern technology inspired NUNO. Their fabrics go through various thermic conditions to become almost architectural structures. They also use metallic threads, feathers, banana fibres... even cow's blood to weave and print, creating unusual textiles.

Washi paper 

This polyester and cotton mix is screaming, sew something beautiful from me!

Cotton and tulle stretch

Another cotton mix

Wooligami: thermoplastic polyester, pleated with heat and cut with a laser

Origami pleats: this fabric is woven this way

Feathers woven between two layers of organdy

When I asked their manager why they don't sell fabric online he smiled and said, we want people to come here not for the fabric, but for the experience. And it's true: every textile is a story, you have to touch it and discover how it's made.

NUNO also sells clothes and zakka stuff: cushions, scarfs, bags, pouches etc.

After spending over an hour in the shop I left empty-handed. Working with such unique textiles require some preparation. Next time I'll come to NUNO with a project in mind; I can't wait!