Dancer - Shibori

Shibori
Pepa Martin and Karen Davis founders of Shibori, a boutique textile agency, are renowned
for pushing the boundaries of this ancient Japanese craft. By exploring and modernising
old techniques on modern fabrics the pair injects a strong design element into their work
making an old craft new again.
Shibori fabrics have been used by some of Australia’s top designers in both fashion and
interiors and their hand dyed leathers and commercial fabrics can be seen in venues
throughout Australia.
Authors of Shibori Created: shibori in the 21st century, documents the reinvention
and recreation of the ancient Japanese art of shibori and its place in design today. A
photographic journal containing interviews from a range of diverse artisans, designers,
fashion identities and textile collectors, explores the various uses of the ancient craft and
versatility of fabric manipulation in the digital age.
In 2013, Pepa and Karen released a range of wallpaper reflecting their hand done
aesthetic. Each design is hand dyed before being digitally printed on high performance
wallpaper. Following a media splash on its release the wallpaper has already been used as
a backdrop for Australian fashion week and for an international marketing campaign by
one of Australia’s largest retailers.
With the flexibility of their trade, the pair has collaborated on some unique projects
including; a full scale dip dyed hot air balloon, fabric inlayed surf boards made by
McTavish and Sibella Court as well as a home wares range with Lee Mathews and a
collection with Fleur Wood.