Researches and studies on how handworks such as dyeing and clothes making, which have traditionally been regarded as women’s work in Japan and other Asian and African regions, have changed because of modernization and how, in turn, the position and role of women have changed are conducted under the theme of “women’s handwork” in one of the joint research projects at the Josai International University Institute for Gender & Women’s Studies.

The project focused on indigo dyeing in Japan and Hungary in 2009 that marked the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations. And an exhibition was held, featuring works made by indigo dyeing, which has been one of the manual tasks of Japanese women, and indigo-dyed works of textile designers and students at the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design in Hungary.

The Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, one of the major art universities in Hungary, set up a students’ project on “indigo dyeing” in an approach to help them newly understand traditional techniques and blend them with modern designs through production. This project has successfully generated large-scale original works.

Indigo dyeing techniques, which have traveled from Asia to Europe, spread as a traditional culture of German immigrants in Hungary in the 17th century and are now recognized as traditional textile art.